Khmer Wedding photographer

understanding the Traditional Khmer Ceremony

1. Songkhaem (Groom's Procession to the Bride's House)
The groom, along with his family and friends, walks in a procession to the bride's home, bringing gifts like fruits and desserts. This represents the groom traveling to ask for the bride's hand in marriage.

2. Sien Doan Taa (Honoring the Ancestors)
Both families pay homage to their ancestors by offering fruits, flowers, and other items. This ceremony is to seek blessings from the ancestors for a harmonious and successful marriage.

3. Hai Goan Gomloh (The Groom's Introduction)
The groom presents himself at the bride's home and is welcomed by her family. It’s a symbolic gesture where the groom is accepted into the bride’s family.

4. Chey Yorng Chey Yien (Bonding the Two Families)
The two families exchange gifts and fruits, symbolizing their new bond and unity. The families are now officially joined together through marriage.

5. Sompeas Ptem (Knotted String Ceremony)
This is one of the most important parts of the wedding. Elder family members and close relatives tie red or white strings around the couple's wrists, while offering blessings for happiness, health, and prosperity.

6. Gaat Sah (Hair Cutting Ceremony)
A symbolic "haircut" is performed to represent a fresh start for the bride and groom as they enter their new life together. The act symbolizes removing the past and preparing for the future.

7. Pang Praek (Threading Ceremony)
The bride and groom sit on the ground with a white thread running across their laps. The couple's wrists are then tied together with the thread, symbolizing their bond and commitment.

8. Bay Khon Chang Dai (Holding the Umbrella of Happiness)
The couple is covered by a white scarf, held above their heads like an umbrella, to symbolize protection and blessings from the heavens. This marks the couple as sacred and protected under divine blessings.

9. Bongvel Po Pil (Circling the Sacred Fire)
The couple walks around a sacred fire three times, symbolizing the purification of their union. Fire is a powerful element that cleanses their relationship, preparing them for a future of unity and love.

10. Sompeas Pka Sla (Throwing Seeds of Harmony)
The bride and groom throw seeds of parched rice (pka sla) toward each other to represent fertility, growth, and harmony in their married life.

11. Phat Cheay (Prayers and Blessings by Monks)
Monks or Achar (religious officiants) recite prayers and blessings, invoking happiness, longevity, and harmony for the couple.

12. Bongvel (Candle Ceremony)
This final ritual involves lighting candles and circling them around the couple. Guests pass the candles in a circle while reciting blessings. The candle flame represents the eternal bond between the bride and groom.

13. Cutting the Wedding Cake
In some modern Khmer weddings, couples end the ceremony by cutting the wedding cake. This tradition is borrowed from Western influences but is often integrated into Khmer weddings today.

These ceremonies blend tradition with modern elements and can be tailored to each couple’s preferences. Some couples may choose to shorten or combine certain parts to fit the wedding schedule.

If you're overwhelmed planning your traditional Cambodian wedding, you are not alone. Listed below are all the traditional rituals. PLEASE NOTE: The majority of my bride and grooms only pick the ceremonies most important to them and their family.