This article/post is about a Khmer Christian wedding. I have been privileged to be a grandmother at a Buddhist wedding in a village a couple of years ago when my local tuk tuk’s son was married. It was a lovely, somewhat simple wedding according to village standards I expect. Most of the early day was spent in those rituals and then in the evening a great meal was laid out for everyone to enjoy, plus there was dancing, which frankly, must be a norm at most weddings here. There were multiple changes of clothes for many during the day, with each being a dividing point in the event. Everyone had so much fun.
Elsewhere, I have been privileged to enjoy great evenings of a meal at many other weddings. In those instances, you are responsible to partner in the cost of the venue for the evening. Envelopes go around for riel to be put in. I can imagine that each wedding has its own cost per person, but I do not ask. I just pay if requested for my ‘seat’ at the table. And enjoy the evening.
This is my first all day Christian wedding. It was in Takeo Province, and required that we spend Friday traveling and Sunday coming back on the road. There were four of us. Pastor Ravy was one of the officiants at the wedding.
Friday night we stayed at a guest house. Srey Pov, Piseth, and I shared a bed for the night, and Ravy crashed on the floor to sleep. Simple, but very adequate, and adaptable.
I didn’t know I should have brought more than one outfit for this time. Women bring multiple outfits for these special occasions (note above statement) and change out and into each of them at certain times of the day. I had only one dress I had worn the day previous, and my lovely khmer red dress I dearly love. It worked, but next time I will bring multiple. The khmer ladies also prepare one another in hair styles and makeup. There is a system and a ritual to all of this, or so it seemed. When I was asked, Pastor Ravy said that I go ‘natural.’ I had my own makeup. The khmer women are phenomenal artists on occasions just as this.
So, let’s attempt to discern how a Khmer Christian wedding goes in the day.
When we arrived late on Friday preparations for morning were underway. The venue was being set up under a tent canopy and in the room off to one side there were baskets being prepared for the morning ritual procession when gifts are taken to the bride’s home before the ceremony.
Everyone got dressed and prepared for the procession, but this time we had to walk down the road before we could walk back to the venue and place the fruits as the gift offering. Mind you, this started at 7am, so who knows what time the wedding party was up and preparing with makeup and clothing.
The bride and groom prepared with their first makeup and dressing (#1) which appeared to be a Sampot for the bride (traditional skirt, blouse, and jewelry) and the groom in traditional silk shirt. The sort of outfit is used for procession and traditional ceremonies. I presume the bride and groom get ready separately.
I understand the groom’s procession is called Hai Goan Gomloh.
Groom’s family walks with trays of gifts (fruits, drink, cakes, etc.) and there are also decorative umbrellas and the ‘bridal’ party is adorned completely, and the persons who lead the procession also carry baskets and follow a pattern.
Folks are stll in their first outfit.
For this time, the total procession was modified to end back under the tent canopy, whee the next part of the ceremony was done. It appeared that this is the ‘gate’ ceremony, where both sets of parents meet together. The bride’s family receives the groom. I also observed other interactions going on between the two families. I suspect that this was also the time of the family ceremony as things progressed into the day.
Then the families gathered on both side of the center area, neatly ordained with items you may see in one of the pictures. Candles were lit and the wedding candle was lit at the end of this segment. This is the point when a lot of discussion happened, prayers over the couple, words of wisdom, affirming the union (I understand this replaces ancestor rituals).
It seemed that at this time the groom presented symbolic gifts to the bride’s family, which would represent responsibility and provision for his bride.
Change into Outfit #2 (another traditional khmer style)
The second outfit is usually a traditional outfit, with perhaps gold, red or pastel silk. According to reading, this reflects Cambodian culture and tradition of multiple outfits.
Midday is the church/religious ceremony. In this case that was also done under the same canopy as everything else that had been completed earlier in the day. This is where long, heartflet, encouraging ‘sermons’ or simple words of encouragement were given by the officiants of the ceremony. Sometimes I understand that maybe this part may happen in a church or parent home. But today it was all under the canopy near the sprawling forthcoming eating area to happen later.
This is when the rings are exchanged, and the vows are done, as well as prayers for the couple. On this daym the couple dressed in ‘western’ style attire, a white wedding dress and tuxedo. Outfit #3.
Afternoon: Photos and Social Time ~ family; friends; wedding party
We rested for hours after that as it was the heat of the day. Lots of hammocks were strung everywhere. Workers quietly cleaned up the area for the nighttime activities.
Third Outfit Change: Change into Outfit #4 (Reception Khmer outfit)
Bride and groom change again into another traditional or elegant outfit.
Evening ~ Reception
Grand Entrance: Couple is introduced to guests. Walk onto stage with music.
Speeches: parents, pastor, friends speak. Toast: guests celebrate the couple. There is a meal, music, karaoke, music. If there was a cake, I missed it this time.
Dancing and Celebration Khmer music and modern songs.
Guests join dancing. Great socializing. More photographs. I reckon thousands of photographs were taken that day. Of course, each wedding has its own special parts, depending on the tastes of the family and the couple, the location of the wedding, and even preferences along the way that are preferred. No wedding will ever mirror another; each has its own story to tell. Amen!
So many more photos to share, but this site limits the size. Sorry!
