Ekin & Adrin - Akad Nikah

Our heartiest congratulations to the lovely couple.
Original gallery here.
Photos by Eyan

Memoirs of a Bride (Part 6) - Doa Selamat

The husband drifts off to sleep as I walk around packing and unpacking for the doa selamat at night. Time flew quickly and the next thing I know I'm running around and late (again)! We arrive at Polo Club at 6:30 and I get made up straight away. I finish getting ready and tiptoe to the balcony to check out the guests. Zakiyah caught me and made shoo-ing gestures so I go in and wait for my husband to 'pick' me up.

Doa Selamat dinner. An appreciation for the family who really helped out a lot. A big family is an advantage (more helping hands). Without my family helping, we'd be overwhelmed!

We go down together (me nearly tripping at the stairs) and we enter the hall holding hands. My outfit doesn't give me much stepping space so I'm forced to walk with tiny steps. I call out to my husband quite often requesting for him to slow down. We reach the table and pause. Do we go right or left? Oh what the heck! We walk to the right and around the table to our seat. A thank you speech was given by I think Pg Bahrum (my uncle) and he continued with a doa selamat and the food was served.

Caught in the act of checking out my guests!

The fish was good- some sort of steamed fish. Erwan played a video clip from the whole wedding with a Krisdayanti song in the background (which my family totally wiped out after a min). Oh well... Then I saw guests leaving. But am I not supposed to be out there saying my thank you's and goodbye's? I signal to Babu and she's in a daze when she lets me go out. We call mummy and daddy too so we all go out. But people are still eating. Uh-oh! I was early! My bad! Bapa marah's a bit and says its like us telling people to leave.

Lace material bought by Babu in Dubai, made at Lord'ess (Jakarta). Veil bought from Safrina. Tiara and Jewellery lent by Busera's mum.

But no one is leaving anyways. We wait till people are ready to leave and they come and say goodbyes. A few guests took pictures while we were still in line and finally it was done. More pictures were taken with guests that lounged around the hall. My feet were aching from those killer stilettos! Finally we head back home at 11:30pm knackered and straight away hit the sacks. It's been a long and exhausting day.

At the table. Checking out the video.

Our entertainment was strictly no music due to some religious members of my family. My grand dad wanted guling tangan though so we had that only.

Leaving the hall at the wrong time! Whoops!

With the maids. Material for uniform bought at YMRM and made at Idot's tailor.

An advice to future brides, a lot of time preparation time required! I had 2 months to prepare for nikah, 3 months for the other functions calling it a bit rushed is an understatement. Though, it's ok that my wedding wasn't perfect and missed a few touches here and there. It's our journey in marriage that will count. What is the memory of one day to compare to a memory of a lifetime?

Ordered from Singapore via Mangkuk Emas Trading (Batu Bersurat – same row as Red Canopy Café), Flower bought in Jakarta (Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua), Ribbon bought from UK (www.fourseasonsvillage.co.uk)

A few of the many gifts from guests and I would like to take this opportunity to tell everyone it was wonderful of you to share our wedding day with us. Thank you for your good thoughts, your generous gift and for being there. It means the world to us that you care.

Jewellery from my in-laws for the 'menyarungkan'. Not something that we're accustomed to, (not part of our adat) so that was something new.

Next destination, honeymoon? My husband cant get leave due to his involvement with preparations for the Royal birthday. We had a two night stay at Empire sponsored by my Bungsu and the real honeymoon sponsored by my Bapa planned to be in August. Where to? My husband wants a cruise, I want somewhere cold. How about an Alaskan Cruise? I'd like to go to Europe though...

Us.

Unedited entry by the bride herself, Muizzah.
Photography by eyan.

And that is the finale for this series of the wonderfully detailed account of the wedding events that Muizzah has kindly shared with us. Thank you so much for your contribution Muizzah, I'm sure the visitors have been enjoying your memoir and hopefully it will help those who are planning their wedding sometime soon too. We here at Brunei Weddings wish you a happy marriage and a lifetime of happiness - Bulimic.

Wedding Wish List

Chinese weddings usually call for the gifting of gold jewelery by family and little red packets of joy by friends and wedding guests. However, in recent years, I find that couples tying the knot have sought assistance of their close friends to defray the cost of setting up home.

