Tony and Socheata's Wedding

Khmer Christian Wedding

Tony & Socheata 

Dec 16th & 17th 2016

   Phally and Chris's niece Socheata , was planning her wedding for Dec. 16th and 17th.

A few months ago, she and her parents came to us and asked if we would mind being Mom and Dad to the groom ( Tony), if his parents could not attend, the wedding  they are from Canada, and his father is still recovering from having 4 strokes last year, so it was a bit iffy, if they would be able to attend, God is good and He made a way for Tony's father to attend the wedding with finances and his health seemed to stabilize! but his wife, who suffers with MS was concerned about the heat, so she wasn't able to attend.. Hence I was asked if I would still be willing to be the MOM for Tony in the wedding ceremonies. For some reason, they have to have 2 people to keep things balanced for the ceremonies! 

   Timing was great, because I was able to help with Vondy big Christmas Celebration on the 11th and then stay for the week to help get ready for the wedding. It was a very busy week, with lots of cooking to help with between the meal at Vondy's and then all the family and friends that had come to stay for the wedding. On thursday the Wedding Company came and set up the big tent in front of the house  and decorated the main room in the brides parents house. but first they had to empty the furniture and things out. The first 3 ceremonies on Friday would be held there at the home. So the wedding caters fixed food for everyone on Thursday eve. all 3 meals on Friday and then breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Saturday the ceremonies would be at the church, " Cambodia Christian Church, where the brides Grandpa has been the Pastor until this year, now his Son Yut is taking over the Pastor role. the big reception was held at a hotel. Saturday eve.

  Vondy gave me one of her Traditional Khmer outfits, to wear at the wedding then to keep for a souvenir:). Then Lada, ( phally sister and mother of the bride) and her other sister Rajana, decided I needed a different outfit for each ceremony, So Rajana went and got 3 of her outfits for me try on. I kinda felt like a doll being dressed up! The next day a girl came to adjust the fit of all the outfits. 

   As tradition dictates, weddings start at 7am so everyone has to be made up and ready by then, so 4am we ( all the girls and "mothers" in the wedding)  were up and in one of the bedrooms in the house where there was 3 girls doing makeup and 2 guys doing hair for everyone. I kinda suggested I could do my own, but was told no, they will do for you :) It was an experience :) I had no idea what I looked like until I went back to the room I was staying in, and hardly recognized myself!

me with the flower girl

There were 3 ceremonies on Friday:
1st the "Fruit Walk,"
Breakfast :
2nd "Hair Cutting ceremony "
( Pretend to cut the hair!)
Lunch
rest time
3rd ceremony was "Honoring/Thanking the Parents"
then was dinner and dancing and karaoke for those who wanted to have fun!
Most of the guests attending Friday was family and close friends

On the left is the brides younger sister & on the right is her cousin

The "Fruit Walk" is the Groom and family coming bearing fruits and pastries, "gifts" representing his dowry to come present to the bride and her family. Girls sing 2 songs and khmer dance telling the story of this.

breakfast after the "Fruit Walk"

left to right, Stan, grooms cousin, grooms father, me, Tony the groom, his sister, her husband , Phally and Chris

start of the Hair cutting ceremony 

Hair Cutting Ceremony: This is symbolic of preparing the bride and groom for a new life together as husband and wife. There is song and dance and a comedy act, telling the stories of the beauty of the bride, and others telling story of working together to begin life as husband and wife .

  Each of the Relatives from parents then grandparents to Aunts and Uncles take a turn symbolically cutting hair, sprinkling perfume , shower blessings on the couple.

announcer of the hair cutting ceremony

Grandma and Grandpa Hair Cutting Ceremony ( all the relatives get to take a turn)

Posed photos after "Hair Cutting Ceremony" 

The last Ceremony on Friday afternoon was the "Honoring the Parents" ceremony: Its where the Bride and groom hold umbrellas over the parents heads, while the Pastor talks about all the Parents have done for them since they were born, and now its the bride and grooms turn to care for the parents, a "reversing of roles" The Pastor talks a lot about the responsibilities involved. 

( I think this ceremony should be included in our weddings!) 

On Saturday we enjoyed and early breakfast of Baba, then off to the church for the Church service ceremony and a change of clothes for the bride and groom and the Hand Tying Ceremony

In the Church service the Pastor shared from scripture and they shared communion, unity candle, rings exchange etc. much like our western ceremonies. followed by a word from the father of the bride and Father of the groom, & grandfather then prayer over the new couple.

 

flower girl "taking a selfie?"

Then the " Hand Tying Ceremony was where the parents and relatives, tie strings of blessings, on the bride and grooms left and right wrists. symbolizing, wishing of prosperity, success, good health, and long lasting love. then a prayer of blessing over them 

Beginning of Hand Tying Ceremony

Brides Parents the string onto wrists and sprinkle with rose water

Our turn ( I had to do it with the Grooms father then with Stan.)

After this was over everyone came back to the Brides parents home to enjoy lunch together, A rest time and then prepare for the Big reception that evening! 

Bride & bridesmaids ( changed outfits 3 times!)

coming into Reception hall

Introducing the Bride & Groom during the Reception

 

Maru, me, Sokry