Traditional Cambodian Wedding 8:30 Am - 1:00 PM @t Parent's Home
(Location traditionally takes place on the bride's side)
6:00 AM
- Hair & Make Up for Bride & Bridal Party
- Groomsmen get ready too
- Photographers arrive
8:00 AM
- Day of Coordinators arrive
8:15 AM
- Bride & Groom 1st outfit change
- Bridal party 1st and only outfit change
8:30 AM
- Blessings from the Monk or Soat Mun
- Bride & Groom 2nd outfit change. Hair and Make up Touch ups
- Call to Ancestors
- Pairing Ceremony or Knot Tying Ceremony
Blessings along with money and jewelry are given during the The Knot Tying ceremony
We did not have the groom's procession. This is when the groom and his groomsmen parade down the street with friends and family in tow - carrying fruits and gifts wrapped in bright colors to the bride's home. It is definitely a spectacular sight to behold but my hubby and I decided not to have this ceremony as it was more for show than anything else. We also did not want the presentation of dowry, a complex and lengthy ceremony to perform. We skipped the hair cutting ceremony aka the Cleansing ceremony (sometimes this entails washing your future husband's feet!) and the Tea Ceremony, which is a great way for Cambodian Chinese couples to observe their Chinese heritage.
Originally we planned to perform this ceremony but alas time was not on our side so the very expensive fine China tea set I received as a gift from my husband did not get used. I really wanted to honor each of our parents and pay respect to our Chinese roots. So in total we had 3 ceremonies with bits and pieces of cultural love here and there. My husband's cousin married us at the Western ceremony. He also provided music with his flute at our Cambodian ceremony. It was such a special blessing for us because it made our wedding so warm and personal. We never felt so much love.
Many of the fruits symbolize fertility. The Cambodian eggplant (round with green and white stripe marks) are called "trop" in Khmer. The word sounds similar to the Khmer word for"Fortune" so it is always part of the dowry presentation.
Tips
- Keep it simple. Save time and money by selecting only to wear 1 or 2 outfits. Stay with one bridal look for your Cambodian ceremony.
- Choose outfits that will not only look good on you but your groom too. I would avoid overtly feminine colours like pink and purple. There are colors that might not work on some complexions - like lime green. Blue, Red, Gold & White are gender neutral. It is best to select the outfits in advance to ensure proper fitting.
-You don't need to hire live musicians for the ceremony. The cost of this service can exceed $1,000. The Cambodian coordinator/stylist or Priest should be able to provide recorded music as part of their services. Each ceremony has its own song so you will only need songs for the ceremony you selected.
- Decor should be bright and bold to represent the richness of Cambodian culture. Silver and Gold are found in many of the decor pieces and traditional clothing worn during the ceremony.
- The flowers should compliment the decor. Look for blooms with a Asian flair like Oriental Lily, Orchids and exotic Bird of Paradise and Plumeria. Roses and Carnations are also ideal because they come in a myriad of colours. Greenery like bear grass, palm leaves, ti leaves or banana leaves (can be found frozen in the Asian grocery store) make nice full fillers too. Dracaena also known as Lucky Bamboo also make beautiful arrangements. Palm Flower seeds will be needed for tossing. My mother-in-law was kind enough to bring it over from California. Some Asian markets will have them available too.
- Prepare yourself for a long day by getting plenty of rest the night before. I know this is easier said than done but you definitely want to wake up feeling refresh and energize. I took 10mg of melatonin the night before the wedding to help ease my nerves so I could fall asleep. Melatonin is naturally found in the body and is safe and non-habit forming.
12:30 PM
- Lunch
- Formal Portraits
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
- Cinematographer Arrives
- Personal Flowers delivered
- Resting
- Hair & Make Up/Getting Ready for Reception
- Travel
- Vendors Arrive to set up
- Bridal Portraits with Bridal Party
Western Ceremony & Reception 6:00 PM - 11:30 PM @t Easton Beach Rotunda
6:00 PM- Processional
6:15 PM
- Recessional
6:30 PM
- Cocktail hour
7:20 PM
- Introductions
7:30 PM
- First Dance
- Dinner
8:15 PM
- Dancing
- Cake Cutting
8:45 PM
- More Dancing
- Private Portrait Session: Bride and Groom
- Meet & Greet with guests
(Bride and Groom with their bridal party visits each table to collect gifts and thank guests)
11:00 PM
- Bar Closes
11:30 PM
- Reception Ends
12:00 AM
- DOC drives us to our hotel for the night :-)
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10 comments:
Hello. I'm traveling from the states to battembang to get married to a Cambodian princess in October and I'm wondering how much it would cost.
