Desmond's BIG FAT Chinese Wedding (Pt 1)

Within less than a month, I was 'saman' with another RED BOMB. This time not only cordially invited for the Banquet Dinner, but to undertake full day role as a 'L' license wedding event photographer... Geee I should learn more photography tasks with AndyKho.com or be the apprentice from Jackie Studio or Alvin Leong... not to forget from Sidney Wee too hehehehe...

That's my collegue's wedding invitation card... so I had to wake up at 5.30am, grab Eric @ 6.30am and drove to the groom house before 7.15am. Bong was there earlier around 6am with Tay and Liew in the Bride house earlier... there goes my event!!.

Desmond's wedding is a BIG FAT one... not because he opt for a 'Fat Lady' (sorry if insulted) but the reason defined as a 'BIG FAT' wedding was the meal or the food served. I am tempted with all the Kuih, Cakes, Meals served during the pre-banquet dinner... let you decide...

My breakfast come with a cup of local brewed 'kopi' with all the yummy Kuching's Nyonya Kuih...

... with a generous portion of home-made cheese cake... the Cheese flavor very 'kow' ... better than the Secret Recipe's... my only regret is I did not 'ta pow' back *sigh*...Anyway we enjoyed this while ...waiting for the right 'timing'... (before 8.15am must reach the bride's parent house in Matang)... Whew!.

Thats the charming groom (Desmond)... for nearly 30yrs he had to tie is own ties... wash his own clothes include underwear, sleep in his own bed alone... but in few hours time... this will be changing...

I happend to observe that this collegue of mine keep alot of cute cute mini me stuff... like this ducking 'toys' as deco....not to forget ... he is also a fan of 'hello kitty' ... I do alot of sourcing around for 'Barbie Dolls' but can't find any...


The chinese wedding is normally full of relatives..

Aiya this Blog is on Weddings... remember??... back to the subject. Chinese Wedding to date have many culture and tradition to follow... depending on the Chinese Dialect styles... like Chinese food, the culture come with diffrent flavour and styles such as TeoChew, Hakka, Hokkien, FooChow, Cantones etc.

As for Desmond's, it's a mixture of TeoChew + FooChow + Hakka... all rojak out to get a fine brew of marriage.

'hamper' to bring along for fetching bride...To fetch the bride, the groom and his troop of 'ho hia ti' (Good Brothers) must remember to bring all necessary items for their quest and complete all the challenges..

All set and we started our Journey in from 11th Mile to Matang, Kuching. It took us 45 mins to reach the other part of Kuching. This show the facts that Kuching is 'Bigger' than Singapore...

Very traditional teochew family will not allow blocking of the door when the groom comes to fetch the bride. Bargaining for a red packet to open the door is considered crass for teochew....so lucky lar our groom for being a TeoChew!. Tips: Let your sisters troop know in advance if an elder in the family objects to this particular custom.

Thats our Groom...see without a partner to help him to adjust his tie... aiya... nevermind!.

The bride was accompanied by her father ...revealing herself for the first time for the day...As a Hakka's Tradition, the Groom can enter the Bride house but can only go as far as the door step before the Bride and the sisters (chi mui) get some 'Ji Mui Fan' errr.... Sister's Rice??

Grabing the 'Ji Mui' Fan... and coins!! resemble GOLD! & Money!

So the Groom... only can watch at a far distance...

After grabing what they can... now the 'bring Bride Home' event begin... hahaha or the wedding ceremony begin!

tadaaaa!!... the Bride had to help the Groom with all the clothing etc... tie etc..

Tadddaaa!! my second breakfast meal!....roti bun served by the bride's Family... not sure whose tradition is this... Is this FooChow's? Again the bakery is good.
the Charming Couple....
with the bride's flow and rice....

Ok... they had to have breakfast together... and they had Mee Sua... thats Foochow's wedding tradition. The couple must have this tasty breakfast with Red Egg to resemble prosperity and easy 'egg' production!..

The whole group of 'ho hia ti' (Good Brothers) are also served with Mee Sua and eggs...
Thats my portion of Mee Sua .... simply delicous (my 3rd meal before lunch).
We all enjoyed it.... Another bowl of that is fine!
My Red Egg!!
Final advice to the bride on Dos and Donts!...

PIMP MY RIDE!!... 'not fast and not furious' as everything had to be done with with great details, precise, and no mistakes ... the Wedding Car!!....in the hand of the Driver. For chinese wedding... the driver being the most important roles as need to be on time, skillful, precise and make no mistake... big responsibility....Thanks to Bong for the role!.

