My Big Day Journey - Part 2

Welcome back everyone.

Thanks for following My Big Day Journey – Part 2.
After my ROM, I have about 1 year to prepare my wedding.

Every woman have dream wedding.

Me too…

Wana have my own perfect wedding.

Well… Now we have to make our dream come true.

Where to start???

First of all, we must remember...

WEDDING IS NOT JUST ABOUT "U & ME", IS ABOUT BOTH FAMILIES.

Definitely there will be some conflicts during the preparation process.

If there are any issues, sit down and discuss together with both families.

Achieve win-win agreement and the process will be smooth.

PLANNING A WEDDING IS NOT EASY

It can be very challenging and stressful but also a wonderful part of life.

Think positive, relax and enjoy the process.

The key is to stay organized, try stick to your budget and allow plenty of time to achieve everything.

Try not to let friends and families overwhelm you with all of their opinion and advice.
3 main peoples will affect the process.

       I) Bride and Groom     II) Both Families and Relatives     III) Friends (兄弟和姐妹)


CREATE A WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST 
This checklist will help you keep track on tasks that need to complete in a stipulated time frame.
After doing some research, below are my own set of Wedding Planning Checklist.
Feel free to view.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4-n1EGROY6PX09qalBVTzFwc1U/view?usp=sharing

VENDOR RECOMMENDATION

There are wide selection of vendor.
The selection decision depend on vendor quality & services and most important, your budget.
I had engaged some vendor below for my Big Day.

Below details are for your references.

Banquet Venue

Lim Tian Puan Restaurant (L.T.P - 林镇潘)

Address: No 251, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, 75100 Melaka, Malaysia

Contact: +606 282 2737

Invitation Card and Decoration handle by L.T.P

Florist

My Flower Bouquet was prepared by my close friend.

Paradise Flower House (Not engaged but recommended)

Website: http://www.paradiseflowerhouse.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParadiseFlowerHouse/

Address: No 331, Jalan Ong Kim Wee, 75300 Melaka, Malaysia

Contact: +6012 628 6503 / +06-281 1998

Alice Florist (Not engaged but recommended)

Website: http://www.aliceflorist.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliceFloristMelaka/

Address: No 301 & 303, Jalan Ong Kim Wee,75300 Melaka, Malaysia

Contact: +6016 607 2180 / +606-281 7798

Make-Up Artist

Suki Meoly Make-Up & Hairstyle Design Academy

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Suki-Meoly-Bridal-Make-Up-Hairstyle-Design-1491940787690625/

Contact: +6017 632 6963

Raymond Gan Make-Up & Hairstylish

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raymond.gan.31

Actual Day Photographer

EK Dan Photography (Highly Recommend for Pre-Wedding Photo Shoot & Actual Day)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/一颗蛋Foto-237854546235973/

Address: No 18 Jalan Inang 4, Taman Paya Rumput Utama, Melaka, Malaysia

Contact: +6014 968 0178

Previously EK and Team are only focus on Actual Day Photo Shooting.

Now they had open their own studio and covering more services.

Bridal Package

The White Weddings

Website: http://thewhiteweddings.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWhiteWeddings/

Address: 1 Jalan KSB 11, Taman Kota Syahbandar, Melaka, Malaysia

Contact: +606 288 0177

Actual Day Videographer 

Big Day Videography (Not engaged but recommended)

Website: www.bigday-video.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigday.cinematography
Contact: +6012 314 9720

CHINESE WEDDING TRADITION 

STEP BY STEP GUIDELINE AND ETIQUETTE

It is crucial for both parents to have same concept of the Guideline and Etiquette.
Otherwise, there will be lots of argument.
You may prevent this issue by employ a Bride's Chaperone (Dai Kam Jie).
They are the expert in this field and will guide us for the process.
Therefore, this will minimize the conflicts among them.

Request for Marrying the Bride (提亲)

The groom’s parent will employ a Bride's Chaperone (媒人/大妗姐) to present gifts of interest in marrying the bride.

