在新加坡，百分之八十的老百姓是住在有政府补贴的政府组屋里，由于气候潮湿的缘故，新加坡的政府组屋的底层多为架空、不住人的，这一楼架空层的公共空间就可以用来举办一些活动，居民如果有需要可以向市镇理事会申请租用组屋一楼这个公共活动场地，比如马来同胞就经常在政府组屋楼下举行婚礼。
In Singapore, 80 percent of the residents live in HDB flats which have the government subsidy. The weather in Singapore is humid, so most of the times no one lives on the ground floor and the ground floor is built on stilts. The public area of the ground floor can then be used for events and functioning. Residents may apply to rent the space from the council when they need to organize their events, like the Malays who usually rent the space for their weddings.
2018年12月21那天，我上午有事出门，看到我们公寓对面的一座组屋楼下被布置成了婚礼现场，一看就知道是又有马来人要结婚了。在新加坡住久了会经常看到政府组屋楼下举办马来婚礼，但华人一般都很少参与其中，对此知之甚少，当时我就突发奇想，何不来写一场原汁原味的马来婚礼呢？
On the 21st of December 2018, I rushed for an appointment in the morning. I saw the flat across the street facing our condo had its ground floor set up as a wedding scene, implying that some of our Malay friends are probably getting married. I guess you must have seen a Malay wedding ceremony before if you have been living in Singapore for long. We seldom see our Chinese friends attending a Malay wedding ceremony and they do not know much about the customs and rituals about a Malay wedding. At that moment, a thought ran across my mind. Why don't I write an article about the original Malay wedding ceremony?
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等我下午从外面回来经过这座组屋楼下时，我忍不住拿出了手机，来到布置好的婚礼现场转悠转悠。
When I was on the way back home in the afternoon, I took out my phone and came to wedding scene to have a closer look.
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哇塞，平日里空荡荡的组屋底层居然布置的像一座阿拉伯皇宫。
Wow, the ground floor of the flat was always empty, but on that day the arrangement and decoration gave me the impression that I was in an Arab palace!
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旁边另一座组屋楼下布置成了一个厨房和用餐区，所有食物都是在这里现场烹饪，这位马来族大姐正摆弄着一盆刚炸好的鸡块。
The ground floor of the flat next to it was arranged as the kitchen and dining area. All foods were cooked on spot. The Malay lady on the right was cooking nuggets.
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这位大姐是个热情开朗的人，看到我在拍她，还很配合，后来我要跟她一起合照，她给了我个笊篱让我拿着摆POSE。大姐告诉我，星期六的婚礼，他们星期四就开始来现场布置准备了，晚上还要留在这里看守东西和食物。大姐说今天他们只是提前做些准备，其他婚宴的食物都留待第二天的婚礼前现做，保证食物的新鲜卫生。
She was a very easy-going person. She saw me taking pictures of her and did not feel offended. I took a picture with her as well. She also gave me her cooking net to take pictures. She told me that the official wedding ceremony begins on Saturday, but they had to be there on Thursday to prepare for everything needed for the wedding. At night they also had to be there looking after all the food and necessities. She said she was just preparing a small portion of the foods. Other foods were to be cooked right before the wedding ceremony starts, to make sure they are fresh and hygienic.
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这是这位大姐和她先生，原来他们就是这场婚礼的承办商，大姐叫莫娜，他先生叫默罕默德，他们的公司负责整个婚礼现场的布置和所有食物的供应，他们和我一见如故，还带我来到婚礼主席台的礼座上合影。临走时他们告诉我婚礼是在第二天中午一点至傍晚七点举行，邀请我到时候再来，真是想什么来什么，想写婚礼就有承包商来邀请，哈哈！
The picture above shows the lady with her husband. Her name is Muna and her husband is Muhammad. They were the event organizer which oversaw the arrangement, decoration and food preparation of the wedding ceremony. We felt like old friends at our first meeting, they also invited me to the front seats for a group photo. Before I left, they kept reminding me that the ceremony takes place from 1pm to 7pm the next day, and invited me to come.
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第二天是2018年12月22号，刚好是冬至这一天，午后我如约而至，老远就听到欢快的鼓声，走近了看到旁边一座政府组屋楼下一群马来少年们正在排练敲击羊皮鼓（Kompang），我也加入了他们的队伍。
It was 22nd of December 2018 the next day, which was also the traditional Chinese festival of Winter Solstice. I arrived at the wedding scene as agreed in the afternoon. I could hear people playing drums from far. When I walked close, I saw a group of Malay teenagers playing Kompang, and it was a rehearsal of their later performance. I also tried to play Kompang and it was fun.
