The invitation card for the house reception stated that it's between 12.00pm and 4.00pm but as expected, our first guest arrived at 11.45am. Of course by then the buffet had been set by our caterer Kantan Tiga, whose owner was there personally to make sure that everything was in order.The wedding favours which were boxes made of songket (silk woven with gold thread) and filled with "dodol" (sweet cake) prepared by Cemara Qaseh were ready to be given to the guest.I managed to have a quick shower and a change after the akad nikah earlier and was ready to receive guest.
The air of festivities was heightened by the fluttering of flags that were placed at the entrance of the canopies ( a great idea suggested by the caterer/canopy supplier) and the sound of music played by the ghazal (traditional music) group.
At 1.45pm we received cue that the groom's entourage had arrived at the assigned car park a distance away and was walking towards the house. Darlina came down from upstairs accompanied by her sister as the main bridesmaid.The moment the entourage reached about 200 metres from the house the dancers walked towards them in pairs, followed by Darlina and the bridesmaids and the Kompang Group ( traditional drum group). Once they reached the groom's entourage, Darlina joined Ikmal (the groom) and started walking back to the house, led by the dancers,chaperoned by the bridesmaids and following behind them, the kompang group drumming familiar wedding songs.
When the couple reached our house gate they stopped and the MC recited the selawat nabi (salutations to the Prophet). When it was over they proceeded towards the beautiful pelamin (wedding dais) prepared by Flora Etcetera ,with the dancers throwing flower petals in their path.
The highlight of a Malay wedding is always the "bersanding" ceremony (sitting on the pelamin). For Malays on the wedding day the couple become "king' and "queen" for the day. Just as the Malay King and Queen sit on the throne preciding over their subjects, the bride and groom sit on a dais,a throne of their own. This is supposed to be the first time the couple are seen sitting together by the public and the bersanding is also to announce that the couple are now husband and wife.
In Darlina's and Ikmal's case once they settled on the dais and the entourage had taken their seats, the Ustaz (religious teacher) recited the doa (supplication) for the ceremony and the marriage to be blessed by God.This was followed by a traditional dance performance called "Tarian menyembah pengantin",a dance to honour the couple. Next was the "merenjis" (blessing) ceremony by family members, 6 from each side. During the blessing each person put potpouri made of pandan (scented) leaves and jasmine petals on each of the couple's palms and sprinkled rose water over them.Those who merenjis were each presented with a stalk of "dip" rose created by Cemara Qaseh.
The couple then took their seats at the sweetheart table which was beautifully decorated with low vases of flowers- hydrangeas,eustomas,roses. Lunch was served and they and the entourage and other special guest partook the delicious meal comprising of rice with mutton curry,fried spicy chicken, fish fillet with lemon sauce,vegetable and beef light curry,salad and pickle.While the guest were having lunch the dancers with their elaborated costumes ,performed more traditional dances to entertain.
After lunch the couple sat on the dais one more time for the second set of the blessing ceremony.More family members performed the blessing and the final one was by my husband and I.While all the earlier ceremonies were happening, we were not able to witness because we were busy at the entrance receiving guest who came in droves. So now we had the opportunity to see our beloved daughter looking radiant and beautiful on the dais.
Once the blessing was over the couple moved to where the three-tier wedding cake(made by Mad About Cake) was placed for the cake cutting ceremony.After cutting the cake, each of them feed the other with a piece of cake to symbolise their love and care for each other.
Later the couple mingled with the crowd and guest took the opportunity to have their pictures taken with the bride and groom.The couple then took some pictures in the midst of greenery of the neighbourhood.
