M + M // Connecticut Cambodian Wedding Photography
August, 2021 | Monroe, Fairfield, Connecticut
Oooooook let’s do this.
These guys, are amazing. And this Cambodian Wedding was absolutely incredible. And before I go any further, I highly recommend heading straight to The Adventure Diet blog to find out more about Molly’s intentions behind everything, and the beautiful background of this whole unique celebration.
But as a measly old wedding photographer in monroe, connecticut this is how I saw it…
A Cambodian wedding is a significant and spectacular event that is celebrated by families, friends, and sometimes the entire community. Cambodian weddings are filled with interactive, symbolic ceremonies and extravagant, colorful outfits. These wedding ceremonies are extremely interactive and engaging for family members and guests. As I understand it, traditionally, Cambodian weddings consist of eight ceremonies spanning three days, each of which is symbolic of the couple's journey as they enter their new marriage together. But the bride and groom aren't the only ones honored and showered with blessings; Cambodian weddings are an opportunity to pay tribute to the couple's families and ancestors.
As a newly-minted Cambodian wedding photographer, it was a joy to capture all of this.
The first ceremony is the Groom's Processional & Ring Exchange, where the groom and his family marched with gifts to the bride’s house to meet his new wife and her family. This ceremony symbolizes the groom’s long journey to his new bride’s home to ask her parents for their permission to marry. This was fun, and unique, and nothing I had quite seen before as everybody lined up with a gift and followed the procession.
Next, is Honoring The Parents where the bride and groom honor their parents, thanking them for their sacrifices and raising them to this point in life. The bride and groom use gold umbrellas to shade their parents, symbolizing the reversal in roles. They pass gift platters to each of them, bow three times for respect, then shower them with their gratitude and love.
The Hair Cutting ceremony, (“Gaat Sah”) is to prepare the couple for their new journey together as husband and wife. The hair of the bride and groom is metaphorically cut. Cambodians believe that cutting the hair symbolizes the bride and groom's past being cut away for a clean start as a married couple. Once the hair is "cut", perfume is sprayed on the couple.
After this was The Passing Of Blessings - a unique opportunity for all the married couples present to pass blessings and marital success to the bride and groom. This was such a beautiful way to see the support and mentoring that surrounded the couple.
This is followed by the Knot Tying ceremony, where M + M leaned on a gold pillow and held a sword together, which represented the groom’s loyalty and protection of his new bride while all the guests passed by to tie a red silk string to their wrists, then dipped a flower in holy water and sprinkled it over their heads.
After this, the couple was showered with white palm tree seeds by all in attendance (particularly the kids really enjoyed this part)!
There’s no way for me to truly capture every intricate symbol and meaning that went into this wedding, but it was a blessing to capture.
But… it didn’t end there. The couple then finished out the rest of the day, with bridal photos at Wolfe Park, followed by wedding photography at the Fairfield Pavilion and Penfield Beach with a reception, cake, amazing dancing, and a night shot to finish it off right.
If you’re also looking for a photographer for your Cambodian Wedding, or are getting married in Fairfield County, reach out, and let’s chat :)
