The guest started coming as early as 7.30pm while I was still up in the hotel room getting ready. I quickly came down to the Ballroom and at the foyer a few guest were comfortably helping themselves to drinks. The six bridesmaids were sitting pretty at the reception table advising guest of their table numbers.Some guest took their seats immediately in the Ballroom where a video showing the House Reception was being played.Soon more guest arrived and they mingled and talked to old friends and new ones.They seemed happy just to be able to catch up with old friends that we had to invite them to take their seats as the function was about to begin.
At 8.30pm the Darlina and Ikmal came down from their hotel suite and was on standby at the holding room. At 8.45pm the MC,Barnie Redzan, announced the arrival of the VIPs and the VIPs who were sitting in the holding room made their way into the Ballroom. Once they had sat comfortably at the VIP table the MC announced the arrival of the family members. My husband and I walked in, together with Ikmal's parents and family members from both sides. We made our way to the front of the Ballroom and sat on sofas placed just in front of the stage.
After some welcoming salutations the MC announced the arrival of the bride and groom. The sound of kompang (drums) vibrated through the Ballroom. From a doorway at the end of the Ballroom four pairs of dancers walked in and lined the red carpet. All eyes were now on the doorway and soon Darlina and Ikmal appeared looking absolutely beautiful and radiant as they walked in slowly to the music of their choice. They stopped halfway inside the Ballroom and the Ustaz (religious teacher) then recited salutations to the Prophet. Once that was over they continued their walk making their way to the "pelamin" (dais) which had been beautifully erected by Flora Etcetera.Erin being the main bridesmaid, and Ikmal's twin brother as the bestman, accompanied them on the pelamin while the other six bridesmaids took their places.
The ceremony started with the "doa" (supplication) by the Ustaz.The bride and groom were then welcomed by a traditional dance performance by dancers from The City Hall of Kuala Lumpur Dance Troupe.The "merenjis" (blessing) ceremony then began with Ikmal's parents performing the "merenjis", where rose petals and rose water were sprinkled on the bride's and groom's open palms. They were followed by other family members and ended with my husband and I. After the merenjis and photography with the couple, we all then made our way to the main dinner table.
During dinner we were entertained by the band from The City Hall of Kuala Lumpur with evergreen English and Malay songs and Malay traditional dances.
The MC then went around interviewing some relatives and friends of Darlina and Ikmal and trying to get a better insight of the couple.At that point both my husband and I were asked to say a few words and we took the opportunity to thank everybody for their presence and presents.
The next programme was the cake-cutting ceremony where besides cutting the cake, the couple fed each other a piece of cake to symbolise their love for each other. The MC then recited a poem dedicated to the couple and proceeded to interview each of them about how they met each other and what attracted them to the other.Darlina and Ikmal were then asked to say a few words to each other.
The couple took the opportunity to mingle with the crowd taking pictures with them as after that some guest said goodbye while the rest stayed on to dance the "joget lambak" (group dancing) to the tunes of "joget" (traditional dance) ,"poco-poco" (line dance) and other evergreen tunes.
Before the night ended relatives and friends took the opportunity for photographs with the radiant couple.
The function ended late with all of us tired but happy. With Darlina and Ikmal looking so happy, I couldn't help but felt warm and fuzzy inside. As the song said " I must have done something right to deserve this."
