Cambodian Wedding Traditions
Cambodian culture and traditions have a rich history, but Cambodian wedding traditions are probably the most fascinating of them all. The wedding rituals, the extra care given for the moments before and after their wedding, and the special rules followed give a unique and special charm to Cambodian weddings.
The Decision of Marriage
Traditionally, young Cambodian men marry at around the age 20 to 25 while women can get married when they reach the age 17 to 22. Tradition dictates that the parents are the ones to decide or choose the future spouse of their children.
However, as the result of globalization, most young Cambodians now choose to marry on their own will, with conservative traditional customs limited only to the countryside with more conservative populations.
The Wedding Program
Traditional and contemporary Cambodian weddings differ in many ways. Initially, weddings in Cambodia lasted for 3 day and nights. Right now, most of these only last for a day or two, similar to the Western weddings. But none the less, newlyweds still show respect to a special program up to this day and age.
This program has been inspired by the legend of marriage of Khmer Prince Preah Thong and the Naga Princess Neang Neak. You can read about the legend here
Cambodian wedding traditions is comprised of the following 7 steps.
Khmer Wedding Highlights
Although several weddings in Cambodia have adopted Western style lately, there are still parts of ceremony, which persist in some cases.
Below are some of the instances:
The use of the palm flowers as a way to bless young couples and token of good will.
There are 4 essential songs that are sung during ceremony and these include Bay Khon Chang Dai, Bangvel Po Pil, Kang Saeuy, and Phay Cheay that are still in fashion.
Banquet consists of dance, lots of food, and music. The dishes are very complicated, yet they tend to be traditional in type and form. The dishes range from fish, meat, fruits, vegetables, and sweets hold a great place in ensemble.
Colors are crucial, yet color code isn’t as important as you’d expect. Generally, the Cambodians use the colors to designate well being and wealth rather than assigning some special meanings to them.
The newlyweds are supposed to live with the parents of the wife where son-in-law should help and assist his wife’s father.
Below are links to Cambodian Weddings we have recently photographed: