Bersanding

    

Picture credit to blog owner : Nurmadihah Khalil

    The Bersanding, literally “the day of completion” , which also involves the bersanding or ceremonial seating on the decorated ‘Pelamin ‘, is considered  the biggest part of a  Malay wedding.

     Before the bersanding ceremonial, the bride will change into the wedding gown , or wedding clothes, and various fashions may be tried out in selecting the dress to be worn for the bersanding. Popular and well known bersanding fashions and styles usually come from the Minangkabau tradition, Kelantanese styles , styles that are based from the West and many more.As time passes by , the Bersanding style will change according to time and season.

     The bridegroom is not permitted to enter the bride’s house before the bride sends him a arranged betel leaf known as sirih latlat or sirih genggam.  This is a sign that the bride now awaits the appearance of the bridegroom. The bridegroom  walks slowly towards the house of the bride, he is led by  womenfolk. This is the ceremony of berarak, or walking in crowd.  Behind them come the group of musicians playing various types of drums, especially the hand-held kompang, as well as bearers of decorative flowers (bunga manggar).However , nowadays , there will be a DJ playing various songs and music  in the ceremony.

    Both the bride and the bridegroom are invited  for the bersanding ceremony.They will be seated on their chairs on the platform (pelamin) the couple are blessed with scented water, henna, sandalwood paste and rice flour paste. The bersanding publicly ratifies both of the newlywed couple.

Picture credit to blog owner : Nurmadihah Khalil

     Following the bersanding the newly-married couple  will come down to the halaman rumah for lunch or dinner (kenduri), to which guests will be invited.This is called as Makan Beradab , where the foods served to the wedding couple will be a bit different and special from the foods served to the guests.The foods also will be decorated nicely and exclusively. Further activities including light entertainment  or  traditional dance sessions may take place in the evening to conclude  the Malay wedding.After that , the couple will go to the guests to thank them for their availability to come at their wedding ceremony