A Malay Wedding

Weddings are one of the ceremonies in life that i enjoy attending to. It is just full of love and happiness all through out the ceremony. In my lifetime, i had only attended Catholic weddings. It was really a very fortunate experience for me that i was invited to take part in a Malay Muslim wedding. I really have no idea what they do during these occasions, but one thing I've heard is that these ceremonies are really colorful, festive and overflowing with rich culture and tradition.

So beforehand, I obliged my self to do some readings about Malay Weddings. Do's and dont's and an overview of what i was and should be able to capture. oh btw. i was an apprentice for my friend,Josh, who is the photographer assigned to cover the wedding. together with Lawrence (my other friend here in Brunei) we attended the Bersanding (on the Groom's side) that day.

Here are the links of my readings:

http://www.marriagesignature.com/tradition/the-stages-of-a-malay-wedding-ceremony
http://malayweddingservices.com/malay-wedding/
http://www.weddingguideasia.com/wed/malay-wedding-traditions/

Here are some of the pictures that i took that day. Indulge!

this was like a pseudo stage set up in the groom's home. it was used for a certain stage in the wedding. im not sure what it is. I think it's the Nikka. hehe sorry.

 The Groom's ride. fancy isn't it?

 Family members get to wear this flower ornament during the day of the wedding. 

this is their version of the corsage perhaps :)

Upon arriving at the groom's abode, family members greet you with treats (that pink paper bag loaded with cookies, and an umbrella, apt for the hot sunny weather that day and for the travel from the groom to the bride's house after lunch time.)

Men and Women eat separately as per Muslim Tradition. 

The Groom

His best man

 These are ground rice mixed with different colors. they are used on a specific part of the ceremony. these are dabbed in the hands of the groom by elders or seniors in the family.

The Bride.

 People crowd the groom and bride once they are joined together and they pour water over their feet. this was a custom (according to Lanwrence) by a specific group of people who live in Tutong (one of the districts here in Brunei) it was the Bride who was from that district (according to Lawerence again).

 I love taking random pictures of kiddos.

The couples are treated as royalties during the whole wedding ceremony. Adorned with gold and dressed lavishly, they are fit to be a king and queen for that day.