Entertainment at Weddings makes a good debate as many may not agree with the kind of entertainment being provided for at weddings. It is customary for weddings to have some form of entertainment as part of “Malam Berjaga-jaga” ( night watch) to keep the feelings of festivity prior to the wedding day at the bride or the groom’s residence.
In the past, live bands have been procured to provide for the entertainment. Others opted for karaoke machines and singers with good voice to provide the entertainment. During the wedding day, more subdued entertainment or musical ensemble in the form of gulingtangan or hadrah groups echo in the background of the wedding hall.
Some wedding couple opted for a post wedding reception at a hotel or hall whereby some form of entertainment had been choreographed to suit the budget and likes of the wedding couple. One Chinese wedding reception that I have attended found the groom and bride entertained their guests by singing and playing the instruments themselves. It was a pride of joy watching them performing together as I found out they have been taking guitar, piano and singing lessons together. Another Malay wedding reception that I had attended, had many of the senior guests walked out of the wedding hall when the entertainment provided that night came in the form of drag queen cabaret whereby some felt it was not their cup of tea and was too risqué having young kids around watching those performances.
What ever your opinion on entertainment being provided at weddings, I personally feel that the guests should respect the authority of the bride and groom in terms of selection. I haven’t come across a situation whereby it is compulsory to inform the guests on the kind of entertainment that will be provided, written in the wedding invitation.
At a recent wedding, I was able to witness an Arabic ensemble of musicians that hail from Pontianak, Indonesia named, Orkes Gambus Anujum that is renowned for their Middle Eastern music repertoires and Zapin performances. According to Hussin Al Hadad, one of the group members, the ensemble has been performing for the past forty years in Indonesia and Malaysia at weddings and corporate functions attended by state dignitaries. For those interested to engage the group to perform at their weddings, at an agreed price, they will travel from Indonesia to Brunei Darusslaam. They can be contacted at +6281522573448
Jln K.H.W. Hasyim, No 61 A, Pontianak, Indonesia.