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告别红衣少年们，迎面过来一队人马，好像是接亲的队伍。马来人的婚礼要举行两天，第一天是在清真寺举行宗教仪式的婚礼，第二天就是我们今天要见识的在政府组屋楼下举办的马来婚礼。
After playing with the red shirt teenagers, I saw another group of people coming, they appear to be the team picking up and escorting the bride. The typical Malay wedding ceremony runs for two days. The first day there would be religious rituals at the mosque and the second day will be the events at the wedding scene itself.
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莫娜和默罕默德看到我来了，非常高兴，还夸我穿的很有马来范儿，这是我和他们一家合影，中间这个招贴上有他们公司的名字(CYNTA DILIGES)和电话、网址。他们有三个女儿和一个儿子，今天是全家总动员，孩子们都过来帮忙了。
Muna and Muhammad were happy to see me, and they said the way I dressed up had a Malay taste. This was the photo I took with her family, with their company name, contact number and website in the middle. They have 3 daughters and 1 son, and all of them were there to help.
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这边婚礼现场，新娘已经就座了，新郎还没有到。默罕默德告诉我，马来婚礼是要在女方家举办的，女方要先到，然后等男方过来，这是新娘和她的父母。
At the wedding scene the bride was already there, and the groom was not there yet. Muhammad told me a Malay wedding runs near the bride's family. The bride must be there first waiting for the groom. The picture shows the bride with her parents.
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那我就算娘家人吧，呵呵！默罕默德还告诉我婚后如果新人们自己没有房子，男方是要住到女方家里的，这不就是中国人所说的“倒插门”吗？以前一直以为马来人是男权社会，这简直颠覆了我的认知啊！
Haha so I just pretend I belong to the wife’s family. Muhammad also told me if the newlywed does not have their own home, the husband must live in the wife’s family, like what we call a “Matrilocal Residence”. I always thought the Malay society is male dominated, this has completely changed my perception.
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这时外面一阵喧闹、鼓声大作，新郎的仪仗队已经走来了。新郎旁边的两人各拿一柄棕榈穗状花(Bunga manggar)，这是马来婚礼中的一个重要装饰，由闪亮的彩纸制作而成，为婚礼增添热闹的气氛和美感。
Then I heard the buzzling and the sound of Kompang. The honor guard of the groom came to the wedding scene. Each of the two men beside the groom carries a Bunga Manggar, which is made by shiny pieces of colored paper. It is a piece of decoration for the wedding.
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被众星拱月着的新郎颇有一种王者风范。
The groom was surrounded and escorted by others, giving him a Majestic demeanor.
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这边亲友们都已翘首以待了。在这里要说明一下，通常中国人以为马来人就是马来西亚人的简称，这是一个误区，马来人是生活在东南亚的一个种族，主要分布在马来西亚、新加坡和印度尼西亚一带，他们大多信仰伊斯兰教，马来族是新加坡的第二大种族，而马来西亚则是一个国家。
Here all the friends and family members were giving them a warm welcome. Chinese people tend to have the misperception that the Malays are the Malaysians, it is incorrect. Malays belong to an ethnic group in Southeast Asia, they are scattered around Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Most of them are Islamic while Malaysia is just a country.
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新郎和他的大部队被拦在了拱门外。
However, when the groom and his honor guard reached the wedding scene, they were blocked from entering the archway.
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女方亲友们各样的刁难耍弄新郎，让他表演各种节目，还要现场高歌一曲。
Bride's friends and families started making things difficult for the groom. He had to perform all kinds of shows and sing a song before he could enter.
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这厢新娘还被扇子严严地遮住了脸。
The bride was also covered with a folding fan.
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新郎过五关、斩六将终于走进了拱门。
After overcoming all the challenges, the groom could finally enter the archway.
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这边新娘的陪伴拿到了红包才把扇子拿下。
The folding fan was also removed once they had received the red packet.
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新郎终于来到新娘面前，向新娘献上了花花！
The groom and bride were finally together facing each other. The bride had also received the flower from the groom.
