Ratthana’s House Clock

We got up at the time we were supposed to but I struggled to do it. So I got prepared and here we are off on Sothy’s bike. Now you can see for the first time our means of transportation. This has been how I have been travelling so far in Cambodia. Upon arriving, the place was a sight to behold. The tent, the gifts, the people. So exciting. I’m going to describe the ceremony to you through my eyes. If I may say, I hardly understood anything because it was all in Khmer the local language.

Preparing to leave at 5 something am

Neighbors house for parking!

View of the Decorated House

Typical wedding entrance with Gold and Silver Bananas

Gifts for the Bride

Makan Place

Not too long later I was shuffled upstairs to get dressed. Now, I won’t let you see pictures of that no no no. Guys and girls were dressed up upstairs but of course the girls had a small room to change. But everything else where done in the open so I was rather shy to be changing in front of ladies. But I wore a shorts inside but it was really odd. I was told that we were going to be changing a few times. So far, if that is my responsibility, I think I can take it. But I was changed into a full suit. For the benefit of the readers, the place is not air-coned and even hardly was there a fan. I was like they must be really mad!

The handsome groom

So I was wearing a t-shirt, a white shirt, a coat, shorts and pants. Man, I started sweating profusely. So I immediately had to tell myself to relax or I’m going to sweat more and stink. The ceremony begins at 7am and therefore it was not too hot yet but the sun is already high up in the sky. The guests were to carry all the gifts and come from a distance from the house. Somewhat like Isaac in the bible bringing gifts from afar. I was the umbrella bearer as the best man. Soon the sun began scorching down but there is an exchange of words between the hosts of the gift bearers and the host of the home. I don’t understand a single thing they were saying but all I knew was that I had to wait though it was so so hot.

At last, the gift bearers marched in presenting it to the bride’s family while we took this picture

Then it came to the part of the ceremony where the couple will bow in respect before the parents of each side. This is peculiar to me but it would seem to me their culture exerts a lot more filial piety than what we have at home. No wonder families are so closely knitted here despite many difficult circumstances.

We then proceeded upstairs again to change. This time is was into a traditional costume. Luckily there is no picture of me in it hahahaha. I mean as in full body kind because it looked like some sort of skirt. Haha. You see what the girls are wearing in the picture below? The bottom looks the same for guys. The material was really hot to be in. I still wore my t-shirt, white shirt and shorts inside too. I was thinking….what are they going to make me wear next!! Sothy being so naughty didn’t tell me the full details of what to expect. So while we were dressing and sweating our hearts out, they were eating their hearts out downstairs. Look at her expression. Must be so nice.

It took very long for us to dress up. Because the bride had a redo of everything she wore. Unlike our culture with a single best man or bridesmaid, they have three each. Their costumes were all quite complicated to wear. It took them three times and three different ladies to get it right for me. When we were ready, we went down.

Now this is called the cutting hair ceremony. The beginning part there was singing of songs by a guy and a girl and I don’t know at all what was sung or happening. They were dancing and singing and then they were talking and people were laughing. It was like a entertainment show. But people were really laughing so much and I looked so weird not responding. Then they interviewed the best man. Oh oh….good thing I’m not the first but when it came to me, I was interviewed in Khmer. What?? They all laughed. Now I have become the spot for entertainment and I have no idea what they are saying about me. Luckily another best man interpreted for me some of the questions. When I answered they laughed. I wonder why…was I missing some detail? All this torture for you Sothy Kong

Such nice colors…the wedding is so colorful

They then one by one starting from the immediate family went in pairs to cut the hair of the bride and groom and sprayed perfume as a symbol of blessing to the couple. Somehow the best men got sprayed too sometimes. So I was all smelling like ladies perfume and all sweaty wondering what to expect next when we got up and it was time for the preaching and where the couple exchanged vows.

The whole place was rearranged and we were to sit beside the couple all the time. I was the official sweat wiper for Sothy. A title I gave myself hahaha. Now this was the really difficult part. There is a way that you must sit that I have never in my life encountered. I was nudging Sothy, ‘you should have taught me this earlier’. Painful it was. My knees were like whoa….

So I sat there in a blank stare and in total agony (exaggerating) again throughout the sermon trying to understand what was really going on. Until they came to the part where the rings and vows were exchange, I was lost. I do prefer their ceremony because of a few things that we don’t have. First, before they took their vows, we had the most moving part of the entire ceremony. The couple will take turns to thank their parents before the crowd. I didn’t understand a word but the atmosphere was intense. So so intense. Finally halfway through the brides speech, she broke down in tears and you could see many in the crowd tearing. I held back my emotions because I don’t know what is acceptable here. The bridesmaids quickly comforted her as she continued to finish her appreciation to her loved ones.

Sothy thanking both his parents

Rathanna to her Mom and Family

Ps Nora explaining from the Word, They look like a King and Queen

For better or worse, In sickness In health……………….

Then they exchanged vows in an almost similar fashion. Now I forgot to mention that the bride and groom had both changed their costumes as you noticed but I didn’t have to anymore. Thank God. After they had said their vows with gleaming smiles on their faces, it was another unusual ceremony for me in where the bride and groom partook of the Lord’s Supper and proceeded to wash each other’s feet. I was thinking this is really good. It shows how much they loved each other and how humble they were. So moved. It was my duty to prepare the water and towels. So I did my job well I hope. They then used two candles that were initially lit by the parents of each side to then light the largest candle in the middle. I remember Adino doing something like that.

Now this is already 3 hours into the ceremony. And we finally come to the close of the morning session. In the final part of the ceremony, the bride and groom will be positioned as in the picture below as the immediate family proceeds to tie red strings around their wrists and use a rose to bless them with water and also put money into their hands. This went on for anyone who wanted to bless them with their ang pows and so on so forth. These red strings will be worn for more than a week after the wedding. So we had a prayer of blessing for the couple after that and Sothy representing the family will thank the guests then while the family takes pictures the guests feasted on the tasty food.

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That ends the morning ceremony phew….part 2 coming up next

Tags: cambodia, travel