A common experience many of us have had at least once in our lives is a Singaporean Malay wedding, often at the void deck of a HDB flat.
As soon as you see the decor being put up, you know there’ll be guests dressed in their finest formal wear congregating the next day.
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But to see a couple, with the bride and groom being of a different race, have that wedding is rare and precious.
Grace, a guest at such a wedding, shared her unique encounter on Stomp, memorialising the joyous union of Sam and Andrea.
A wedding at the void deck of Block 306A Clementi Avenue 4 on Saturday (4 Jan) may sound like any void deck wedding until you learn more about this particular one.
According to the Stomp article, Andrea, a Singaporean Chinese, was marrying Sam, a Brit who has been residing here for several years.
The event brought together friends and family from all over the world, so the couple thought to share a bit of Singapore with them.
Hence, instead of the typical ballroom, they went with a HDB void deck as their venue.
Atas banquet dishes were also absent, as the couple catered Indonesian food from their favourite restaurant, Warong Nasi Pariaman.
Desserts were served by none other than a friendly ice cream uncle, who plies his trade around the neighbourhood.
Stomp reports that his presence was a pleasant surprise as the couple hadn’t made an official booking. They simply approached him with a payment offer, and he delivered.
For drinks, a bar supplied guests with beverages commemorating Sam and Andrea’s cultures, with options like Shortbread Cordial and Pandan Cordial.
The celebration itself was an exceptionally happy one, with a lion dance troupe gracing the event.
Since Sam is a Jewish, the solemnisation ceremony entailed the pair standing under a chuppah or canopy.
The ring exchange then led to Sam breaking a glass to resounding cheers of “Mazel Tov” or “Congratulations” from everyone.
The Jewish traditions culminated in the Horah dance, with guests lifting chairs which the bride and groom sat on while dancing around them.
In keeping with the spirit of the void deck wedding, Sam and Andrea had a “lepak chic” dress code, so everyone could wear whatever felt comfortable and looked presentable.
Judging from everybody’s faces, there’s no doubt that the occasion was a happy one.
Even the MP for Holland-Bukit Timah, Ms Sim Ann, who made a surprise visit, couldn’t help but share in the elation of the newlyweds.
Their blissful wedding is proof that it doesn’t take much to bring people of different backgrounds together. MS News extends our heartiest congratulations and wishes the couple a happy marriage.
Featured image adapted from Stomp.
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