Weddings in Cambodia are relatively inexpensive by comparison to weddings in the states. A few grand is sufficient for a wedding. 5k or more will be a lavish affair for a large wedding. Location also determines prices too as PP and Siem Reap is more tourist friendly, prices and packages are comparably higher although there are more options. It will cost MORE to bring her here than it would be to have a wedding in Cambodia. Generally the bride's side will make the arrangements with the dowry received by the groom and his family. My advice is to have a 1 day wedding...two days IS very time consuming, stressful and exhausting for both the bride and groom. Good luck my friend!
Hi Moni,
I'm an apparel design student at Oregon State University and I am currently designing a wedding gown for the use of a Cambodian bride who lives in America. Our group is trying to implement both traditional Cambodian wedding styles, and American styles. Part of our process is finding out more about the traditional styles, but we are having a hard time finding scholarly resources. Would you be willing to provide some information on what certain garments are called such as the sash, the dress, or any other traditional Cambodian garments worn on the day of the wedding and what they symbolize? Thank you.
,Katie
Dear Moni,
I am an apparel design student at Oregon State University and I am currently designing a bridal gown that can be used for a Cambodian women living in the United States. I've been having some troubles finding scholarly information on the types of dress worn on the wedding day and what they symbolize. Would you happen to know the names of the garments, and what they symbolize? Such as the sash, the belt, color choices, and jewelry? Thank you
,Katie
Hi Katie,
My knowledge of the historical significance or symbolism behind the traditional wedding garments worn is somewhat limited but What I do know might help with your research. The traditional wedding garments are meant to imitate what Cambodian royalty wore - which is why the bride and groom are treated like a Prince and Princess! As a result Gold and Silver are the two most popular colors worn by the bride and groom. Bright colors are part of our rich cultural heritage. Black is considered taboo which is why even guests attending the Cambodian ceremonies do not wear black. Silk, a highly regarded material is most commonly used in wedding garments and special occasion clothing. Premium quality lace (introduced by the French) is also popularly used too. Ethnic Chinese Cambodian also choose to wear Red during the ceremony. As Red symbolizes happiness. If you see small details worn by the bride like gilded gold dragon bracelets or gold snake details in the ornate jewelry, it is symbolic of the folklore origin story of Cambodia - The Naga (Snake) Princess. As for the sash, it is called a Sbaay or S'baayt usually made from Silk or lace is usually worn over a silk or lace fabric blouse. For instance, Lace Sbaay over Silk Blouse combo and vice versa. The skirt is called a Sampot Chang Kben (worn by both bride and groom) and paired with a blouse (I don't know the proper name). Sampot is similar to the commonly worn Sarong but made from a Silk fabric and the Chang Kben part of the name refers to the special belt or material used to tie/fasten the skirt so it provides a perfect fit for the bride and groom. Sometimes the bride may wear a single piece dress known as a Kahen layered with the sash/Sbaay and jewelry. I have a link below which provides more details of the Sampot/skirt. The different patterns you may see in the silk fabrics, most have a Buddhist tie/religious reference. Hope this helps!
http://khmerfashion.blogspot.com/2008/05/khmer-traditional-dresses-understanding.html
Moni,
This is such great information, I am so thankful to have found you! Are you from Cambodia? What is your connection the culture? If you don't mind me asking. Thanks again :)
,Katie
Your welcome Katie! Good luck with the design of the dress. Let me know if I can answer anymore questions. I am Cambodian, ethnic Khmer (Cambodian) on my father side and Chinese on my mother side. My husband is also Cambodian-Chinese too.
Hi Moni, please advice me. Which is the proposal/ engagement ring finger for the lady? And on which finger, the wedding ring goes into?
Hi Moni,
I was wondering at the time of your wedding how much you and your husband roughly spent on a one day Cambodian wedding?
Wow very nice post i am really impressed after read this post its all information is really helpful for all users.
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