Wedding in Malaysia

Went to Malaysia over the weekend to attend my cousin's Wedding. Though I've attended quite a few Weddings in Malaysia before, its a whole new perspective to pay special attention to all the little things that's done. The tradition in Malaysia is slightly different from what we normally have in Singapore. The initial thought would be that it would be more traditional, BUT its not true. They have actually simplified it more than in Singapore. Perhaps it's partly due to the financial ability, and its the newer generation, many traditions are lost/modified. Will have a brief intro to what its like to have a Chinese wedding in Malaysia.

Saturday , 26th May, 3pm.
On my cousin's car travelling from Singapore to my Dad's hometown in Yong Peng (Parit Kasim),some 200km away. The rain clouds hovering in the sky. The most undesired weather when travelling along North-South Highway, as it greatly reduces the visibility, slowing down the traffic and increases chances of accident. This is because there's NO street lamps.



It takes approx 3 hrs to reach my dad's kampong and by the time we reached there, it was already 5 pm. They have a unique celebration, that is, everybody they know, friends, relatives, kampong friends, will all be invited to the buffet dinner at their place. Its not that grand, but somehow it adds to the atmosphere, and its like a prelude to the big day tomorrow.

Sunday 270507 ,
At 12.00am sharp, there's a worship to be done to the " Ti Gong " And the highlight is the "roasted suckling pig" The biggest I've seen so far. To know how big is it, compare it wit the fish on its left. The fish is already of a bigger size and it just looks inferior to the giantic pig. That was followed by setting off the fire crackers to signify the happy occasion.


A lot of food is being prepared for the wedding reception in the morning, when the bride arrive at the bridegroom's house. A few e.g are the fruits, jelly, agar agar, " tang hun " and "tang yuan"

The Tang Yuan that has been done up,( suppose to resemble the tuan tuan yuan yuan of the newly wed couple. )


All the plates of fruits and jellies that's to be served.


The own grown pineapple at the backyard. The pineapple is humongous. Erm... 2 times the size of what we normally have ? Isn't the pineapple in the plant beautiful. It takes 1 yr to reap a full size pineapple. Wondering why it cost only $2 per pineapple. hmm... ( side track a bit cos its part of the fruits that's being served )



The tea-session for them is a very short one. In Singapore, at least for my family, the tea session, involves the bride and the bridegroom serving tea to all the elders and will receive an hong bao in return. This is to symbolise the family accepting both of them getting married, and as a form of accepting the bride into the bridegroom's family. For them, they simplified it to serving the tea only to the bridegroom's parents.

The bride and the bridegroom in the living room. Taking a photo together with my sis..


270507, 2pm
Next, its the normal wedding meal. Normally we'll have it as a dinner at some restaurant or some hotel. However, its not the case. They have a wedding LUNCH instead. Due to some budgetting, it was being held in one of the school hall and catering services was called in. But the dishes were really sumptious. A 8 course meal, that includes.
1. " cold dish "
2. " shark's fin, abalone and seafood. dont' know the name ... but its NICE "
3. " Roasted pig "
4. " Steam Prawn "
5. " Herbal Chicken "
6. " Steam Prophet "
7. " Sea Cucumber with Pork Rib "
8. " Ice Cream "

Yeah. its kinda funny, but it always end with ICE cream for a wedding lunch in Malaysia. Good food for the price that they pay for. And to think it was held in a school hall.. *clap**clap* . Unique.

A characteristic feature of the tradition wedding celebration is that Karoke will never be missed. Its like a must in all wedding meals and guests are free to go up the stage and sing their fav. songs. Though it was really atrocious singing from some. Really would have preferred them playing the CD instead. That's the only entertainment that they have for the lunch and its non-stop singing either from the guests or the MC.

Below is the MC for the afternoon. He's singing SUCKS. Nobody bothers to clap for him. and he has to resort to saying " not even a pityful clap can be heard" STILL nobody claps.. lolx.


Everything comes to an end around 1 1/2 hrs after it started at 2pm. Very short one compared to Singapore's wedding dinner. Everybody just disperse after the event, a very different feeling from what we get. Where the bride and the bridegroom will stand at the exit shaking everybody's hand and thank them for coming and sending their well wishes. Its just simplified version. People just wave and say bye.

That's a very brief intro to the wedding in Malaysia. But these are the highlights which I felt was significantly different from what we have. Certain traditions are still the same.

My dear niece. Deserine. Quite a sweet and cheerful girl. Took their car into Malaysia.


After that, it was back to another 3 hours of ride back to Singapore. Reached back at around 6.30pm. Its a whole new experience to look at the whole process of the wedding in Malaysia. And yet another weekend filled with activities. =)