Wedding Bells

It is Monday morning and we have already attended a wedding! Now that may seem odd to go to a wedding at 9:00 a.m., but most weddings do start early here because they last all day. This wedding, however, is a Christian wedding as opposed to the traditional Khmer wedding. Chan and Sophea are both Christians. Since her parents are not, they will have a Khmer wedding tomorrow at her house. Today the wedding took place at the Sunset Bible School which provided a great setting. As you can see, there were three bridesmaids and groomsman. They lit a Unity candle and also braided three ribbons which represented God, man and woman. They don’t kiss so instead they touch their foreheads to each others cheek. The Christians here are trying to introduce the Christian ceremony that can include some of the Khmer style because a traditional Khmer wedding includes a monk chanting, seven dress changes for every girl involved and lots of food. This tradition is very expensive and does not allow many to marry. They can not have a simple church ceremony or even go to the Justice of the Peace. That would not be Khmer. They are forced to have a ceremony that they can not afford. We do the same in the states to some degree as far as trying to have an extraordinary event for others to enjoy, but can bring stress and expense to the families. Traditions are hard to overcome, but in God’s eyes we are united under the simplest of ceremonies.