The Akad Nikah is the marriage contract or marriage solemnization part of a traditional Muslim wedding. I knew a little bit about it, things I’d learned from photographs, friends and wedding assignments for work, but until yesterday morning, I’d never actually attended one before.
The thing that struck me the most was how simple and communal everything was. The couple’s closest friends and family gathered around them for the ceremony, some sitting on the floor, others standing around. It felt really homely because it was held in the groom’s living room – some opt to have their ceremony in a mosque – and everyone just seemed laidback and happy without detracting from the solemnness of the occasion. I thought there was something really beautiful about that aspect of it.
In the picture, the groom is taking his marriage vows and signing the marriage contract before a religious official while the bride looks on. The bride doesn’t get to say anything during the ceremony, which I’ll admit felt a little weird to me.
The couple exchanging wedding rings after the ceremony. In more conservative fashion, the bride kisses her new husband’s hand while the groom kisses his new wife on the forehead. Unlike the Western ‘you may kiss the bride’ custom, which feels romantic, this feels really sweet. And did I mention that the newlyweds are absolutely darling?
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Congratulations, Di and Raph! From the black bridesmaid dresses to the fun-nest doorgifts ever, your wedding was just too cool. Love you.
(Photo taken from dawnwoo.com.)
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Y and I were up 7.30 yesterday morning to attend the wedding of one of my childhood friends. I’d probably only seen Jo twice since I was 16 – my wedding ceremony, and my wedding dinner. But we’d kept in touch via MSN and that most glorious of creations, Facebook. Now it was her turn to get married.
The wedding ceremony was held in the Botanical Gardens of Putrajaya, where the rain clouds moved on in time for the grass to be not too muddy and the photographs to turn out great. The only way to have a garden wedding in Malaysia, really, is to have it at 9am, which Jo did. So it’s not too hot. And/or keep it short and very sweet.
I had to admit, even as the sun rose higher in the sky and heat-sensitive Y threatened to melt into a pool of slush, it was really lovely. There was even a lake. And of course, the bride.
Jo has always been gorgeous, but as a bride, she was stunning. I’d never met her husband, Shaun, before, but Jo started crying almost as soon as she saw Shaun standing at the altar. He sang through tears while she walked down the aisle. I have a thing for grooms who cry when they see their bride walking towards them – I know it’s not necessarily accurate but I always think it must be true love when that happens. Not that it isn’t when they don’t.
There used to be three of us. We were the same age and we would hang out and tell each other our secret crushes. We went through the UPSR and PMR exams together and never got competitive over our results. Now two out of three of us are married. And each time one of us tied the knot, the other two were there. I think there’s something really beautiful in that.
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I dare anybody to do this. You wouldn’t be the first (obviously), but I’ll really love you for it.
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Over two months and the pics are still coming…
Nel, these are G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S. No worries about the wait, though I am totally excited about seeing the rest of ‘em.
Oh and for the rest of you, I think this link might take you to more.
Am blown away.
Huge thanks again, Nel.
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