Everything You Needed to Know About Indonesian Weddings
Indonesian weddings can be very large and exciting events. While some of them are simple gatherings at the families' homes, some of them are elaborate events with hundreds or even thousands of guests. At these celebrations the couple's parents invite everyone that the family is even remotely acquainted with. Friends, business associates, colleagues, etc.- many of whom the bride and groom may not even know themselves. A lot of planning goes into an Indonesian wedding, and it's not uncommon for the families to send out over 1,000 invitations.
Needless to say, an Indonesian wedding can be a social event, and the bride and groom will even greet each individual guest to thank them for their kindness. Guests must wait in a long line for their chance to be greeted by the bride and groom. After each guest is greeted, the reception will begin. Most guests are only invited to the reception, while the wedding ceremonies are intended for the closest friends and relatives of the couple. Indonesian wedding ceremonies can last for many days, and the majority of the guests only stay at the reception for a half hour or so. Some of them may even have other weddings to attend later that same day!
The guest list probably took a lot of time to prepare, and the invitations are sent out only about two weeks before the wedding. The families go by the Muslim or Javanese calendar in order to determine the wedding date. They will plan the wedding during a "fortunate" month. Indonesians can be superstitious when it comes to dates and timing. The most modern Indonesians can even go by ancient wedding customs and traditions.
If the reception is held in the afternoon, guests can dress more casually. Men can wear long sleeved shirts, and women can wear casual, but nice outfits. For receptions that are held during evening hours at a luxurious hotel, men are recommended to wear suits and women should dress more formally.
Needless to say, an Indonesian wedding can be a social event, and the bride and groom will even greet each individual guest to thank them for their kindness. Guests must wait in a long line for their chance to be greeted by the bride and groom. After each guest is greeted, the reception will begin. Most guests are only invited to the reception, while the wedding ceremonies are intended for the closest friends and relatives of the couple. Indonesian wedding ceremonies can last for many days, and the majority of the guests only stay at the reception for a half hour or so. Some of them may even have other weddings to attend later that same day!
The guest list probably took a lot of time to prepare, and the invitations are sent out only about two weeks before the wedding. The families go by the Muslim or Javanese calendar in order to determine the wedding date. They will plan the wedding during a "fortunate" month. Indonesians can be superstitious when it comes to dates and timing. The most modern Indonesians can even go by ancient wedding customs and traditions.
If the reception is held in the afternoon, guests can dress more casually. Men can wear long sleeved shirts, and women can wear casual, but nice outfits. For receptions that are held during evening hours at a luxurious hotel, men are recommended to wear suits and women should dress more formally.