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两位新人终于坐在了一起，就是新郎看我的眼神有些犀利，好像在琢磨他媳妇家啥时候有了我这样一门亲戚。依据马来传统习俗，婚礼这一天，新郎新娘要身着华服，像国王和王后般，坐在这装饰精美的结婚礼座上，接受亲朋好友们的祝福。
The newlywed was finally sitting together, just that the way the groom looked at me was sharp. He seemed to be wondering when did his wife's family had a relative like me XD. According to the traditions of Malays, the newlywed was dressed up in an elegant manner, looking like the king and the queen. They were sitting on a well decorated mini-sofa, receiving the blessings from their friends and relatives.
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敲击羊皮鼓是马来婚礼的重头戏，在红衣少年们的羊皮鼓声中，这位小哥居然打着一套长拳上来了，这是什么意思啊！
Kompang performance is one of the main parts of a Malay wedding ceremony. The red shirt teenagers were all playing Kompang and I was surprised to see someone walking along the red carpet performing martial arts.
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第一位小哥耍着长拳一路走到新郎新娘面前后，第二位小哥又耍着一套不知是猴拳还是鹰拳上来了。
The first person kept performing martial arts and stopped in front of the newlywed. The second person was also performing martial arts. I was not sure whether it was a Monkey Style or Iron Claw.
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第三个上场的是位大叔，这一招感觉像“黑虎掏心”，后来我才知道这是传统马来武术，马来语叫Silat。
Here is the third person. I was told that this is traditional Malay martial art, called Silat.
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莫娜在旁边告诉我，表演Silat的人数要求是三位、五位或七位，必须是单数。在马来婚礼上，这套Silat的寓意是用打武术来把不好的东西都打跑。
Muna told me that the number of Silat performers must be an odd number, like 3, 5 or 7. During a Malay wedding ceremony, they would use Silat to chase away all the evil spirit.
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Silat表演之后，从新郎出现一直持续到现在的羊皮鼓声终于告一段落，领唱的少年唱起了歌，这位领唱的歌声感觉非常像在清真寺里听到的呼召声。
After the Silat performance, the Kompang performance also came to an end. The red shirt teenagers started singing. The way they sing sounds like the prayers we hear at the mosque.
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接下来是少年们的合唱。
Then there was a chorus from the teenagers.
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鼓乐队的少年们演唱结束后和新郎新娘合影。
The teenagers playing Kompang were taking pictures with the newlywed after their performance.
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在台下观礼的来宾们。
The guests were all spectating the wedding ceremony.
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婚礼的传统仪式到此告一段落，来宾们开始坐下来吃喝了。
The traditional Malay wedding ceremony was over, the guests sat down and started feasting.
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紧邻的另一座组屋楼下，被布置成了漂亮的自助餐厅。
The ground floor of another flat next door was set up as a beautiful buffet restaurant.
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来宾们排着队领取食物。
The guests were queuing for food.
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供应的都是自助餐，据默罕默德说这个婚礼他们提供的是最基本的食物标配。
Everything was in a buffet style. Muhammad told me it was their standard wedding food supply.
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老板的儿子负责饮料这摊儿。
Their son oversaw the drinks stall.
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这边他们的一个女儿负责甜品和糕点这一摊儿。
This is one of their daughters helping at the desserts stall.
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他们聘请的员工都是兼职的，接到婚礼订单了再请人来帮忙，承办这样一场婚礼，需要大概二十多个人手来帮忙。
All their employees were working part time. They only start employing people after they got the case. To organize such a wedding ceremony, they would need more than 20 employees.
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这是他们的几样主菜，默罕默德还贴心地嘱咐我吃好喝好，自己照顾自己，可这些菜全是辣的，我根本没法吃啊，就吃了几块马来糕点意思了一下。
These are all their main dishes. Muhammad was very caring and kept reminding me to eat more and take good care of myself. However, all the dished were spicy and I could not eat, so I just tried out some Malay cakes and desserts.
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这上门服务的自助餐也是新加坡特有的一种餐饮文化，顾客只要自己提供场地，就可以让商家送来食物，上门服务，还会把现场布置的美美的，聚餐结束后商家再派人来拿回桌椅餐具、收拾好场地，非常方便。
The buffet delivery is also a special kind of dining culture in Singapore. The clients can book a function room on their own and the buffet food will be delivered to their place. They also help their clients setting up the spot and after the event finishes, they will take back everything and clean up the spot. It is very convenient.
