A simple village-style urban wedding in Jakarta on a rainy Tuesday

[kingwilly]

Last Tuesday I woke up for work as usual and the missus reminded that we had a cousins wedding to go to. Great. Twas a cousin who was not particularly wealthy, not dirt poor either. I guess you might describe them as the lower end of middle class or the upper end of tolerably poor. So donning the obligatory batik shirt and pants we set off for their home.

These days many of the weddings I've been to in Jakarta are held in ballrooms or function rooms of hotels, but more traditionally and in the villages the service and reception are held entirely in the home of one of the new parents in law.

East Jakarta has many small streets and since the homes are not large they need to put up a tent across the street.

[kingwilly]

Which makes parking a little tricky, so either a relative or a hired parking officer will direct traffic. Seats are always placed in rows ( I dunno why) and no need for tables.

[kingwilly]

Rich or poor a donation box in lieu of giving presents is always set up near the front entrance.

Waiting tables of food indicate that the bride's family have been hard at work cooking.

[kingwilly]

Sitting around chatting while the men smoke outside.




And children play




Or more accurately hide from the strange white man.

[kingwilly]

Here's the beautiful bride. I'm not normally a fan of the jilbab, but I like this silver one.

[kingwilly]

Everyone has arrived now, including the imman from the local mosque, so let's get down to business. A small table is placed in an open room. The bride, groom, both fathers or perhaps an uncle will sit down at the table and act as witnesses.




close family and any bule will sit or stand in the same room, everyone else will wait outside or try to peer around a corner or window.

[kingwilly]

Some sort of shawl is placed over the heads of the bride and groom and the wedding ceremony begins.

[kingwilly]

Some prayers are sung.




and then they are married.

[kingwilly]

Time to eat!




This little urchin stole the fish carcass so she could gnaw on the tail.

[kingwilly]

I left before the Karaoke could start, but many Indonesians do not drink alcohol and it would never be served at a wedding like this so rarely do the weddings go late or any trouble occurs.

[Sailing into trouble]

No fuss no mess. Most weddings back home are a sort of haze and a severe blow to the wallet, and liver.

[kingwilly]

Indeed, no fuss, no mess. But everyone's happy.

[nigelandjan]

Shame that bit dont happen elsewhere ^

[nigelandjan]

Shame they still have that bastard karaoke

[beerlaodrinker]

Nice one willy, you are truly reformed after your brief stint in the doghouse

[Davis Knowlton]

Except for the clothing, it looks like many of the social events we go to here in my little valley.

[November Rain]

Nice thread, Monkey Boy

[katie23]

@Davis - I agree, looks like a typical wedding here, clothes are different, the muslim ceremony is different, but the rest, same-same...

@KW - very nice, thanks for the pics! Why didn't you stay for karaoke?

@nigelandjan - what's wrong with karaoke? It's a staple for Asians, just like rice.

[kingwilly]

Thanks all, glad you liked. Katie123. I had to get back home (across Jakarta) before the traffic got totally mental (2 hours vs 4 hours+).

[xanax]

looks a bit boring, interesting to see though

[GRUMPY]

Noice KW.

I reckon a bule could just about make a living prostituting himself out as the "token expat" at Indo weddings.

Nary a day goes by without an invite arriving to my in tray.

[barrylad66]

nice one saint willy

[kingwilly]

Noice KW.

I reckon a bule could just about make a living prostituting himself out as the "token expat" at Indo weddings.

Nary a day goes by without an invite arriving to my in tray.

Yeah, true that. Or circumscion ceremonies. I've learnt to say no more often now.

[Neverna]

Nice one, KW. How old were the bride and groom?

[MissTraveller]

Nice one willy, you are truly reformed after your brief stint in the doghouse

Let's hope he can keep it that way.


Always fascinated on wedding traditions in different countries. The food looks good overall.. what do they eat mostly?