1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta 2011 Fashion Show

What do you see in traditional costumes?

Do you have a traditional costume in your wardrobe?
If yes, how many times you wear it in one year?

Each costume is unique just as how one culture distinguished itself from another. Before there are fashion parades on Paris runways, before a pair of plain jeans complimented with a simple top becomes a basic daily attire, we wore traditional costumes.

When Western fashion is universally accepted, our traditional garments take a backseat. Whether it's work or casual, most of us naturally opt for trendy, edgy or comfortable outfits. Our traditional clothes have become 'festive clothes' or 'special occasion clothes'.

Don't be surprise if a friend of yours don't have a single traditional costume because this has become the norm lately. If you ask them why not get one, they probably say, "Aiyah, it's okay...no need to buy, just borrow!"

Time may have changed, but should this be a good reason to abandon traditional clothes which our parents and ancestors once proudly wore?

It's okay to wear fashionable outfits but let us appreciate and respect our traditional costumes as well. Wouldn't it be sad if our future generation do not have the chance to wear traditional attires? If we let this go on, our traditional costumes will slowly be reduced to historical artifacts, displayed on lifeless mannequins in cultural museums.

Take cue from the Malay working women who proudly donned a baju kurung or a baju kebaya to their office. They look graceful and still exude professionalism. A punjabi suit can also deliver the same result.

Get yourself a traditional attire today. Learn how to wear a saree. Discover the elegance of the cheongsam.

Traditional costumes are not outdated. They are timeless, essence of the cultures they represent.

This 3rd July, come and witness a splendid display of Malaysia's traditional costumes.

THE 1 MALAYSIA WEDDING FIESTA FASHION SHOW

3rd July 2011, Sunday
1 pm until 5pm
Tun Razak Hall 2, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Featuring 15 International Models
Organised by Aspra Events, one of 1MWF2011's Official Partner


Entrance is free, see you there.

Happy 1 Malaysia,
By Megha and Pen

1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta Press Release

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KUALA LUMPUR: An event that everyone been waiting for and wouldn't want to miss is here as everything related to wedding planning will be under one roof and no need to exert energy travelling to deal with 20 different parties just to get a wedding arranged.

The “1 Malaysia Wedding Fiesta 2011,” will be a one-stop wedding resources and services provider which will highlight the diverse races and their many cultures and traditions in our country. The three-day fiesta, theme "Bringing Culture Closer Together", is organised by Exquisite Impression Sdn Bhd will be held from July 1-3 at the Putra World Trade Center (PWTC).

Promoting the 1Malaysia concept, in wedding functions, can instil the spirit of unity among the people of various races in this country said Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz during a press conference cum launch at the Palace of the Golden Horses, Mines recently.

"This event which is also focused to invite potential exibitors from other places like Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kuantan, Terengganu, Johor and other states including Sabah and Sarawak to partricipate and display their products."

Maglin also advised all the related service provider not to miss the opportunity as it is a good platform for them to expend their business and services. At the same time it also will help promote the Tourism Malaysia and Cultural awareness among the public and tourists.

"The 1Malaysia concept is seen as the best tool to unite the people in our country. Every race has its own unique wedding ceremony which made our country famous for its rich heritage, culture and tradition.

" We are confident that the 1Malaysia concept can be the best tool to unite not only the people but also to lift the tourism industry and the tourist destination sites."

Maglin said the fiesta would help to enlighten the public on the various tradition and culture found in the country. He also hopes that all the states will be involved in promoting their states heritage, products and services.

"Whatever our culture or belief, we should be proud to be Malaysians," he added.

Meanwhile, the advisor of Exquisite Impression, Datuk Freddie Fernandez said that there are about 350 booths in total and the booths are allocated on a first come first basis.

"Our vision is to set a platform of unique sponsorship opportunities to enhance the skills and the branding efforts of the community in experiencing the diverse ethnicities of cultures while creating an increased awareness about the wide spectrum of multi cultural heritage of various cultures that exist in our country."

He also said on the last day of the fiesta, about three disabled couples would have their marriage solemnised and there will be a mass wedding reception for a total of 111 lucky couples from various races on the 11 November, 2011.

The lucky couples are picked randomly based on their applications. The forms will be available on the day of the event.

Freddie also highlighted that the event caters to all peripheral services involved in a wedding ritual such as venues, wedding planners, honeymoon locations, clothing designers, caterers, video production, photography and other related service provider.

For those who are interested in participating in the exhibition and for more details, please contact Jeffery at 016- 2027 666 or email jeffrey@eisb.my or log on to www.1mwf.my.

Chinese Wedding Ceremony Guide

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It is said that more than any other culture, Chinese weddings are full of gestures and ceremonies ripe with symbolisms. The marriage ritual is in particular packed with three major themes i.e., ensuring fertility for good offspring, appeasing the ancestors and expecting material wealth.