A good fortune woman or the matchmaker will shelter the bride with an umbrella while she is under the open sky.

Fire Cracker... he had to wait and 'rehearsal' for great length of time with the lighter.... before

Errr.... anyone observed a 'GT Queen' setting on the rules and raise the 'bra' oppsss 'Flag' as in '2 Fast 2 Furious'
Ready Seto ...... BANG BANG fire crackers!!.

Bye Bye ... home a way!... another 50mins ride home ...to reach the Groom's home before 9.30am...

.............. Happily Married!!... Traditionally, Timing is the critical factor in TeoChew Styles ... teochew bride is fetched to the groom's home during early in the morning some even before daylight.

Driver roles again ... upon arriving, he had to be the 'Car PArking Attendance' and 'Bell Boy'... opening doors for the 'Boss'. hehehe

So finally @ home.... A charming Couple in their Wedding Room full of Gifts brought over by the Bride... resemble she now 'pindah rumah' (Change Home Address) hahahaha.

They brought over Chicken too.... I wonder did anyone ever bring over KFC's ?

Daily use products.... sewing kits, kato, shampoos, facial foams etc.... including oranges... leaving behind vibrators etc... (kidding)!!...

If it is really too early and the groom's relatives have not arrived for the tea ceremony, the couple can have a short rest or an outdoor photo-session while waiting..

or the Groom had to teach the with how to do 'house work' *LOL* gee another FooChow's tradition?

....

The Driver seem to be Pao Sua Pao Hai (Cover the Mountain and Cover the Sea) ... now he become the candle lighters ...ensuring candles light not blown out!!...

Modern chinese wedding usually skip the ancient ritual of the three prayers.... but the respect for the ancester this a must as a Chinese Culture regardless of dialect.

Another light meals... of cakes... to me thats my 4th 'tea break' in 2 hours before the lunch break... isn't this a BIG FAT Wedding?...

The tea ceremony is the most significant event in a modern Chinese Wedding. The bride is formally introduced to the groom's family through the chinese wedding tea ceremony. It will usually take place on the wedding day when most of the family members are present.....
... All relatives are waiting for the ceremony....

The tea ceremony for the groom's side is usually in the morning once the couple has settled down a bit in the bridal home. During this time, the bride is formally introduced to the groom’s family through the Chinese wedding tea ceremony..

.....Within each generation, dad's relatives are served before mum's relatives.

In some family, the bride (and some will choose to do so together with the groom) may serve her parents tea in the morning before she is married. When she returns for the bride's home visit, she is already a married woman.

Everyone is delighted and HAPPY!! JOYFUL ....

While ... waiting for Lunch... everyone will just enjoy, relax and comment on the 'photos' hahahaha not taken by me for sure... and...

taking photos.... eeerrr... another bride in making?
lots and lots of Family photos... whew!! cool!

errr... this will be The Driver cum bell boy cum parking attendance cum candle lighter cum now.... the waiter...

setting up the lunch... really pao sua pao hai...

The Lunch.... very tempting ....after the lunch... we still had to wait for the 'right' timing for the event.

So I just roam around the Groom's garden and happen to know he had a green finger.

Ok ok ... the candle bakar half way already... so time to move on to the next event!.... the 'Bride's home visit'

In the olden days, the bride’s home visit which is the final step of the Chinese wedding ceremony is done three days after the wedding ceremony. Nowadays, everything is simplified. The modern Chinese wedding ceremony processes are all compressed into a one day event.... Thanks to one thing call the 'CAR' and the Pao Sua Pao Hai Driver.

the bride will change out of her western style wedding gown. This change of clothes symbolizes the passing of three days!(However, I know that some brides actually didn’t change their costumes but instead went back without the veil....mine practise that too!) The bride may choose to change into another western dress, a cheongsam or a traditional red chinese wedding gown called kwa. ... or something normal!

During the bride’s home visit, Ngi Glotinous Rice balls) or tong yuen tong sui will be served to wish the couple a sweet harmonious marriage.

.... Just Marriedthe Tong Sui were offered to everyone too.....

Including me... I had my portion....

Tea ceremony for the relatives on the bride's side is usually held in the afternoon when the couple complete the 'Bride home Visit'.

... one thing good about Tea drining ceremony... got Ang Pow...
No wonder everyone is queing up... hehehehe

So this is what defined as A 'BIG FAT CHINESE WEDDING'.

*To be Continued*