Iban culture is rooted in lots of rituals, especially when it comes to weddings. This celebration didn’t just bring together two families, it also brought together the old and the new, showcasing Iban traditions while keeping to a modern and minimalist theme. The bride and groom had fun choosing colours that represented their personalities – rust orange for the bride to signify fire, and pastel blue for the groom to signify water. What a way to celebrate their union! Thanks to Andy Phe Photography for the photos, and congrats to In Esse Event & Design for pulling this off.
Bryan: “The most memorable moment from our big day was the ‘melah pinang’ ceremony, which is a traditional Iban wedding ritual. To begin the ceremony, both the bride and groom are seated on a ‘tawak’ (bass gong). Relatives from both sides, led by the mothers of the bride and groom, sit opposite each other and exchange the ‘baku’ (wedding chest), which contains areca nut, coins, cigarettes and perfume that is shared among the family members. The areca nut is cut in half as a symbol of the newlyweds’ life. This ceremony symbolises the sacred marriage between the husband and wife.
“The theme for our wedding was modern Iban. The décor was inspired by the concept of ‘rumah panjai’ (a traditional Iban longhouse) but with a modern, minimalist touch. The colour scheme was terracotta, or rust orange, for the bride, and pastel blue for the groom, representing the fire and water personalities of the bride and groom respectively.”
ESTHER & BRYAN {Malaysia}
Photography by Andy Phe Photography / Videography by Izham Johari / Wedding Planning by In Esse Event & Design / Venue Cove 55 Resort, Kuching / Number of Guests 110 / Wedding Gown by Elyn Tang Bridal / Iban Traditional Costume Rental by Leeseonjoon Bridal Studio, Kuching / Wedding Jewellery by Lovisae / Hair and Makeup by Raja Artistry, Starllient Burma, Alisya Zaquan Makeup Artistry, Marie Ernest Makeup / Wedding Bands by Tomei / Groom’s Attire by HLA, Mango Man / Bridesmaids’ Dresses by Suddenly In Love, Indu Borneo by Effie / Flowers and Décor by In Esse Event & Design / Wedding Cake by The Rolling Panda / Art and Stationery by In Esse Event & Design / Emcee Mathew Abu / Wedding Singer Rickie Andrewson