An Indonesian Wedding
Count yourself fortunate if you've had the opportunity to attend an Indonesian wedding. The fascinating wedding ceremonies and festivities give a person who seeks cultural and traditional adventures a unique opportunity to gain insight into Indonesian culture and social mores.
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| Approaching Medan |
I seized a golden opportunity to attend a friend’s sister in law’s wedding in Medan. I have only seen the dirty part of Medan but never the hidden cultural and traditional beauty of its people. Armed with a camera, I headed to a small helmet in Tanjung Morawa in Medan, approximately 30 km from the dusty, polluted town of Medan.
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| A mosque in Tanjung Mowara |
The journey took over an hour due to the heavy traffic. On arriving at the small town of Tanjung Morawa, we weaved through a winding laterite road lined with lush green paddy fields. When I arrived at my destination, I saw a festive filled atmosphere where there was colour and music.
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| The bride groom arriving at the bride's house. |
Given the broad diversity of ethnic groups in Indonesia, it stands to reason that wedding customs will reflect this diversity. Each ethnic group has different wedding dresses and different marriage ceremonies and customs. Within ethnic groups, those of different religious backgrounds will have different practices as well.
As a person living outside Indonesia, you may not know how to act, what to bring or what your role as a guest in the wedding should be.
As soon as I got out of the van which I have hired cum driver, I was lost for words when they gave me a V.I.P, treatment and I was introduced to the guests my the emcee of the ceremony.
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| The bridegroom will be blocked by girls holding long scarves and the bridegroom must give money for them to let way. Also there will be ' Pantuns' exchanged between the bride and bridegroom's team. |
Indonesians are truly honored by your attendance at a wedding. Attending shows that you care, that you respect the people involved and your relationship with them, that you honor the family and want to show your support of the newlyweds.
At most wedding receptions, the guests arrive, sign the guest book, accept their thank you token, deposit their gift and enter the reception hall.
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| You have to sign your name after giving the money or price at the entrance to this cute girl. |
The ceremony is just colorful with the bride changing into traditional costumes and so do the bridegroom. I was impressed and enjoyed the simple and yet a king’s feast for many.
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| The newly wed couple |
I was even invited to the stage to bless the newly wed couple.
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| I was given the chance to bless the newly weds. Ha ha ha. See me, I was wearing simple dress to blend with the people. |
There was food and music to everyone and it was a wonderful day mingling with people who were poor in wealth but rich in hospitality.
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| Music |
I saw what money couldn’t buy here. You can have great wealth but you cannot have the happiness I found among these innocent village folks. Their way of welcoming and treating you were from their hearts and I felt so sad to part these people who made me part of them. I will always treasure their hospitality forever.
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