Wedding

Diary of a Chinese Malaysian Groom

If you follow the traditional Chinese Malaysian wedding, timing can be very, very important. You know the right time to pick up your bride, the right time to pray to your ancestor, the right time for the bride to enter your house, and the list goes on. Here we are assuming a few things - bride lives in the same town, dinner in the evening - but it will generally give you an idea of what to do. You will have to make adjustments to your personal requirements.

Morning

7:00 AM	Wake up early. So you will have time for contingency. Do not have any late nights the day before. Wash up, have your breakfast, prayers if any. Call up your helpers - drivers, best man, etc. If possible arrange for them to have breakfast at your place. That way you know who will be late and have enough time to make plans.
8:00 AM	Send helpers out to get last minute stuff you or your family may have missed - drinks, food, etc.
8:30 AM	Leave for brides house (if you follow a specific time, make adjustments here) and allow for 3 important and potentially time wasting things that will happen. One, travelling time to your brides house - gauge the distance, you do not want to speed there. Two, when you arrive, you will be put through the 'traditional' haggling and teasing session bring along lots of hagglers and friends that can have fun. Three, the tea ceremony at her place especially if she has a huge family and you have a time to adhere to when you bring her home.
9:15 AM	Arrive at bride's house. Be prepared to bargain your door opening 'prices' and tricks they will play on you. We assume you are lucky and have lots of money.
10:00 AM	You are in! Simple prayers and tea ceremony starts. The good part is you will get lots of "angpow". Depending on your dialect clan and what you brought over, the bride's family will return some to you when you leave with the bride.
11:00 AM	Leave for your house.
11:45 AM	Assuming this is a good time to arrive and enter your house. Arrive and proceed to simple prayers and tea ceremony (more "angpow").

What happens next...