The comment by David on my last post inspired me to upload our Wish List. I'm calling it a wish list as opposed to a gift list simply because it's not a common practice here in Brunei. Wedding invitations will be sent out next week and guests who are wondering about gifts are most welcome to peruse the list. My fantasy wish list can be found here for those who are feeling exceptionally generous :p If nothing on the list appeals, I'm collecting Supa Save stamps so I can get the full Breville collection on offer.

I notice that our very own Inner Space offers a Gift Registry service which I have yet to avail myself of. I wish that most of the major department stores would catch on. It is a rather exhausting to trawl through these stores meticulously documenting brand, description, pricing and product codes to enable generous well-wishers to identify the product with accuracy.

Some may say that telling people exactly what to buy for you does away with the element of surprise. I say surprise is underrated especially when faced with 10 different toasters gifted by 10 different people. As a wedding guest, I've always appreciated it if the wedding couple indicate to us exactly what they need (or don't need) so I can gift them with something that will be appreciated and most importantly, used!

I recall a friend sometime ago telling me that one of the wedding guests had decided to help her decorate her home by buying them a sculpture...now we all know that art is subjective - I may not like what you like - the scuplture now sits in the happy couple's storeroom gathering dust and housing spiderwebs. It is a shame because the sculpture was obviously expensive and the gifter obviously spent a lot of time and effort selecting it.

I may come across as presumptuous and a bit of a b*tch r bridezilla but I believe in being practical. It's always best to give (and receive) something that will actually be used. Moral of the story is...in the absence of a wish or gift list, little red packets are always welcome.

Next post...the appearance of Bridezilla!

Walking down that aisle

The million dollar question: Who will walk me down that aisle to give me away? My beloved daddy has long since passed so that puts the kibosh on the traditional daddy daughter walk. I found this helpful article on eHow which has given me a few ideas. I wonder how everyone will take to me walking down the aisle solo? Not being regarded as a chattel to be traded. No connotations of ownership and being given away. Instead, you can read it as saying, I am my own person and do this of my own volition and free will.

There's 2 months to go to the Big Day. Things seem to be settling in nicely although no less stressfully. It's true when they say getting hitched is one of the more stressful situations in life. So many things to do, so little time! Thankfully, the mothers have taken things into their own hands so all we have to worry about are clothing ourselves, our guest lists and invitations....oh! and of course the hen and stag nights.

Marriage preparation classes have started and we seem to have stumbled onto the difference between the Anglican and Catholic churches - the Anglicans teach the bride and groom about sex, its phases and *ahem* resolution while the Catholics emphasize procreation and how to tell when you're at your most fertile. At our first session last week, the importance and sanctity of the institution of marriage was impressed upon us. They also taught us that the bible says that the bride and groom must leave their parents to start their own lives together - if that's not an endorsement of moving out I don't know what is! Tonight we will learn about "Communication"... I think I may need to get myself a bible. Anyone know where I can download a free copy?

There's been lots of talk about the order of Chinese weddings, in particular, about the games the groom and his brothers have to play when they come to pick up the bride. The bride and her sisters will put the boys through a set of tests to make the groom prove himself. Traditionally in Old China, it would be a way for the bride to test the groom's dedication and (fool)hardyness as they will most likely not Mr & Mrs Chia's was the last one I went to. All in all its a fun but exhausting exercise. I am thankful that my mother has declared "Us Hainanese don't do that sort of thing!" That means a little bit more sleep in the morning. After all who in their right mid would want to turn up at their own wedding with dark circles under their eyes!

I was chatting to a friend earlier today when it hit me just how much my life has changed in the past few years. My whole world view has shifted from one party after another to let's take care of me. I now believe that if you take care of yourself, the rest will come. My immediate concern used to focus on finding the next happening occasion, now it's turned to more domestic matters. Setting up house and home. I'm even getting the urge to go all Martha Stewart and start baking! God help us all!

The house has been secured and minor patching up is underway. I never knew just how much fun furniture shopping can be! A whole new world of retail opportunities has opened. To avoid totally breaking the bank we're taking the tried and tested approach of a wedding registry. Close friends who want to contribute something more personal than an ang pow have the option of helping us furnish our home. Of course one must take great care not to go overboard - it is not polite to ask your friends to buy you a complete B & O home entertainment centre! Not unless your friends include the likes of the Hilton sisters who might oblige without batting an eyelid.

