18.6.2011 The Bride's Reception - Part II

... it started with the MC announcing the entrance of the guests of honor. And after they took their seats infront of the pelamin, the kompang started. My entourage walked with me and Aliff and we stopped right below the arch, followed by the selawat, very beautiful and soothing. Then, the bridesmaids, one by one, walked down the aisle to the song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" by Harry Neilson. They looked so pretty.

The music stopped once the last bridesmaid reached where the guests of honor were seating. And then, the spotlight was on us, the next song came up and me and Aliff walked, for the first time as man and wife, hand in hand, to the beautiful voice of Maria singing "At Last" by Etta James (which was covered again by Beyonce).  The room was dark, but for the spot light following me and Aliff as we walk down the aisle to the pelamin. Friends and family lined up next to aisle and took pictures and waved...I see so many faces, the ones I've not seen for so long, the ones who have been by me for the wedding, I was HAPPY beyond words. All the drama, sweat and tears a few hours before dissapeared as if they never existed. The feeling I felt, walking in the arms of my newly husband, to the most PERFECT song befitting our love story, was indescribable. It was magical, it was surreal, I felt like i was floating. I know this sounds exagerrated, but that was how I felt. I was so excited that I was walking quite fast at one time, and Aliff whispered to me to walk slower and to enjoy the moment. And I realised, I am NEVER (hopefully) going to experience this again, and I started to slow down and enjoyed every bit of attention I was receiving.

The aisle was quite long (go for halls with long aisle, so you can soak in all the attention longer! believe me its the best feeling walking down that aisle with all eyes on you!), and it was just nice for the lenght of the song, we reached the top of the stage on the pelamin, just nicely as Maria finished singing. Then we took our seat followed by the recitation of the doa. The spotlight on us was sooooooo bright, but as I said, I was too happy that nothing bothered me...and it worked for the better as Kakmyra (who had the best seat that night, a bird's eye view of the whole hall, sitting upstairs on the balcony, because she still had to quarantine Ahmadi from everyone) said my dress was sparkling under the spot light and it looked really beautiful.

As the malay tradition went, the guests of honor and the parents went up couple by couple to bless us with the merenjis. After that was done, they were escorted to the main table. Followed by me and Aliff, escorted by my bridesmaids to the song of "Only You" by the Platters. One of my all time favorite song!

Then dinner was served. And, the same as the night before, I ate my heart out. Imagine, with all the drama earlier, that was my first meal that day. So, everything that the waiter served I said yes, put it on my plate! I think I was soo hungry that Que had to wipe off some stain on my cheeks later...sooo embarassing, as it was on my left cheek, which was ofcourse facing Tok Pa's wife. Imagine, I was talking to her all night with the stain on my cheek. OMG MALU! Takpelah. Whatevs. Like i said, nothing could ruin how i felt that night. And the same as the night before, Aliff didn't eat much. He said because he was really enjoying getting the chance to talk to Mukhriz who sat next to him. Mukhriz even tweeted a picture of us on his tweeter! While the guests enjoyed the dinner, my parents went around meeting their guests.

While they were serving the dinner, we were serenaded by the band that my dad had hired. They were quite good, singing SOME of the songs I had requested, but it's ok :) Suddenly I saw Adibah Noor on the stage singing...it was my mother's "surprise" to me and Aliff...BUT, as with all the surprises/secrets they tried to keep from me, I already knew...haha...But, I acted as surprised as I could, to make my mum happy. It was just delightful having dessert to the tune of Adibah Noor's beautiful voice.

Then they played the video montage...the first part was a 3 minute informal interview of Aliff and me (although Aliff's friend said Aliff talked as if he was giving a presentation hahah) on how we met and got together. This we recorded about a week before the wedding, as I have written here. The second part was another 3 minutes of the Nikah highlights, the night before. The video montage was done by our videographer Mimota Studio, and he is also HIGHLY recommended. He is very laid back, cool and most important VERY affordable! And his work on the montage was AWESOME. Me and Aliff loved it. The final product has not been presented to us yet, so hopefully that will turn out as good as the montage. Anyway, he was recommended by a fellow former bride-to-be, Shu and am so thankful to her.

 

The montage was followed by a short and sweet speech by the one and only Bapak.

After dinner was over, me and Aliff made our way back to the stage for the cake cutting. We were again escorted by my bridesmaids while Adibah Noor sang "L.O.V.E" by Nat King Cole (which was "supposedly" to be sang by Kakmyra). Finally saw the cake, and it was beautiful, just as ordered. And I loved the topper, a dancing bride and groom...so cute!

After the cake cutting, the MC announced that its the end of the reception, and the bride and groom will be making our way out to the main entrance to meet with the guests. Then "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" again by The Platters was played as me and Aliff made our way out...as we walked down the aisle, my beautiful lady friends who were lined up at both sides of the aisle threw flower petals at us. LOVED it!

We reached the end of the aisle and was met by my parents. Guests started to line up to meet us. That was the only time I get to actually mingle and meet my guests! My former colleagues, current colleagues, bosses, friends from school, childhood friends...I was quite bummed as I didn't get to spend so much time with them, especially those I have not met for yearssssssss. But the number of guests was too overwhelming, so I only get to spend a few measely seconds with each guest.

Some family and friends stayed back to take pictures with us. We actually planned to have an after party of poco-poco and karaoke, but poco-poco was banned, and there was going to be another wedding the next day and we had to leave the hall by 1130pm...so after pictures, everyone went home.

 

Kakmyra and Adri had booked us a night in Shangri La, Putrajaya as a wedding gift. So, after taking pictures at the hall, we made our way to the hotel. We asked Syida and the cousins to join us for supper at the hotel. We ordered room service - Nasi Goreng Special...very nice! Everyone digged in and enjoyed the food because everyone was TIRED. These were my helpers, my assistants, my runners for the wedding, and they finally got to rest! Hahaha.... I on the other hand was still pumped up...in denial that my wedding day is about to end. Hahaha...They hung out until about 2/3am.

So, that was my wedding. Only God knows the challenges that we had to face, but in the end, with all the drama and flaws, I feel that I had a SPECTACULAR night! And the best part of it all, is that I get the bestest life companion out of it!

Our Next-Morning Breakfast

...but I took comfort that although the Nikah is over, the Wedding Reception is over....I still have one more Wedding Reception the week after! Although I will not have any control over it, I felt consoled that The Wedding is still not YET over!!! Hahah...

Toodles.