My sweet friend who is like a younger sister to me got married yesterday!! Her wedding was Christian but extremely traditionally Khmer as well. I hope you enjoy the photos!
The groom, his mother, his grandmother, his grooms man, as well as all who are in attendance walk down the street carrying platters or chalices of fruit and gifts until they arrive at the location of the wedding, typically the bride’s house (but this wedding was at the church). The groom and wedding guests stand facing the bride’s father and mother (sometimes other siblings) and essentially ask permission to enter the house and allow the groom to take the bride.
Once the parents give approval, the bride comes out. She offers him a glass of water that they both drink of. I am not sure, but I am wondering if this is symbolic of his journey. I imagine traditionally, back in the day, the groom and his family walked a long way from his house to her house on the wedding day. Afterwards they present each other with flowers and all the wedding party enters and lay their gifts before the alter in the church.
Once all the wedding guests lay their gifts down they are arranged and the bride and groom kneel before the parents. The bride and groom offer flowers to their parents and their parents pray over them, their marriage and speak a blessing over them. After wards, the chairs are moved and everyone sits on the floor. The groom and all his relatives on one side, the bride and all hers on the other, the pastor in the middle. The families then spend some time getting to know one another asking questions back and forth; telling funny stories about the bride and groom. This time is led by the pastor. They the families eat together, sharing some of the fruit that was brought by the wedding guests.
Kunthea’s first outfit of the day! I took this picture before the festivities started!
After the “fruit/ getting-to-know-eachother” part of the wedding the bride and groom are swept away to change clothes while the rest of the wedding guests eat breakfast. Breakfast was rice porridge with pork, shrimp, chicken, vegetables, scallions, and other spices. A twist of lime, chili sauce, and bean sprouts makes it perfect!
Pastor sitting at the front of the church as we prepare for the bride, groom, their parents, and the wedding party to come in.
their parents lit their respective candles and then the couple lights their unity candle.
He places her ring and says his vows.
She places his ring and says her vows.
After the rings, we are presented with husband and wife.
The pastor, I think, embarrassed them both by telling Udom to kiss Kunthea at this point.
(traditionally, Khmer boys and girls do NOT touch barely at all, if at all, before the wedding, and public displays of affection are highly frowned upon, so to ask them to kiss in front of all these people . . . they had no idea what to do with themselves!)
He kissed each cheek and then her forehead, then she did the same. It was hilariously cute.
After each ceremonial tradition, before the bride and groom change clothes (again) there are photo shoots
(so. many. photos.)
The couple changed clothes again and then another traditional ceremony. I wasn’t able to be there for the whole thing, so I don’t exactly know all that this one was about, but she holds a chalice with the Bible on top of it, and he holds a sword in one hand, then her lapel in another. Then they walk around a table three times. I asked the mother of the groom what that represented and she said it represents him leaving his father and mother like it says in Genesis and walking after his wife.
Bi and I getting our photo with them after the walking around the table ceremony.
After the walking around the table ceremony it is time for more wedding food. This is the equivalent to our reception. There are tables set up outside the church under the traditional pink and yellow wedding tent and the parade of food begins.
The first course was pepper beef and shrimp with a type of noodle, cauliflower and onions with deep fried corn (yum!) and these small fried cakes (not sure what they are made of). The next course was this guy pictured above. After him came the duck- yes, whole cooked animals served on a platter. After the duck came the stir fried vegetables. After the vegetables was served fried rice and white rice with Tom Yam Soup with shrimp. A spicey hot, sour soup that is served over rice. After the soup, the platter of sweets! Every table had the same courses served to them. IT. WAS. SO. MUCH. FOOD.
Reception attire.
my closest and dearest Khmer friends and staff from Selah House.
Her last outfit of the day. And I think it is my favorite of them all.
For Kunthea it was really important for her to be married on 12/12/2012 because Udom told her he loved her on 11/11/2011 for the first time.
In all the picture-taking extravaganza Bi, his mum, and I decided to get a shot in front of the Christmas tree at the church.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all in the USA
from us all in Cambodia.