Memoirs of a Bride (Part 5) - Bersanding

I'm so sleepy! I groggily wake up at 8.30am and get into the shower to wash off all the hair spray Moore used on me the night before. Nini Tahir is expected to come to the house to mandikan me at 9am. Moore is already here to fix my flower girls' hair but the flower girls haven't turned up. I'm all set and waiting in the shower. Nini Tahir comes and pours his COLD 'quraan water' on me and goes. Nini pengangun continues with the rest, I have another session of bertangas then I go to my room and get ready.

Guling tangan, entertainment for the morning. They were hip too! I was tapping my feet on the pelamin!My pelamin. A family belonging bought by my grandmum. First used by my mum on her wedding 26 years ago. Fixed by the carpenter from Citra Idaman (Kiulap). Curtains and wallpaper from Haska. Golden pillars lent by Aunty Hjh Noraini. Real flowers on stands from Willyn florist (Kiulap). Jawi centrepiece (reads Allah selamatkan pengantin baru) drawn by my grand dads worker in Pusat Sejarah

Moore finishes with the girls and blow dries my hair as Bu Amas comes. I have the makanan suap-suap (nasi kuning, the boiled egg with the shell coloured red, and some other dishes which apparently were served just because it was tradition) then I scuttle off to have my make up and hair done. It was nearly 11 and I'm later than planned. The kids are all restless (and hungry) so they watch Cinderella 3 and have my junk snacks.

Flower girls. Tiara's and earrings from Singapore. Lace used on gowns from Royal Fabrics (Singapore), glitter chiffon for skirts from 1 ^st Metro. Dresses made at Nie Boutique (Kiulap). Flowers by Willyn florist (Kiulap)My veil lent by my KK cousin (Ka Zura). Tenunan Brunei sponsored by Babu, made from ZA handicraft (Tungku). My outfit made at Luire by Raden Sirait ( Jakarta). Tiara and Jewellery lent by Busera's mum. My hand bouquet from Willyn florist (Kiulap)

Just after noon I'm let off to change, run back up and Moore puts on my tiara, finishes off with my hair and puts on my veil. Bu Amas does final touches on my make up. I persistently complain that my tiara isn't levelled so Moore keeps sticking on pins into my hair. Zalina a.k.a. ZZ, my beautiful maid of honour (qualified veil carrier) appears at 12:30 apologizing repeatedly for being late and starts practicing carrying my veil despite my still sitting down being made up. Ainul, Sera, Sab and Bibi puts on my shoes for me and I'm done! Picture time!

Z practicing holding the veil

Jimmy Choo's lent by Busera

Prince Charming has arrived

Bapa comes up asking if my husband has left (in which I don't know) and he goes ballistic on me saying that the 'mens side' was expected to leave home at 1pm. But its 1.20pm, so I call my husband and he tells me he just got in the car. Oh no! I still continue having pictures with my friends before my two Bu Irings appear to bring me down. My 6 flower girls shuffle in line. I turn to make sure Z is doing ok with the veil and I walk.

When the lights went off! With Princess Nasibah My cousins (mum's side)

As we reach the ground floor, I see tons of mobile phones in the air. I flash smiles to as many as I can before I go in the pelamin room. My aunt stands in front of me (to cover me from the crowd) as I sit and give instructions for Z on how to fix my veil. They're done, they leave and I look up. So many people! So many cameras! So much fun! I'm relaxed, no jitters nor nerves. I look all around the room at everyone I could see. Then I see my aunts! More reminders of my wandering eyes. I give a guilty smile as I look straight to the wall and wait for the arrival of my 'prince'.

Muneerah catching my bouquet!

Ordered from Singapore via Mangkuk Emas Trading (Batu Bersurat – same row as Red Canopy Café), Flower bought in Jakarta (Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua), Ribbon bought from UK (www.fourseasonsvillage.co.uk)

Chatter of him arriving gets into the pelamin room. Soon after, he enters looking very angry and serious. I smile thinking to myself of how 'controlled' he's trying to be. He rests his hand on my forehead (for the menapak), he sits and the salawat is read. Princess Nasibah comes out and sits then babu comes up to us to tell me to salam her. Babu invites Princess to take a picture and she walks towards the pelamin. Just as she stands next to me, the lights go off! Despite that, the photographers are still taking pictures. I worry on how long we'd be electric-less but not long after, the lights go back on and a choir of "naaaahhhh" starts.

