Mike & Freada

When I think of a wedding ceremony, what comes to mind? Bride in a white wedding dress, groom in a tux, church setting, flower bouquets, and walking down the aisle.

Mike and Freada's  decided to honor Freada's Khmer upbringing and had a Khmer traditional wedding ceremony. Being able to attend and photograph Mike and Freada's wedding was such a great experience, I was able to first hand experience and witness the colors, details and pagentry that were involved in a Cambodian wedding ceremony. Thanks Mike and Freada for such a memorable experience.

So what exactly takes place in a Cambodian wedding ceremony?  There are basically five ceremonies in a Khmer wedding. At Mike's and Freada's wedding, the following took place.

The first ceremony, Prayer Ceremony, took place Friday.  The wife's home is the venue where the ceremony takes place. The Achar (Master of Ceremony) direct the ceremony and Buddhist monks are brought in to deliver a short sermon to those gathered.  Those who are present will recite the prayers and bless the couple. This ceremony is usually for family and a few close relatives and friends.

Cambodian weddings begin with the groom and his family traveling to the bride's home bearing gifts for the bride's family. The groom will await before the door for the arrival of the bride and the bride will welcome the groom with flowers.

The second ceremony is the Hair Cutting Ceremony.

To prepare a bride and groom for life as a married couple, their hairs are cut, symbolically. This represent a fresh start of their relationship as husband and wife. The Master of Ceremony performs the first symbolic cut and wishes the couple happiness, prosperity and longevity. Then it's the bride and groom's parents, relatives and friends, who take turn "cutting" the bride and grooms hairs and blessing them with well wishes.

The third ceremony is the Bongvul Pbopul - Passing of Blessings.

In this ceremony, married couples in attendance are asked to gather in a circle around the bride and groom.  Three candles are lit and handed from person to person.  Each participant passes his or her right hand over it in a sweeping motion toward the couple, as a act of sending or throwing silent blessings to them.  Only married couples are are asked to participate, as it is believed they will pass along a "special" quality to preserve the union of the newlywed.  The candles are passed around clockwise seven times to complete the ceremony.

The fourth ceremony is the Sompeas Ptem - Knot Typing Ceremony.

Khmer wedding traditionally have a knot typing ceremony, but it is for the guest who to tie the know.  Family and friends are invited to come forward to bring their best wishes and blessings to the new couple by individually typing ribbons around each of their wrist.  The knots are tied on both the bride and groom, who are required by tradition to wear them for three days after the ceremony to preserve good luck. 

The final and most memorable ceremony of the wedding, family and friends, after tying the knots, shower upon the couples praises, well-wishes of happiness, good health, success, prosperity and long lasting love.  It is accompanies by loud sound of the gong and joyful cheer.  To top it off, the ceremony concludes with a shower of palm flowers thrown over the new couple.