Looking back: Day 2

 [pictures are courtesy of Lightbrush Photography]

Our wedding ceremony was set to begin at 3.30 p.m. Deliberately so, because I and Bangun are two late-risers. Try to wake us up early in the morning, especially after a long night up, and you'll meet two crankyheads who's always trying to outcrank each other.

Expectedly, I woke up at....10.30 a.m. on the day I got married. After a very unhealthy McD breakfast, we drove to PTIK and started getting ready at 1 p.m. There was a glitch with Cut Marlyn team at this point. Kak Dede arrived late and only brought two people to do the makeup, hairdo, and dress a dozen of people.

Riuh rendah lah suasananya.

Anxiously waiting for the nail polish to dry

But of course, the bride stayed and sat pretty in her dressing room, waiting for the ceremony to begin. A few dozen screams from my dramatic mom later, it did begin. We used the tradition where the bride cannot enter the room before the groom is finished with his Ijab Qabul, a vow said to the bride's father that he will marry his daughter.

I waited in the next room, where the sound system was loud and clear. It was all a big blur until Bangun said, “Saya terima nikahnya Putri Bapak, Putri Dian Prameshwari Benprang, dengan mas kawin tersebut tunai.”

The handshake that says it all

In an instant, I cried like a baby.

I hadn't expected to cry, or to cry that hard, but you know, it's not everyday that you get to hear your boyfriend say that. It hit me that he (hopefully) would be there for the rest of our lives, as the leader of our little family.

Anyway, cheesiness aside, yay we're married! Now on to the par-tay, Sumatran style!

Kak Dede and Mbak Tanti both take turns to do my hair and makeup. I had prepared myself to wear the gazillion headpiece, but that day, I was nervous as hell and kept remembering horror stories of brides who collapsed when wearing sunting for too long. At around 6.30 I was set to go, and my nightmare came true; my head hurt like hell and it felt as if there's a spear stuck on my skull.

I asked for a Panadol (thanks, Run!) but it didn't do any good. My palms were sweating from holding back the pain, but I kept praying and thinking, “maybe this is the way it's supposed to feel.”

Thankfully, just about five minutes before we had to walk in, Tante Marlyn saw the worry lines in my face and rearranged the headpiece. All set and ready to smile to thousands of faces!

That's my sister, the dancer in the pink!

A moment before the reception began

Saman dance halfway to the party

The rest of the night went by too quickly. We stood on the stage for two and a half hours, but it seriously felt like ten minutes. It was heart-warming to greet the guests and knowing that they came all the way—from wherever they were—for us. The headpiece on my head weighed a ton, but it didn't hurt. And I didn't mind at all. I'd been worried that I'd hurt my cheeks from smiling, but nothing. I was more than happy to smile.

I used to think that Indonesian wedding receptions are overrated and overdone, but trust me, you want that. The festivity of celebrating your marriage with the ones you loved, plus knowing that people are there to celebrate with you, is worth all the penny and the tears, plus the occasional hair-pulling mood in between.

To say I'm happy is an understatement. Overall, I'm giving 1,563250 out of 5 for the wedding. I hope I can remember what the day feels like for the rest of my life.