Military Matrimony

And that was wedding number 2! When it rains, it pours - so to say. This wedding was different however: it was military. Basic elements were still there of course: a sea of men in batik shirts and women with colorful hijabs, elaborate flower boards outside congratulating the couple (there was even one from the Governor of South Sumatra) and tons of wonderful food.

While approximately 500 people found their seats in the main room of the hotel, a military band found its way to the front. Along the red carpet that ran through the middle of all the chairs and lead from the hotel's entrance to the main podium, a group of about twelve soldiers lined up - six on each side of the carpet, in upright position with their hands on their ceremonial sabers.

Then the music surged: a heavy drum rhythym, accompanied by the swerving sounds of trumpets and horns. It sounded like, and probably was, a battle song (after all, it's the battle that lies at the heart of each marriage).

Then the soldiers' commander shouted out some orders in a brusk, loud voice.

All the attendees rose, and each soldier guarding the red carpet had pulled out his saber, blocking the way of the newlyweds by crossing his sword with that of his counterpart on the opposite side of the carpet. As the music continued, the couple marched forward slowly, one step at the time, perfectly in sync with the drum's rhythym. The two soldiers along the red carpet closest to the couple, slowly raised their crossed sabers until it looked like a roof and allowed the couple to pass. This process continued as the bride and groom kept moving forward: each next set of soldiers would also raise their swords and ceremonially let the couple through. Once the couple passed a set of soldiers, the soldiers would bring their swords to their nose, pointed upwards, turn 90 degrees and follow the bride and groom - still taking each step based on the captivating rhythym.

The music continued until the couple and its military entourage made their way to the front of the room. There, the soldiers encircled the couple, raised their sabers and made a circular roof of some sorts above the couple. The music stopped and, within this circle, two officials led the couple into their civil marriage (I believe the religious ceremony took place the day before). Two female soldiers spoke incomprehensible things into a microphone (it was in Indonesian, after all).

 

At the end of the ceremony, the couple climbed the stage, flanked by the soldiers and their commander (on the left of the bride). Kodak moment!!

After that, it was time to eat. Masses of people, yours truly included, ran for the buffet table and feasted on the food like starved animals. Meanwhile, the couple and their respective parents sat down on the podium, waiting for people to come up and congratulate them as a 'regular' band started playing lovesongs (not all were as appropriate though, one was even about leaving your lover. Way to start a marriage!)

After all of this, things died down quite quickly. In any case, it was an amazing experience!