My Wedding Day - The Akad Nikah

This is like so outdated but who cares....I'm blogging on this matter after almost two years being married to my darling husband Syamsuddin. Ok let us now begin......

After five months of being engaged to my fiancé, came the vow also known as the Akad Nikah or rather the solemnisation of marriage in Islam.

See the guy in black is the Imam who was given the authorisation by my father to perform the akad nikah on behalf of him as the 'wali' (e.g Girl's own daddy/ bride's male siblings/uncle). Before the akad nikah takes place, the imam will usually try to calm the groom's nervousness down with giving advice or making jokes up. But many imams will test the grooms with basic knowledge of Islam or request the grooms to recite the short verses from the Holy Al-Quran. Our Imam was the coolest. My eldest sister realised that his ring tone was one of the very famous songs by Metallica. He calmed my hubby by making all sorts of jokes. Luckily for Syamsuddin, the Imam did not question him anything although he has done all his homework beforehand.

Once Syamsuddin was calm, the imam took his hand and said this, Syamsuddin bin Sulle (name of groom), I hereby marry you to Nur Munira Binti Mohammad Bashir with the mas kahwin (dowry) of RM80.00 cash". Immediately after that Syamsuddin replied with "I accept (or agree) to marry Nur Munira Binti Mohammad Bashir with the mas kahwin (dowry) of RM80.00 cash. It was clearly said in one breath and the witnesses agreed. And are pronounced as Husband and Wife.

Then the Imam will read on husband's responsibilities of the do's and don'ts and then the Imam, Syamsuddin and the witnesses signed the documentations. Would you believe it, that my hubby was suppose to slip in the ring into my finger before he could kiss my forehead. I was like "What the hell is he doing??!!!". The Imam and all the guests were shocked.The Imam said this " I've not given the permission for you to kiss her...I've to summon you...everybody laughed. Syamsuddin later slipped in a ring into my right ring finger to break the 'air sembahyang' and I kissed his right hand. This is the time where he should kiss my forehead.....spoiler!!! Anyways everything went well, alhamdulillah! We all had a small 'makan-makan' before proceeding to the 'bersanding' session later after Zohor.

My Engagement

THE BEGINNING....(Engagement, 21st August, 2009)

In Malay culture, a couple usually will go trough an engagement process also known as 'bertunang' first. The purpose to have this process is basically to inform other men out there that the girl has been booked. The girl will be presented with an engagement ring. Usually, an elderly woman or the boy's mother will place the ring into the girl's finger.

The engagement involves recitation of prayers, formal introductions for both families, discussions on the amount of dowry that the boy's side to prepare, the number of trays of gifts or ' hantaran' to be exchanged during the wedding and what would be done if the couple decides to break the engagement.

I got engaged on the 21st February 2009. It was a very simple ceremony but I saved a lot especially when it comes to preparing the 'Hantaran' or gifts for my fiance. I did everything by myself. I bought simple but yet elegant 'baju kurung' (malay traditional costume) with beads sewn on it from First Lady for only RM59.90. 'Umi' (my mommy) made some curry puffs, my aunt Arah made superb indian snack the 'vadai', aunt Yah made cakes and 'abah' ordered some 'putu mayam' and 'puri' from nearby mamak shop.

Myself in white with my fiance (Syamsuddin)

My youngest sister (Nadyra @ Deedee) was the one who did my make up. My bestest friend, Lua Mei Mei was around to support me and helped out a lot on that day. My eldest sista brought along her best buddy Chien Chien and her friend Kimmie who just came back from Italy. I thank them for helping like crazy on that day. And pf course my Mama Rashid, Aunt Nur, Hana, and my cousins (Atoq, Siti (who was pregnant), Adik and Abang (Twins), Anas and Abu Dzar, Diyana, Aqeela) who have helped out throughout the whole process of this ceremony.

My fiance's daddy and few of fiance's close friends and colleagues at work along with my two students, Man and Faezah escorted my fiance. They came with 5 trays of hantaran which include my engagement ring, fruit basket, white lace cloth with plain red cloth to make 'baju kurung', huge Secret Recipe cake, and Ferraro Rosche chocolates to compliment the engagement ring.

Syamsuddin and his escorts

The representative for my side was my uncle, Mama Rashid (abah's youngest brother) whilst Rahman (my fiance's closest friend back at school in Kunak) was my fiance's representative. The lady who placed the ring into my finger was the wife to Rahman (fiance's spokeperson).

On that day 'abah' (my daddy) requested for the wedding to be somewhere in June. But my fiance requests it to be in July this year, instead. So 'abah' proposed for the wedding to be on the 25th of July 2009. My fiance requests the wedding date to be one week earlier because according to him, Manchester United will be coming to town on my father's proposed date. And he plans to watch the game between Manchester United and Malaysia XI Selection. And finally, both sides have agreed on the wedding date to be on the 18th of July 2009. And the countdown begins...I have like 127 days left to prepare for my wedding....