Our Wedding, Perth, 08 Aug 2008

08.08.2008, the Day. No, not the Beijing Olympics…well yes, but we were finally getting married on the same day as well! We have been waiting for this day to come round for almost a year. When Stefan proposed to me in the kitchen on 10.10.2007 in the midst of me busy measuring out the flour to make kuih mor (Brunei traditional cookie) for Eid Fitr (Hari Raya), we didn’t think that the day would come round so fast. We chose the date as it meant wealth, prosperity, abundance (888) in Chinese and since I’m half Chinese, why not eh? It’s also an easy date to remember the anniversary too. We decided to have the Muslim Akad Nikah ceremony, a very simple one, here in Perth at the Al-Hidayah Mosque in Padbury, about 20 km north of Perth. I had to be lying if I wasn’t stressed thinking about the Day, so many things to organize and prepare; make-up, hair, catering, dress, accommodation for families flying into Perth. I know I had cold feet the day before the wedding and wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do or not. It was nerves! Lucky I had some help from friends: Ange, the wedding planner & bride’s designated driver; Angie and Maya, the food organizer; Veronica, the photographer; Simon, the groom’s car and designated driver; Adriana, the driver to hairstylist; Ella, the bouquet organizer; Roland, the bridal car. My father, my brother together with his family flew from Brunei for the occasion, Maya from Kuala Lumpur and Stefan’s parents and twin brother, Dieter from Germany. My family was staying at my apartment whilst Stefan and his family at the self catering apartment in East Perth. A few days before the wedding, Ange and Thomas organized a separate hen’s and buck’s night for Stefan and me respectively. The strict instruction for the night was “No Stripper!” Anyway, on the morning of the wedding day, Adriana picked me up for the hair appointment and we couldn’t tell the hairstylist what the occasion was for and had to lie and said it was for a function, otherwise they will be charging me $150 for the hairdo which normally cost $40. Then, it was a rush home to wait for Hendra, the make-up artist to make me look stunning, hah! Once that was done, wardrobe malfunction, the zipper on my skirt was stuck and we had to improvise on how to put it on, as if I don’t have enough stress already! At 2 pm, Ange arrived to pick me up for the 20 km journey to the mosque. The Akad Nikad was conducted by the Head of Islamic Council of Western Australia, Imam Hj Abd Jalil Ahmad with my father and brother being the witness. At 2.30 pm, after the Friday prayers, the ceremony began and Stefan had to once again to ‘lafaz’ the Syahadah and then the Akad Nikah began. Stefan has been for weeks memorizing the one sentence he had to say during the akad and he did so without any hesitation when the moment came. "I, Stefan Herwig Goedeke, accept to marry Naizatulakmal Abdullah, for the dowry of $888 in cash." We are legally husband and wife in Islam and Australian law. For many of our friends in Perth, this is the first Muslim wedding they have ever attended. The ceremony was all over by 3 pm, in time for the Asar prayers. After posing for pictures in front of the mosque, we proceeded to Kings Park for post ceremony pictures. It was a very sunny day albeit a windy one. From there, we had some refreshments at our apartment in the city. One of the highlights of the day was when Ella jumped and caught the bridal bouquet! Your turn is next Ella. Overall, everyone had a great time, celebrating the occasion with many happy and loving moments. When the guests have left, Stefan and I finally sat in front of the TV, worn out from all the emotions of the day and watched the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in silence, officially as husband and wife. Although the day made up of simple ceremony and get together, what is important everyone came together to pull one of the best days in both Stefan’s and my life. Thanks all!