Been helping out my 2nd uncle & aunt in Simei since last Friday for my cousin's wedding. Alhamdullilah, he is happily married now. =) Congrats Shahren!
Friday:I reached his house @ 6pm. Parents were already there much earlier to help. The wedding tentage was still not up. Only the chairs have been delivered. The ladies busied themselves preparing dulang hantarans, bunga manggars, etc while the groom-to-be entertained my uncles with 'Hellboy'. =P It was much later into the night after dinner that the guys got down to set up the tables and arrange the chairs. Delivery was so late! Decor for the wedding dais started only @ 10.30pm much to the exasperation of my anxious aunt. Luckily it turned out beautiful although partially done. Just as everyone got back into the house, my uncle took out one big plastic bag full of durians for all of us. FRUIT ATTACK! We arrived home at the stroke of midnight, with Dad and me smelling of durian.
Saturday:2pm and all my relatives had gathered. Groom was still in his T-shirt and trousers, cajoling with the younger cousins. I doubt the bride would still be in her home clothes at that hour. Grabbed a quick lunch in the wedding hall before 'reporting' for duty. To cut a story short, 5th uncle and I have been delegated the task of videoshooting the entire wedding. Got a crashcourse on using the digivideocams from Dad. After that, both of us were left to our duties.
The wedding car had yet to be decorated. So Dad's car was used instead. Initial plan was to have Dad driving, the groom's representative (wakil) sitting in front while us videocam man/gal flanked the groom at the back. But out of nowhere, 2 uncles intruded and entered the car. Fair enough, we quickly boarded the bus and stood near to the door.
As soon as the bus reached the bride's place in Eunos, my uncle and I alighted to start our videorecording. Those who came by car were waiting at a corner. Next thing I knew, I saw the groom walking ahead with those 2 uncles. Hello??!! Other people are still getting down from the bus! My temper flared up seeing them not bothering to wait for the rest of us. One scream and it got my 4th uncle chasing after them to the lift door. Can you believe that those uncle had walked ahead, with the groom, juz because they saw their fren... who happened to be the cook @ the bride's place? Seriously I had half a mind to shotput the videocams to their hollow heads! As a safety precaution, Dad and 4th uncle purposely flanked the groom all the way into the bride's house. =)
Tok Kadi came promptly @ 4pm. Everything went smoothly. I got a clear shot of the marriage solemnization ceremony (akad nikah). Had to put up a brave front to stand near and blocked everyone else who sat behind me. My grandaunt kept tugging at my baju kurung and thread of patience, frustrated that I blocked her view. She didn't even realised that it was me, at work.
The bride's side hired a professional cameraman. So while the groom stayed on for photo shots, the rest of us took the bus back to Simei.
Everyone in the house wanted to watch the video. I played mine. When my uncle's turn came, we realised that nothing was recorded. Hahah! His crashcourse crashed on him - Dad taught him to press the wrong button. We had a good laugh remembering how he stood for over an hour holding the digivideocam. We are no professionals, much less amateurs. Those videocams are not even ours to begin with. With more time to spare, we meddled around with our videocams to learn more.
Night came. Sup tulang was served for dinner. Hakim & I took our share and went to one far corner to eat peacefully. We were famished. 5th uncle had to help wash the plastic cups. My aunts started on their 'project' of decorating the wedding car. I went around recording snippets of the last-minute preparations, including the appearance of an 'uninvited guest'. Once again, my family reached home @ the stroke of midnight.
Sunday:I could barely open my eyelids @ 7am. My family arrived in Simei 15 minutes before Husni's Khatam Al-Quran. This time, I took a break from videoshooting. Gave the privilege to my 5th uncle to do his share of successful recording. It worked! Helped out at the reception area while the groom rested in his house till 1.30pm.
My cousin - Hakim, my youngest uncle and me were the only ones amongst my relatives to follow the groom to the bride's place this time. After yesterday's experience, we know well enough to be thick-skinned. Where possible, we stood in front of the newly-wedded couple. Otherwise, I shot from the left while my uncle shot from the right sneaking our way thru the crowd and 'kompang' group.
Wedding reception finally ended @ 5.30pm. Stacked up the chairs & tables, cleared the wedding car's decor and for the umpteenth time, climbed up the stairs to my Uncle's house.
How I wish I need not work today to rejuvenate... Oooo my aching legs!
(Unfortunately no pics this time thanx to Mom who told Dad not to bring the digicam despite my verbal & SMS reminders.)
