the BIG day finally arrived!!!!
well, actually it started a little earlier than that. according to chinese customs, the night before the wedding (also known as "lao tia meh"), the bride's family will treat the guests to a meal. we had a tasty dinner at mun chong restaurant, a tantalising preview of what was to come tomorrow as our wedding lunch was also held at the same place...(easy planning, since my dad is one of their favourite customer!)
after that, there was a small ceremony where i wore a new pair of pajamas-given by someone lucky (my mother-well, she has me rite!), prayed to the Jade Emperor and then had my mom comb my hair while saying some traditional blessings. then it was followed by the making of "tang yuan", the symbol of fullness. only those who were happily married could participate, which included my parents, n the relatives.
after all that, i managed to go to bed at about two, though i could hear my sister downstairs tinkering around (she pulled an all nighter! thanks sis!) i doubt i slept much that nite as i was sub-consciously too tense to fully relax.
before forty winks, i was up again at six am, to go to the studio for my "transformation". my bro n sis had to go to pick up bride's mate from the bus stop. she was my partner-in-crime from my uni days. she probably knew more about my sleeping habits than kelvin currently does since we "slept together" three years and knew almost all my secrets...:P
promptly the powders and colours were applied, and the hair teased n styled..and viola! a masterpiece was created! the wedding dress was gorgeous and when my parents pinned the veil, the ugly duckling had turned into a swan :)..of course my obligatory pimples were there! it was a bittersweet moment as my mother prepared to hand me over to a new life, and tears were on the brink.
at the door, the auspicious time was due, and promptly after nine, the wedding entourage arrived in a spanking new toyota vios (courtesy of the mr tan senior). with a lot of laughter, ang pows, some chili padi, some fondling, some push-ups, more ang pows and laughter, the groom forged thru the barricades to my door. and he was handsome.
the tea ceremony was performed and all too soon, it was time for me to join the TAN family. with a shower of confetti and goodwill, we left for the groom's house...which was opposite my mom's house actually.
more tea and ang pows later, the "bed" ritual was carried out where an ang pow in a red chamber pot was retrieved by a young, virgin boy, who was then asked to jump around on our wedding bed. unfortunately the baby cousin cried and alot of persuation was needed.
after all that, i was back at the studio for touching up of the make-up. then it was on to the restaurant for our lunch. tired out, kelvin n i could hardly eat, but when the drinking rounds started, our spirits were high again. lucky it was noon and not many were in the mood for drinking.
all in, it was a hectic, hectic, happy, happy day. u had to be there to fully appreciate it, and kelvin and i truly thank those who graced our wedding with their attendance from the bottom of our hearts. thank you for sharing our special day with us and making it even more memorable!!!
pssstttt...it took so long to write this...BECAUSE...well, it is our honeymoon after all...one month to let everything settle in..and to hit me that hey! I'M MARRIED!
