No, no…it wasn’t my little girl that was getting married but my cousin’s youngest, my cousin from my Melanau maternal grandma side of the family. His older children, a son and another daughter got married together on the same day a few years ago in 2010 and now, it was the youngest child’s turn to tie the knot.
The handsome groom comes from Bangi, Selangor and here, you can see the entourage arriving at the bride’s house…
…bearing gifts and all, for the akad nikah or matrimonial rites ceremony.
They all gathered in the living room…
…for the prayers and the handing over of the gifts and everything else after which, the bride’s family reciprocated with their gifts…
…and when that part of the ceremony was done…
…the bride made her appearance…
The brother of the bride…
…and somebody else from the groom’s side were the witnesses and they had to sign the marriage certificate. There were more prayers and a somewhat lengthy sermon before finally, the father of the bride handed over his daughter’s hand in marriage…
Here, you can see the happy couple seated on the pelamin (dais)…
…but the bersanding ceremony would only be held the following day. Bersanding literally means the “sitting together of the bride and bridegroom on the bridal couch” for the menepung tawar, the ceremonial blessing by the couple’s family and friends. This is followed by the feasting and merry-making called the kenduri which, in this case, would be the grand banquet the following night.
The guests at the akad nikah ceremony that night were treated to a very scrumptious buffet dinner with all the delectable local delights…
Heartiest congratulations to you, Nadya, and Helmi, on your marriage…from uncle, auntie & Melissa. May your lives together be filled with everlasting happiness and God’s abundant blessings each passing day in the years ahead.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 