EVERY bride and groom dreams of having a wedding that reflects their cultural traditions and customs.
Chinese couples often incorporate Chinese elements, Iban couples celebrate with Iban traditions, and Malay couples infuse Malay customs into their weddings, as these cultural touches add special significance to their big day.
For couples in mixed marriages, the wedding often becomes a beautiful blend of both partners’ traditions and cultures, creating a unique celebration that honours both heritages.
However, Irynna Annuar and Duncan Soo chose to break with tradition by embracing Iban culture for their wedding, even though neither of them is Iban.
Their wedding was held at Rumah Maxwell in Sibu and witnessed by over 1,000 residents from the Nangka constituency on Sunday (Aug 4).
The celebration began with the sound of ‘Taboh’, a harmonious resonance of four Iban musical instruments called ‘tawak’, drum, ‘engkerumong’ and ‘bebendai’.
A total of 20 members of Kelab Gagong in full Iban warrior attire lined up in front of the ‘Tanju’ to welcome the groom and bride.
As the couple arrived at the longhouse, three shots were fired into the air to announce their arrival — a symbol of respect and festivity.
Following Iban customs, the bride was hidden in a room, and Duncan, her groom, had to find her as part of the ceremony.
Once united, they sat on a “Tawak” or gong, a tradition signifying their new life together.
In a charming twist, the mothers of both the bride and groom participated in the ‘muka baku’ tradition, which is racing to open the tightly-wrapped betel nut box.
This playful competition is a heartfelt symbol of unity and cooperation, strengthening the bond between the two families.
The bride’s father, Dr Annuar Rapaee, who is also Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, expressed his joy at the warm reception from the Iban community.
“This shows that it is not an issue for us to hold a ceremony with different customs as long as we understand and can live united in Sarawak,” he said.
Meanwhile, the groom’s mother, Ong Lee Ming, said she never imagined having the opportunity to celebrate her son’s wedding in such a meaningful way.
“I cannot express my joy in words. Many thanks to Rumah Panjang Maxwell. Most importantly, Dr Annuar and everyone here today gave us blessings and participated in such a lively ceremony, bringing everyone together in such a beautiful wedding,” she said.
Similarly, Irynna and Duncan were also glad they agreed to this incredible wedding setup.
Growing up in the peninsula, the tradition might have been alien to Duncan, but after experiencing it himself, he described it as an ‘amazing experience.’
“We love it. We didn’t expect it would take two hours to get into costume, so with the help of our friends, we managed to get into the costume, so we want to thank them for helping us become the king and queen (Raja Sehari) for today,” he said.
As for Irynna, the ceremony was an eye-opening introduction to Iban culture.
Dressed in the traditional ‘ngepan’ costume, she shared her experience with a smile. “It is very heavy, yeah, I cannot breathe.”
Her light-hearted comment highlighted her appreciation for the unique traditions they embraced.
Guests were also treated to captivating Ngajat dance performances and the martial art Kuntau.
The celebration continued with a feast, including the traditional Iban dish Ayam Pansuh, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.
The wedding of Irynna and Duncan was a beautiful celebration of cultural harmony which left a lasting impression on all.
