Peruvian writer Jaime Bayly recounted his experience at his eldest daughter's wedding in New York, an event he attended despite his fears and history of family absences. The civil ceremony, officiated by his own daughter, unfolded in an intimate and emotional atmosphere, though not without tensions. Bayly highlights his daughter's generosity and the luxury of the celebration, funded by the groom's family.
Jaime Bayly, known for his irreverent style, surprised readers by revealing in a personal account published in La Tercera that he attended his eldest daughter's wedding in New York, against his initial expectations. 'I survived my daughter's wedding in New York. Against all odds, she had the generosity to invite me,' wrote Bayly, who described himself as a 'disastrous father, an absent father.' Though he funded his daughter's education at a private New York university, he admitted missing her graduations, birthdays, and family trips for two decades, leading him to fear exclusion.
The ceremony, held recently, avoided religious rituals: the bride, baptized Catholic but agnostic like her father, and the groom, from a Jewish family, chose a brief and moving civil union. Bayly's eldest daughter, a successful lawyer, received notarial powers to officiate the marriage alongside the groom's brother. 'Both delivered precious speeches, born from the warmest part of the heart,' Bayly recounted, highlighting funny anecdotes and shared tears.
The reception took place in a hotel nightclub, reserved by the groom's father at a 'fortune' cost. Bayly praised the live music, dim lights, and exquisite hors d'oeuvres, enjoying without spending a dime. However, an incident soured the night: upon farewell, he hugged his ex-wife—the bride's mother—and invited her to dinner, prompting a disgusted glance toward his current wife and sparking a later argument. 'Because everything was false,' his wife told him, though Bayly defended the authenticity of the love and family.
Days later, at a family dinner, Bayly committed to funding a party in Lima, but the announced amount left him stunned. 'I nearly fainted,' he confessed, joking about seeking help from his 85-year-old mother, absent due to age.