Indonesian Custom Creates Colorful Wedding

A look into Indonesia's rich culture and ritual.

ByABC News
January 9, 2009, 11:33 AM

Jakarta, Indonesia, July 1, 2008— -- Each region of Indonesia celebrates a wedding with its own unique customs and costumes.

Bride Vini Muslimov Sebastianputra and groom Azwirman, who goes by, who goes by Azwir, hosted a traditional Padang ceremony, one of the most colorful and festive, chosen because it stems from the bride's home region.

Such Indonesian celebrations are filled with traditional dance and Indonesian gamelan music, which is composed of drums and flutes. Women wear intricately designed dresses and guests eat spicy foods, displayed around the room like fine artwork.

Azwir, a government worker from Kalimantan, an island in northern Indonesia, was introduced to Vini, a dentist from Jakarta, through a mutual friend of her father's. They are both 30.

After a few phone calls and three in-person dates, Azwir asked Vini's father for her hand in marriage. They have been dating for seven months. Azwir proposed on the 23rd day of the month, but Vini asked him to propose again because she is superstitious, believing the number three is unlucky. She officially accepted the proposal the second time, on the 24th of the month.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and, as Muslims, Vini and Azwir's wedding is infused with both religious and Indonesian influences.

Before the ceremony, Vini sat in the dressing room, getting her hair and makeup done. "I look like Snuffalufagus," she said, comparing her eyelash extensions to the "Sesame Street" mammoth.

It took her two hours to get fully dressed.

Following Indonesian tradition, the couple exchanged vows in June in a smaller private ceremony the night before the more traditional, lavish event so they could see each other before the vow exchange, without having to worry about superstition.

Azwir joined her in the dressing room as she put together the final touches of her wedding attire. Both of their outfits were intricately designed, hot pink and baby blue in color, with elaborate gold thread trim.

"I'm wearing a West Sumatra traditional dress and it's from Padang," Vini said.

Vini's headdress was stunning, lavishly dripping with 99 pieces of gold jewels, which shimmered as she moved.

"If I think it's heavy, it's heavy, but I'll try to not think it's heavy," said Vini, cautiously turning her head. "I must be careful, very, very careful with my head."