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拍完食物后，我满场转转，这个台面摆放的都是给小孩子们准备的各种糖果。
After taking pictures of the foods, I walked around the wedding scene. There were also different kinds of sweets prepared for the kids.
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婚礼现场入口的两边各有一张这样的台面，新人双方的父母分两边坐在这里迎送来宾，小竹筐里是给客人预备的小礼物。
There were two tables at the wedding scene entrance. Parents of the newlywed were sitting here welcoming all the guests. Inside the basket were the gifts they had prepared for the guests.
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在这个台面上来宾可以拿上各种道具拍照，现场打印出来。
Here at this stall the guests could take pictures with all kinds of accessories and print out their pictures.
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这个拍照打印的摊位很受大家欢迎。
Looks like the photo shooting and printing stall was very popular among the guests.
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我也忍不住戴上花环，跟这位小马来妹来张合影。
I also wore the garland and took a picture with this Malay sweetie.
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拍完一张还可以换个道具再拍。
Haha I wanted to take pictures with a different accessory.
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这边主席台上各路亲友纷纷到台上和新郎新娘合影，送上美好的祝福。
All the friends and relatives walked up to the stage, taking pictures with the newlywed and sending them best wishes.
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这拨亲友团真是声势浩大、人气爆棚啊。
Look at the massive and supportive friends and relatives.
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我也送上美好的祝福，沾沾新人们的喜气。
I had also sent them my best wishes. I was sitting next to them and sharing their blessings~ XD
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忙着拍了两个多小时，我也有些累了，默罕默德告诉我四点钟还有一个西式婚礼仪式，新人们会换套衣服切蛋糕，看时间还早，我就先过马路回家了。还有一些来宾坐在组屋楼下，感觉这婚礼很接地气儿。
After photographing for more than two hours, I also felt a bit tired. Muhammad told me the newlywed would also be having a Western styled wedding ceremony at 4 pm. They would be changing costumes and cutting cakes. I saw there were still plenty of time, so I went across the street back home first. The guests were just sitting under the flat chatting among themselves, looks like the wedding ceremony was very down to earth.
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这就是新人的婚车，在新加坡的街头，你是根本看不到婚礼车队的，新人们大多乘一辆白色的马赛地（大奔），别的亲友们都是自行前往，新加坡人这种低调务实不张扬的态度我很欣赏。
This was the wedding car for the newlywed. In Singapore, you will not be seeing wedding cars forming a motorcade. The newlywed is usually driven by a white Mercedes-Benz, and the friends, relatives and guests go to the wedding scene by themselves. I like Singaporeans for not being extravagant and not showing off.
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回家眯了一觉后，我换了身衣服溜达着去参加家附近的兀兰之光教堂举办的圣诞晚会，走过巴士站，巧遇三位以前一起学排舞的姐妹们，她们也是打扮的美美的要去参加一个圣诞晚会。
After having a nap at home, I changed clothes and went to a Christmas party near my home. When I walked past the bus stop, I bumped into 3 sisters. We used to be dancing and performing together. They were also dressed up and on their way to another Christmas party.
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又经过婚礼现场，这边切蛋糕的西式婚礼仪式已经结束了。
I have passed through the wedding scene again, looks like the cake cutting part of the Western wedding ceremony was just over.
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新郎和新娘换上了西装和西式婚纱，感觉新郎和新娘这一天的任务就是坐在那里和亲朋好友们拍照。
The groom and bride have changed their costumes to Western suits and gown. It looks like everything they did for that day was taking pictures with their friends.
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莫娜和默罕默德正在后厨忙着打包剩下的食物，接下来他们还要把现场所有的用品全部清理拉回库房，我真是有幸遇到这对亲切友善的夫妇，是他们给了我这次难得的深入采访马来婚礼的机会！
Muna and Muhammad were packing all the left-over food at the kitchen, they also had to clean the wedding scene and put everything back into the storage. I was so lucky to meet such a friendly and lovely couple, I must thank them for allowing me to interview and report on a Malay wedding ceremony!
据默罕默德告诉我，这样一场婚礼是按照500位来宾的最基本标准承办的，这样一场婚礼他们收费是16000新元（约合8万元人民币），为了这样一场婚礼，他们要连着忙活三天。因为马来人都是在星期六或星期天举办婚礼，所以他们一个月最多也就承接四次婚礼。不过我感觉除去成本开销
