A closer look at a Malay wedding

29th June 2008

Today, the whole family went to the wedding of a close relative. The bride is actually a cousin of nini green, so that makes the bride my 'grandmom' too! Hehehe... sort of! Anyway, we took lots of pictures today, so enjoy this brief tour of a Malay wedding.

To Laila & Shah. congratulations on your wedding!

Guests sit in tents, seated in groups of 30 at each table. Oh yeah, it's definitely hot under the burning sun! In our culture, guests arrive before a specified time, sit together until the prayer recitation and lunch. In Malaysia, guests come at different times.

After recitation of prayers, guests eat together. Afterwards, some goes back home and some stays back to witness the 'bersanding' ceremony.

Enjoying lunch with daddy. I'm wearing a 'baju melayu'.

Safiya takes picture with mummy. She was unhappy because of the heat, but we do have to get used to it!

The groom has arrived ...

... welcomed by the 'hadrah' (in Malaysia it's called kompang).

Before entering the house, the groom has his feet (shoes rather) drizzled with water and some 'bunga rampai' (mixture of cut flowers and leaves) is sprinkled on his face.

After sitting on the 'pelamin' and recitation of prayers, the groom brings his bride outside to greet the waiting guests.

Outside.. looking at guests standing and taking lots of pictures.

And on to a balcony.. The happy couple!

Another picture of the newly wed couple.

All family members of the bride.. Almost all that is! Hehe.. she's one of 12 siblings, so.. you do the maths. By the way, the bride is actually a natural sister of Machar, the eldest in mummy's adoptive family.

Family picture.. smile everybody!