If you have ever been to a traditional Chinese Wedding and a traditional Malay wedding in Singapore, do you know how different they are? Malay weddings usually involve various rituals and festivities that encompass two whole days. If it’s your first time experiencing a Malay wedding, as one of the wedding party or an observer, here’s what to expect.

Henna Night

Henna night occurs either the night before solemnization or two days before it. Family members, relatives, and close friends gather at the house of the bride-to-be. They decorate her hands and feet with henna. Depending on how intricate the bride wants the henna design to be, the process can take a long time. The henna is allowed to dry for 4–6 hours. In some cases, to achieve a darker stain, the bride-to-be may sleep with the henna on. After the drying period, she washes the henna off, and the stained design remains.

Day 1: Solemnization

The next phase of the wedding is solemnization. This usually takes place on a Friday evening or in the morning during the weekend. Only the relatives, immediate family, and close friends attend this ceremony, which occurs in the local mosque, at the bride’s house, or at the venue where the wedding reception will later be held.

Day 1: The Photo Shoot

It’s common for the bride and the groom to go for a photo shoot after the solemnization. Typically, the photos are taken outdoors by a professional photographer. However, in case of inclement weather, the couple should prepare a backup location that is protected from the elements.

Day 2: Wedding Reception

Traditionally, a double wedding reception is usually held the next day. One reception takes place at the bride’s home, while the other occurs at the groom’s home. For modern weddings, some families host a joint wedding reception at a local venue in Singapore.

The timeline for the day’s events begins with the bride rising early, perhaps around 8 a.m., and beginning her preparations. Around 11:30 a.m., guests begin arriving at the location for the joint wedding reception. The bride is already there, ready and waiting for her groom upon a dais.

Around 12:30 p.m., the groom arrives with his entourage of brothers, relatives, and close friends. He has to go through a ritual of “gate-crashing,” in which he and his friends are blocked from entering the venue by the bride’s family members. Sometimes the groom is dared to accomplish certain physical activities or feats, and he also is expected to give out some packet money as a “bribe” before he finally reaches his bride on the dais.

Between 12:30 and 2 p.m., the family members, friends, relatives, and other guests all greet the couple and take photos with them on the dais. Also during this time, everyone takes a break for a light lunch, prepared by a local catering company in Singapore.

Sometime between 2:45 and 4 p.m., the bride accompanies the groom to his family’s reception venue, if a double reception is being held. Here, the couple also takes photos and eats with guests from a spread laid out by a Singapore caterer. Then they change into evening outfits. The cake is cut at the groom’s reception, and then the couple return to the bride’s reception for a cake cutting there as well, sometime between 4 and 5:30 p.m. Then the bride and groom are free to go their way.

Malay Wedding Food

If you’re part of a Malay wedding and you’re not sure what to serve for the lunch, stick with tried-and-true traditional foods spread out in buffet style. The spread has to be Halal of course. Nasi Briyani, beef or mutton rendang, sweet and sour fish, black pepper prawns, and curry chicken are all sure to be crowd-pleasers. Also, you could serve Lontong, Dalcha, Roti Jala, fried bee hoon, and similar dishes. For dessert, select scrumptious sweets like fruit tarts, eclairs, cream puffs or durian puffs, mini curry puffs, or fruit cocktail. Drinks like lime water, orange juice, syrup, coffee, and tea are refreshing for the bride and groom as well as their guests. Read some guides on choosing a wedding caterer, thereafter, talk to your favourite Singapore caterer to get more ideas for delicious foods, drinks, and desserts to serve at a traditional Malay wedding in Singapore.

via http://eatzcatering.com/blog/a-typical-malay-wedding-in-singapore/