A Tribute to the Malay Wedding Craft

I’ve always admired the master craftsmen/women who are skilled in the Malay wedding floral art. Their fingers worked like magic, creating lovely and exquisite floral arrangements to be used as part of the ‘hantaran’ gifts, the ‘bunga telur’ or wedding favors, the ‘pelamin’ (wedding dais), bedroom and reception-hall décor. No Malay wedding is complete without any of these floral arrangements. Here are some examples:

Buying a ready-made floral arrangement from a bridal boutique can cost quite a fortune depending on the type of materials used. As for me, my time is quite limited, thus, I only design and make a floral arrangement for very close friends and family. Therefore, the price of the ones made by me will only be half than a similar floral arrangement that can be found in bridal boutiques around KL since I only need to cover the cost of the materials needed. The most popular materials for making the flowers are nylon, faux-crystal beads, organza, Q-dip and mesh-wire. Take a look at these delicate Q-dip or crystal-dipped flowers:

Here’s a tip, the best place to get quality materials is at the Bunga Reben shop at City One. The materials sold there are clean and in good condition as compared to other shops, and the sales assistants are very friendly and helpful. While you were at City One, don’t forget to visit Zalia at her boutique, her crafts are absolutely gorgeous and exquisitely done. Her shop have the best betel nut flowers (bunga pinang), bunga kapur and gambir rosettes for sirih junjung arrangement.

I Hate Pink...

My latest floral craft project involved nine sets of engagement ‘hantaran’ gifts arrangement in pink and silver for the daughter of Auntie M, a good friend of my Mom. Pink is a pretty color, but it is not a favourite of mine (I actually hate the color, don't ask me why) but Auntie M’s daughter wanted pink as the theme-color for her ‘hantaran’ gifts. I used silver-colored boxes to arrange the gift presentation and set it off with pink wired- ribbons and nylon flowers with faux pink and cream pearls.

'Hantaran’ gifts in the Malay society are ceremonial pre-nuptial gifts exchanged between the groom and the bride-to-be. The gifts will be beautifully decorated with handmade flowers and ribbons crafted from the finest materials and arranged on a brass or silver tray to be presented during a formal engagement ceremony, or just before the wedding ceremony commences. The tray will be lined with velvet, satin or tulle decorated with intricate beadworks, gold-thread embroidery or fine lace. This custom of gift-giving is a deep-rooted value shared by most Asian as a way to honor and respect each other’s family.

Jewelries, accessories, designer footwear and bags, expensive perfume and toiletries set, branded cosmetics, fruits, cakes, sweetmeats, candies and chocolates, potpourri and fine clothing are all normal gift items. But, some even added gadgets like a mobile phone, iPod, a laptop, PDA and some even went further to add a car or a house to the list. The gifts from the groom usually include some dowry ‘money’ for the bride. I would like to note here that the gift of sweetmeats is an art into itself. These delectable morsels came in the form of ‘halwa’ or candied fruits carved into flowers and leaves, marzipans and jellies shaped into tiny fruits or vegetables, sweet dough made to resemble roses and nougats shaped into thin petals….

However, for the contemporary Malays, it is normal to exchange the ‘hantaran’ gifts twice, once during the engagement ceremony and again before the wedding ceremony. But, the dowry money is given only once. Well, who wouldn’t want the gifts twice? They are lovely to look at and some of the gifts can be quite expensive. Perhaps, for some couple this is maybe the only moment in their married lifetime they'll ever receive such lavish and artfully presented gifts from their spouses.