Some practical information on
Cambodian Wedding Process
Presentation prepared by:
Mr. Leng Chhay
www.camlefa.org
AN EXHAUSTED FULL DAY OF EVENT
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A day prior to the wedding day
Make up time
Groom procession
Parents greeting
Ring exchange
Hair cut
Marriage blessing
Small trip (if any)
Receptions / party
Some minor order might change according to the wise man (Achar).
Wise man is a person, who leads the process of the event.
Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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A day prior to the wedding day
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No long distance travel
Do not undertake any big physical activities
Make sure you will not have diarrhea
Save all your energy
Sleep well
Be prepared for tomorrow
Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Make up time
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On the wedding day
Wake up early
Take shower
Go to the make up room (will be informed)
Meet the makeup person(s)
Make up activities done
Go with the groom ushers and wise man
Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Groom procession
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Hear instruction from the wise man
Stay on a road side in front of the line of
many people (accompanied by the groom
ushers), who carry fruits and cakes
Khmer live music on, sound of gong on
Start walking towards the bride’s house
(normally about 100-200 meters)
Arrive at bride’s house. She comes out to
receive the groom into the house. Sit down
Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Parents greeting
Wise man will decide about the order
 Both greet the parents of the groom,
then the parents of the bride
 Music on, singer sings to show the
fruits and cakes the groom’s troop
brought for the bride
 Wise man asks for groom’s parents
agreement and then asks the bride’s
parents.
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Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Ring exchange
Rings for groom and bride prepared in
advance
 Bride prepares ring for the groom and
groom prepare the ring for the bride
 Groom places the ring on the bride’s finger,
and then bride do the same to the groom.
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Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Hair cut
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Change clothes (both bride and groom)
Sit in the middle between the bride maids and the
groom ushers (there are normally 3 bride’s maids and
3 groom’s ushers).
Two Khmer singers will start speaking and joking
Khmer music on, and they sing and joke all the time.
Finally they get scissor and a comb, and start the
hair cut (just pretend – no real cut, wishing good
wealth for the new couple)
Other relatives start to cut the hair for bride and
groom to make them look good and by doing so, the
pair will be wealthy and happy.
This takes around 60-90 minutes. Many audiences!
Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Marriage blessing
Change clothes
 Both sit on the mat, hands on the pillow
 Wedding music on
 Relatives start to put a red string on
wrist of bride and groom to recognize
their spouse relationships. Some
relatives might give a ring.
 Finally, both stand up and the bride
accompanies the groom into her room
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Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Small trip (if any)
After lunch
 Change clothes
 A car will accompany the bride and the
groom including the maids to visit a
beautiful garden to take some photos
for good wedding album.
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Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Receptions / party
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In the afternoon (about 5:00PM onwards)
Party will be prepared in a restaurant
Bride and groom stay at the door and greet the
guests, who come to the party.
Eating and drinking.
A lot of people will come.
Bride and groom can visit people at each table.
About 7:00PM – wedding cake. Bride and groom
can make a short speech, assisted by a
moderator, then everyone start to sing together.
Blow out the candles, cut the cake, offer to
parents, friends etc.
Finally, dancing!!!
Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Important Notes
Photographer and video man will take the
pictures throughout the event (hundreds
of pictures will be taken).
 Wedding clothes will be hired from the
make up persons, who will change the
clothes several times (especially for the
bride).
 Some other steps will might be added as
people prefer to mix with Chinese or
Western tradition.
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Leng Chhay
Cambodian Wedding Process
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Any question?
Please contact
Mr. Leng Chhay
E-mail: Learning@camlefa.org
Website: www.camlefa.org
Thank You for your attention!
Cambodian Wedding Process
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