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Published: April 30th 2006
Bride and groom
The bride and groom. Not to be rude, but doesn't the bride look slightly scary?Khmer weddings are a rather mystified affair. To me, it doesn’t seem like the bride and groom can get much fun out of the wedding. Apparently there is a whole two-day ceremony which I have never been to, however, I have been to the celebration which can be good fun. When you arrive the bride and groom, plus all the bridesmaids and best men and an assorted selection of the family, will stand in a row in the entrance, greeting each guest separately and give them some small present like a key ring (very often a key ring, in fact I have never received anything but key rings). Since there is no set time for when the celebration is to start, and guests are encouraged to just pop in at whatever time suits them the best, it means that the bride and groom will stand at the entrance at the venue for up to five hours, or more… Although, during this time the bride will be whisked away a couple of times to change dress and jewelry for no other apparent reason than that she probably is dead bored. Apparently the bride will have seven dresses she has to go through
Pretty girl
The girl seated next to me. I am not sure if she was completely happy with me wanting to take a picture of her... during any given wedding. The poor groom however, seems to be stuck in the same garb during the whole thing.
So, after the guests have been greeted they enter the venue, which can be a restaurant (if the groom’s family got money) or outdoor (if they have less so). There will have been set up lots of tables and chairs where guests will seat themselves wherever they fancy. Normally a nine course meal will then be served, and of course free flow of beers and soft drinks. Guests will eat their fill and drink their fill, and then take their leave. Wedding presents are not done here, instead all the guests will leave money in envelopes for the bride and groom. This money is to help the newlywed to start a new life together, although I suspect that the money more often goes to pay for the wedding. The normal amount, if you are not particular close to the couple, or if you don’t know them altogether, seems to be US$10. Since it seems to me that Khmer thinks that the more the better when it comes to guests in a wedding, total strangers often get invited to come along.
And to many tourists delight, quite often they find themselves invited to a local weddings. Paying US$10 for free food and beers, as well as the experience seems for many a very cheap price. Maybe that should be the next tourist attraction…
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