Request for Chinese Birth Date (生辰八字)

My husband’s parent requested our Chinese Birth Date (生辰八字) and consulted a Master to check for our compatibility (合对八字).

Once we are compatible, we may proceed to select wedding auspicious date.

Selection of a Wedding Auspicious Date (择吉日)

Young couple basically select date based on date represent significant value, banquet venue availability or random Saturday / Sunday.

However, parents are very concern in date selection because they want to ensure your wedding can go smoothly. Usually they will consult Fortune Teller to get an auspicious date.

My wedding auspicious date and time was selected by the Master according to bride, groom and both families’ birth date.

Auspicious Dates are also required for Betrothal (过大礼) and Bridal Bed Installation (安床).

Betrothal (过大礼)

The purpose of betrothal (过大礼) is to show the sincerity of Groom families and a promise to take good care of the bride. It is a way of respect and gratitude to the bride’s parent.

Symbolize as wealth, abundance of descendants, a good shelter, sweet and loving marriage.

A gathering/dinner between 2 families must be arrange to discuss about the betrothal gifts before the betrothal day.

Betrothal day usually done 2 – 3 weeks before the wedding day where a senior relative accompany the groom to present Bride Price (聘金) and pre-discussed betrothal gifts to the bride’s family.

Bride Price (聘金)

Specific price (money or goods) given to bride’s family by the Groom.

A virgins basically having a higher price or a negotiated price based on the perceived worth of the girl (beautiful or especially industrious women being more highly valued). 

Bride’s Dowry (嫁妆)

The dowry is provided by the bride’s family is to aid the beginning of their daughter marriage.

Represent wealth of the bride’s family, a firm display the love for their daughter and blessing for their marriage.

Return Gift (回礼)

Upon receipt betrothal gifts from the groom, bride’s family should return a portion of the gifts.

This symbolize the bride’s family is not greedy and groom’s family over generous.

Most importantly, the two families share their good fortune.

Bridal Bed Installation (安床)

The essential practice is done by the Groom’s parent to bless the couple with good health and abundance of fortune and offspring.

Hair Combing (上头)

The ritual of both parents will comb their children’s hair as a meaning of moving on to the next stage of life in adulthood.

Auspicious blessings are uttered with each stroke to bless their children marriage.

Wedding Day (大喜之日)

I will cover more details of the below steps later that need to be done on Wedding Day.

1. Setting Off (出门)
2. Fetching the Bride (接新娘)
3. Entering Groom’s House (过门)
4. Tea Ceremony (敬茶)
5. Bride’s Home Visit (三朝回门)
6. Wedding Banquet (宴席)

Stay tune for Part 3
https://elevenbus.blogspot.sg/2016/10/my-big-day-journey-part-3_14.html

My Big Day Journey - Part 1

After getting married for more than a year, I am decided to share the process of my big day preparation.

I hope my blog would be a useful guideline for couples that planning to get married.

PROPOSAL

A simple proposal from my husband.
Surprisingly, it was happened in Alishan's Train.
That time, we need to wake up very early as 3.30 am for the train ride to watch sunrise.
I was very sleepy, blurred and tired.
During the train ride, he suddenly whispered "Marry Me" near my ear.
At first, I thought he was joking but when he said he was serious, I am totally fully awake.
I am never expected he was going to propose in Taiwan.
Finally, I had accepted his proposal.
Hahaha!!!

After saying yes....


REGISTRATION OF MARRIAGE (R.O.M)

R.O.M is a legal marriage ceremony performed by a government official.
It is compulsory for non-muslim Malaysian.

My below information are for couple above age of 21, Not Married and Malaysian citizen.
For others and more information may refer below link.
http://www.jpn.gov.my/maklumat-perkahwinan/perkahwinan/

There are 2 options that can be legally registered in Malaysia and obtained the application form (BORANG JPN.KC02).

          1.  National Registration Department (NRD)/Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN) offices.
          2.  Assistant Registrar of Marriages at temples/churches/associations.


My husband and I are born in Melaka.

Therefore, we had decided to register our marriage in Melaka.

We had chosen Heng Ann Association for our ROM venue.

