Cambodian weddings are long and intricate affairs that consist of multiple ceremonies and songs. Below are examples of programs used at two different Khmer weddings to help explain to guests some of the customs and meanings behind the various activities and performances that take place. Although regional and personal differences in wedding rituals do exist, both these programs detail the key elements of traditional Khmer weddings.
	Origins of the Khmer Wedding Khmer weddings symbolize the beautiful legend of the origin of Cambodia and parallels the marriage of the first Khmer prince, Preah Thong, to the naga princess, Neang Neak. The prince was a foreigner exiled from his homeland, and during his travels encountered and fell in love with the naga princess. As a marriage gift, the father of the naga princess swallowed a part of the ocean, and thus formed the land of Cambodia. A traditional Khmer wedding is one of the most joyous occasions for a Khmer family and typically lasts from three days to an entire week. It is a grand affair, full of color and festivity, as well as steeped in tradition. Family, friends, and other members of the community come together to share in the celebration. Musicians play throughout the day on traditional instruments, and the couple is dressed like royalty. The bride may change her outfit several times in one day. If the wedding were a weeklong affair, she could declare the color of her dress each day and the guests would dress only in that color. Unlike most Western weddings, guests are usually highly animated during the ceremonies, with elders typically explaining the significance of the various customs to the younger generation. Please feel free to turn to a neighbor if you should have questions or comments about what is occurring. You may also stand up and leave the room if you need to stretch your legs. Guests freely move in and out during ceremonies, which is not considered rude.
	Cambodian weddings traditionally consist of ceremonies and celebrations lasting three days and three nights. Three is considered to be an especially auspicious number by Cambodians because of its association with the "three jewels" of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Sangha (brotherhood of monks), and the Dhamma (the Buddha's teachings). Due to the demands of modern day life however, today, both in Cambodia and overseas, all the following wedding ceremonies are usually completed in just one day.
	Presentation of Dowry Cambodian weddings begin with the groom and his family traveling to the bride's home bearing gifts to the bride's family as dowry. In most of today's weddings ceremonies however, all guests invited to the morning celebration will participate in this travel. This usually happens in the early morning hours (circa 7am) in order to benefit from the coolness of the day and also allow compatibility with working hours. The groom will await before the door the arrival of the bride. The bride welcomes the groom with flowers and other gifts. Family members and friends are introduced, and wedding rings exchanged.
	Three traditional songs accompany the presentation of dowry: Neay Pream He Kaun Kamlas (Arrival of the Groom) · A song telling the story of the groom and his family's journey to the bride's house bearing meats, fruits, pastries, drinks and desserts of every variety to be presented on the wedding day. Chambak Rouy (Presenting the Dowry) · A dialogue between the matchmakers, parents, relatives, and friends of the bride and groom in which the groom's family and friends officially present the dowry gifts to the bride's family. Pak Paeuk Pisa Sla (Inviting the Elders to Chew Betel Nut) · Presentation of the betel nut to the bride and groom's elders. In turn, parents of both the bride and groom ask for blessings and well-wishes for their children.
	Tea Ceremony A tradition practiced by Cambodians of Chinese descent in which the bride and groom offer tea to the spirits of their ancestors. Hair Cutting Ceremony To prepare the bride and groom for their life as a married couple, their hair is symbolically cut, representing a fresh start to their new relationship together as husband and wife. The master of ceremony performs the first symbolic hair cut and wishes the couple happiness, prosperity, and longevity. The bride and groom's parents, relatives, and friends then take turn to symbolically cut the bride and groom's hair and give them blessings and well-wishes. (In the old days, the bride and groom's hair were really cut during this ceremony, but in modern times it is only done symbolically.) Two songs accompany this ceremony:

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Democracy, Cambodian Style

KOMPONG CHAM -- As voting came to a close in Cambodia's national elections Sunday, I stood outside makeshift polling station 1660, waiting to watch the ballots counted. Just over 500 Cambodians had voted at this rural outpost -- the downstairs of a wooden stilt house -- in the country's fourth parliamentary election since a massive UN intervention in the early 1990s.

Shortly after I arrived at the house, a woman rode up on a bicycle, her index finger stained purple indicating that she had already voted. She said she had been registered at more than one polling station and was wondering if she should vote again. Looking nervously at the gathered observers, the election officials sent her away. Then another woman approached the house from the nearby dirt road. Her hair hanging in limp strands from the intermittent rain, she explained she had been wandering around the village all day, trying to find the polling station where she was registered. Voting ended ten minutes ago, she was told. Disheartened, she left.

The ruling Cambodian People's Party has claimed over two-thirds of the vote in Sunday's election, a win that will tighten the party's grip on political power. Though an official tally is yet to be released, opposition parties are already contesting the CPP's victory. They argue that voter roll inconsistencies -- like those I witnessed on election day -- were in fact widespread and deliberate. Sam Rainsy, who heads the leading opposition party, claims that thousands of voters' names mysteriously disappeared from registration lists. He has called for a revote in the capital city of Phnom Penh, where he says irregularities were particularly glaring, and threatens to lead protests in the next few days if this does not happen.

Several days before Sunday's election I followed the newly-formed opposition "Human Rights Party" on the campaign trail in Kompong Cham province. Tacked to the front of the house is a picture of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

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10 Freakish Wedding Ceremonies

When the day comes every person in the world want to have a special wedding ceremony for themselves. It’s such a special occasion in your life that you want to have fond memories of for the rest of my life. Some people do take these wedding ceremonies to extremes and come up with the most bizarre and weird ideas for their wedding day. Check out these photographs from 10 of the most freaky wedding ceremonies ever. I hope that their marriage didn’t turn out to be as awkward and funny as their weddings.

Wedding dresses as heroes from “Star Wars”. And instead of a priest – Princess Leia

Beauty will save the world? And what beauty is – if not harmony. This couple really look very harmoniously after all?

Nice shelter…Safety first

Wedding in McDonald’s restaurant. Cheap and tasty. Judging by the size of bride and groom, this is their favorite meeting place

Men like to show their women. To make other men envy them. And if you’re old, bald and waring glasses – how else to conquer the public, if not by displaying young attractive wife

Fiona and Shrek  in real life…

Mothers-in-law know that telepathic communication with men, leading their daughters down the aisle is necessary to keep thing running smoothly

Not enough money? Caribbean wedding then

Gothic,  or whatever today’s youth call this?

Zombie wedding: they’ll decompose together in a long and happy life (or afterlife)

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Strong MAN

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Khmeng Jean Tnam

Rok Ban Hoy Money

Chham ey bert tov

Tver cheng ban vea laor

Muy Muy khlach ke see nas

Tver cheng som te ning

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Khmer Share Idea

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Good for man

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Fun TODAY

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