Also known as an engagement
ceremony which is normally held at the bride's residence.
A Malay wedding begins with the
akad nikah ceremony. The groom signs the marriage contract and
agrees to provide the bride with a mas kahwin. After that,
their hands are dyed with henna during the berinai besar ceremony.
The bride's hair is also trimmed or her eyebrows shaped by a
beautician known as the mak andam.
During the bersanding ceremony,
the bridal couple will be seated on the dais and sprinkled with
yellow rice and scented water by family members, relatives and
guests as a sign of blessing. Each guest will receive a bunga telur,
which means 'flower' and 'egg' - a symbol of a fertile union.
After the bersanding ceremony, the
wedded couple and their guests will attend a celebratory feast
called the makan beradab. This involves the bride and groom
feeding each other sweetened rice. The celebrations are later
concluded with poses for family photos.