This is one of the very few wedding I did that was separated into two parts and two days, and I love it!!  The first part on day 1 was a traditional Cambodian wedding and the second part on day 2 was an American style reception.  It was beautiful both days and Tanny and Sami are such a sweet couple.  I am so glad I got the chance to be a part of it and it was an honor they pick me as their wedding photographer, thanks Sami and Tanny :)

I have never been to a traditional Cambodian wedding before, so the idea of photographing one is very exciting and intriguing.  This is one that I really look forward to.  The wedding ceremony was filled with cultural and religious flavors.  The proceedings, the monks, the chanting, the traditional dresses, the traditional food, and all the elements at the wedding added to the aura of the day, it makes for an amazingly beautiful wedding day and it is definitely one of the most unforgettable wedding I have ever been a part of.  It’s a memory of a life time.  Once again, thank you Sami and Tanny for the opportunity.

The first part of the wedding involve receiving blessing from the monks in the form of prayer chanting.  No one understand the meaning of the prayer, but the chanting is very harmonious and has a deep calming effect.  The whole room was solemn and serene through out the chanting, and I am quite sure my soul was cleanse in the process.  I am now a better person inside out :)

In between ceremony, I was invited to join them for lunch.  What’s serving was a feast of traditional Cambodian dishes, they are all so yummy!!  Every one of the dishes are to die for, especially the curry chicken.  You can’t get flavor like this in any restaurant, since the authenticity of the dishes simply cannot be duplicated,  this is one of the many benefits of being a wedding photographer.

After lunch, the monk left but the ceremony continues.  It is now time for the pair to receive blessing from their parents, family members and friends.  They first offer the god with a lot of goodies (food, fruit, drinks, incense), then they soak pieces of white strings in the holy water that was blessed by the monk earlier.  Then one by one, all the family members and friends came up to them and tied a piece of the white string on their wrist.  Once the string was tied, family members and friends will bless them with the holy water by sprinkling it over their head with flower.  It really was a beautiful sight to witness.

The hardest part of all this fall on the bride and groom, for through out the whole blessing session, they were in a kneeling and bowing position and has to remain still, sort of.  That has got to be uncomfortable and bad for the back.  But they endure it all, such a trooper, I am so proud of them!

After the blessing, the ceremony is finally complete and it is now time for some fun gathering and family photo time.  It was a beautiful day.

I hope you have enjoyed the photos and part II of the wedding are coming next :)

/Lumaca Photo