Us.

More pictures were taken. Then we're told to go out to the door and wave to people outside. As I look out I think "sunshine!" I don't know why it felt so relieving to see the sun. I must've been cooped in the house for such a long time (since berbedak) for me to appreciate seeing outdoors. Shuffle left, shuffle right, look straight and go in. The crowd starts to thin but we're still taking pictures till around 4pm.

Unedited entry by the bride herself, Muizzah.
Photography by eyan.

Memoirs of a Bride (Part 4) - Berpacar

No one woke me up today so I end up waking up at 11am. Such a great rest! I wait for my maids to send my white outfit to my room while surfing the net and my cousin Illah yells at me telling me to have a shower and I quote "you're lucky you don't have a pengangun, or else you'd be mandi at 8". The family was over last night to berjaga-jaga and only went home at 1:30am (thus my reason for waking up late).

My shoes, an old pair of Vincci's I found lying around

I don't do much today, just waiting for the evening to come. As usual, Moore and Bu Amas arrive to do hair and make up around 6. It's a smaller function today, only close relatives are invited. I'm getting used to all this being made up and 'presenting' myself to a crowd and I feel more relaxed as I'm get ready. I'm nearly done when I change into my outfit. Moore finishes off with my hair as I pick out a kain kapit and shoes. I'm ready and all excited to go down. Its Bungsu's turn to bring me down this time.

Look up, look straight :)

On my way down I still hear the usual don't show 'teeth smile' and I think to myself what is the big deal, its only close family anyways. I'm still talking and laughing on my way down (making the elders more riuh) and just before I go in the pelamin room I flash a big teeth smile to my aunt and go in with a more serious face.

Nana and Azrieff. My guests coming all the way from Malaysia

Today I'm just uncontrollable. My eyes are all over the place, my smile is super wide, I am myself! Everyone takes turn to put on the pacar on my palms (just like during berbedak). Its all over my palm! I think to myself that after they're done its not gone be neat! It was over really quick. I went up to my bilik gata to have the pacar properly put on my hands and feet (doing it traditional style). There was a short debate whether I changed into my white outfit or if I just used what I had on. Babu said I had to look 'nice' so that ended the debate and I used my berpacar outfit.

Bibi, Sera, Ainul and Sab being silly. These girls came to all my functions without fail. Thank you!

First my right hand was done. I told Nini Pengangun to not make it too long on my fingers and not to have the circle too big on the palm. She's very flexible so that was nice. My bottom started aching. It didn't help that I was sitting on wood (gata bed had no mattress). I became restless to somehow ease the pain. Finally I was left to wait (alone). People came in and out of the room talking about what was 'happening' downstairs. Apparently my cousin 'opened' a casino! I really wanted to come down as it was getting boring in the room. I think if anyone wants to berpacar, do it where the crowd is so you wont be lonely! Just after midnight I was allowed to remove my pacar. I went down to see what was left of my guests but there was none. Tomorrow is my bersanding and I should be having my beauty nap. I put on my eye mask and head off to sleep. I'm excited!

As comfortable as it gets!

Jewellery lent from Busera's mum, bunga goyang lent from my grand mum, pink lace material of my outfit bought by my mum in Dubai (sewn at tailor- Mrs Kong), make up done by my aunt Bu Amas, hair done by Moore (Evina salon)

Unedited entry by the bride herself, Muizzah.
Photography by eyan.

Zarra and Salsabeelaa - Nikah

Congratulations to Zarra PHD and Aiman Salsabeelaa on their engagement and Nikah this afternoon. Here are some photos from today's function.

Mr and Mrs...

Gifts for Zarra and ring for her

Groom getting ready for the nikah

Zarra waiting patiently for the big moment.. becoming.. someone's Mrs..

Getting blessings from her hubby

Wishing Zarra and Salsabeela.. the best for their new life and happiness forever...