Below are the venue you may choose for the ROM in Melaka.

NATIONAL REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT (NRD/JPN) UTC MELAKA

2^nd Floor, Wisma UTC Jalan Hang Tuah, 75300 Melaka

Tel: +606 288 3576

MALACCA HENG ANN ASSOCIATION
马六甲兴安会馆 (天后宫)

98, Jalan Laksamana Cheng Hoe, 75000 Melaka

Tel: +606 283 3217

SECK KIA EENH MALACCA BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION

57, Jalan Gajah Berang, 75200 Melaka

Tel: +606 283 7440

MALACCA CHEE TEONG BEOW TEMPLE
黄老仙师

46, Jalan Tun Perak, 75300 Melaka

Tel: +606 283 5294

My Simplified Application Procedures

Step 1: Get More Information

Pay a visit to NRD/temples/churches/associations and find out the R.O.M procedures.
Obtain the application form (BORANG JPN.KC02) from the staff.
Discuss your desire ROM date with both side parent before submission of application.


Step 2: Prepare Documents

Prepare below listed documents for The Registrar of Marriage verification:

            1.  Both Original and 1pc Photocopy of Identity Card (I.C.)

                     A4 size; Front and Back in 1 same page

            2.  Both Original and 1pc Photocopy of Birth Certificate

                     A4 size; Do not Cut

            3.  Both Passport Size Photo

                     1pc each; 32mm x 38mm in blue background; Instant Photos are unacceptable

            4.  2 Witness’s Photocopy IC

                     1pc each; A4 size; Front and Back in 1 same page; above 21 years old and Malaysian citizen;

                     No need to be present during submission of application

            5.  Application form (BORANG JPN.KC02) 
                 To be filled up completely

Below link is the Marriage Registration at NRD Checklist.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4-n1EGROY6Pc3hNdHlKVk92aXM/view?usp=sharing


Step 3: Commissioner for Oath

Once all the documents are obtained, we make a Statutory Declaration (Angkat Sumpah) with any of Commissioner for Oaths (Persuruhanjaya Sumpah).

The form and all the documents need to be certified before submission of application.

Payment: RM 10.


Step 4: Submission

After statutory declaration, for MY ROM, we had submitted the application form and all the prepared documents to Heng Ann Association.
The association's staff assist to submit all the completed application form to NRD for JPN verification before ROM could be carried out.

There are new procedure that couple need personally visit NRD for the JPN verification.
Payment: RM 20.
After JPN Verification, remember collect back the application form and submit to the associations/temples/churches.
Marriage Registration ONLY could be solemnized subject to NRD approval.


Step 5: Book Your Desire ROM Date

After JPN verification, you may proceed to book your desire ROM date during submission of application form at associations/temples/churches.
Payment depends on associations/temples/churches booking fee.
The fee is not refundable.

For My ROM, we had paid RM 100 for the desire date booking.

ROM date shall be fixed at least 7 days + 1 day after the date of submission but must not exceed 3 months subject to date availability.

The ROM shall take place after 21 days + 1 day and not later than 6 months from the date of application.

Notify the officer 3 days before the date of ROM if there is request of date change.

Fail to turn up within the 6 months need to re-apply and re-do all the payment.

For those who prefer to have ROM ceremony in Hotel, it will be required to pay RM 500 for the officer to be present at your ceremony.

So…That’s it for the application.

Yeah!!! We waited patiently for our ROM which we booked on 18 May 2013 on Saturday.


Step 6: Registration of Marriage

The couple and 2 witnesses must be present during ROM day and bring along Original I.C.

Must dress formal and neat. T-shirt, jeans, short pants and slippers are not allowed.

The couple and the witnesses are allowed to bring in their own cameras, flowers or rings during the ceremony.

Marriage ceremony is completed once the couple received their Marriage Certificates.

After My ROM ceremony, we had booked a table for Chinese Set Dinner in a restaurant to celebrate our marriage with both side families.

Stay Tune for Part 2
https://elevenbus.blogspot.sg/2016/05/my-big-day-journey-part-2.html