Getting to Know the Family
The consent and blessings of parents are essential in a Chinese wedding. In order to convince them, few criteria must be met first; potential in-laws must be in a stable financial state, possess a proper background or a good reputation in society. Informal meeting between both parents will be held for understanding and ice breaking. Heart-to-heart discussions between parents usually occur in their children’s absence. When both families are convinced their children will marry well into a good and respectable family, only then a wedding is made possible.

The Proposal
After parents have agreed to the union, the groom’s parents will send a female representative to the bride’s home. The date of visit is set for both families to discuss plans and details for the wedding. Among the topics touched upon is the amount of wedding dowry, arrangements for the wedding banquet and the wedding date. Any bargain attempts will only tarnish the groom’s family reputation. The groom’s representative may have to make a few more visits until both sides reach an agreement. Besides that, she must also obtain the bride’s date and time of birth for determining the auspicious wedding date which is decided based on Chinese horoscopes and calendar.

Engagement
First there is the official engagement ceremony, where it is one simple affair for the engaged couple to exchange rings in the presence of their families. It could be done to give time to couples who wish to make proper preparations instead of marrying hastily. Secondly, a couple without undergoing an engagement ceremony could be considered engaged from the moment they agreed to marry. Chinese people usually prefer couples to marry instead as marriage ties are considered stronger and more secured bonds compared to engagements.

Guo Da Li: Betrothal Gifts & Wedding Dowry
An exchange of gifts will transpire between both families with the groom giving more. If the groom did not prepare enough gifts, he has to replace it with cash. The bride may also receive household items which is essential for her future responsibilities and duties as a wife. The wedding dowry must meet the exact demanded amount as it is a token of appreciation for the bride’s family and also helps to exhibit the groom’s financial capability.

Hair Combing Ritual
On the eve of the wedding, this ritual will be carried out at the bride and groom’s respective homes to augur luck for a long happy marriage, harmony, offspring and wealth. They will bathe in water infused with pamelo or pomegranate leaves to ward off evil elements. Each the bride and groom will then slip into new clothes. A married woman of good fortune must carry out this ritual. She must have a surviving husband, children and grandchildren. She could be the mother, sister, aunt or friend. The ritual consists of 4 combings with different meanings each.

First combing
Continuous from beginning till end, may you be together all your lives,
Second combing
May you have closeness and harmony in your marriage for a hundred years,till a ripe old age,
Third combing
May you fill your home with children and grandchildren,
Fourth combing
May you enjoy a long life together, till your hair and even eyebrows are white.

After this ritual, a bowl of sweet soup with pink and white rice ball symbolising a complete marriage union is served to the bride and groom. The bride’s mother will present her daughter a farewell gift; jewelleries and ang pows as the bride will leave her childhood home the next day become an adult and enter a married life.

The Wedding Day
The Chinese wedding will be a one day event. It begins in the morning with prayers and traditional ceremonies, concluding at night with a grand banquet. Prayers and the marriage solemnisation will be performed at a church or a Buddhist temple according to the couple’s religion.

• Fetching the bride
• Paying respect to ancestors
  A middle person known as ‘Sam Poh’ will guide the bride and groom throughout the ‘Kow Tau’ and tea ceremony. During ‘Kow Tau’ the bride and groom must bow their head in respect 3 times to the bride’s ancestral altar.
• Tea ceremony
  The bride and groom will offer a cup of tea to the bride’s parents who will return the favour with ang pows. The ‘Sam Poh’ is given an ang pow too to thank her for performing her duties. The bride and groom will continue to offer tea to other older family members.
• The bride’s arrival
  

The Wedding Banquet
As traditional ceremonies have been done, the wedding banquet is one social affair. It helps to introduce the newlyweds to all guests present there and celebrates their union. The bride often changes her outfit three times during the banquet. According to Chinese beliefs, it is impolite for guests to leave before all dishes are served. A Chinese wedding banquet menu is properly planned according to traditions. 8 or 9 dishes are served because 8 signify prosperity while the latter bear the meaning everlasting.

Wedding Banquet Events:
1. Speeches from parents, the maid of honour, the best man and even the bride and groom.
2. Toasts to the guests and sometimes a tea ceremony.
3. Cake cutting ceremony.
4. Games in the form of teasing to loosen up the bride and groom while amusing the guests.
5. A photo slideshow or video recording of the bride and groom with the newlyweds’
favourite songs playing in the background.
6. The bride and groom will greet guests from table to table and are often given a toast. The
Chinese have a unique way of a toast; everyone would stand up with a glass filled
with champagne, wine or non-alcoholic beverage and say “Yum Seng”. The trick is to say
“yum” as long as you can before ending with a loud “Seng!” It’s advisable to take a deep
breath to hold the “yum” as long as possible.
7. Depending on personal preferences, some couples will organise a dance towards
the end of the banquet.

The common menu in a Chinese wedding banquet:
Lang Pun/Leng PanShark Fin Soup
A Whole Fish
Sea Cucumber
Roast Suckling Pig
Prawns or Lobster
A Whole Chicken
Fried Rice or Noodles
Desserts like red bean soup with lotus seed,
sweet lotus seed soup with lotus paste fried biscuits, sweet buns, mochi