The cousin's reception...

Continued from A cousin's wedding - the preparation for our side's reception....

OK. Unlike more formal functions with fixed itenaries and timing, this reception has a loose timetable for guests. They came come in from 11:30 am till 3 pm to have their meal and leave as they wish. For me though, the reception practically starts just before noon, when our Singaporean relatives came by the drove with 7 cars...

That's my wife and kid with my lovely first cousins... well, one of them is married to a cousin, so still considered a cousin right?

Uncle Man, the leader of the Singaporean relatives entourage...


After some time exchanging news and greetings at the lobby, the Singaporeans came in.


Meanwhile some other family members have started their meals...




It was some time before I noticed the bride's family waiting at the lobby...


That's dad and mum along with my younger brother who also helped usher in the guests.


Time for the newly-weds to make an appearance.


In time they were up on the pedestal.


With that the formal part of the reception started...






What I liked though was the coin-throwing ceremony towards the end...

I don't know if it is practiced at all Johorean weddings but for our family who hailed from Muar, it is at least a family tradition practiced as far as I could remember.

The idea is simple. The bride and groom would throw out coins along with sweets and goodies for the kids (sometimes adults too) to collect... and keep...

Oh. Now I remember. When I was a kid in Muar, this was done at every wedding I've attended. And I remember waiting for this part with bated breath since as far as I was concerned it is the best part of a wedding.

After a time only family members and few close friends were left.

I must say thoughout the reception I had a difficult time keeping check of Al-Rasyid and following him around. Then again he is just a chip off the old block, hehe...

Anyway another best part of the wedding is the family photography session.

Once upon a time I found this cumbersome. Now that I'm turning 40 I find it a sweet reminder of the meaning of life...

For despite all the people you've met at all parts of the world there is nothing like family.

Sure you could have best friends that always help you out in the most dire times of need. But that's why you say such a friend is like family. Despite the fact that there are also turmoils and bad blood in an actual family at the end of the day a family is the ultimate symbol of closeness between human beings.

That's why when you really love a woman you should marry her. Then she becomes family. And when the union is consumated resulting in children people say you've made a family...

Anyway that's the oldest family member to attend the reception. I've forgotten how old is my granduncle Tok Su Sehat but he should be no less than 86.