The decorated wedding dais, called the pelamin, is one of the focal points of a Malay wedding. The bride and groom are considered king and queen for the day (raja sehari) and the pelamin is their throne.

Photo credit: Ethereal 9 flickr

I once went to a Malay wedding with a Hindu friend. It was her first time to a Malay wedding and she remarked how similar the pelamin design was to a mandap or mandva, which is a four-pillar wedding canopy (sometimes on a raised platform) central to a Hindu wedding. This is no surprise as a lot of what is considered “Malay” culture is actually borrowed or modified from Hindu traditions before the Islamicisation of the Malays. Another borrowed tradition would be the henna ceremony (majlis berinai). A lot of the religious connotations, however, have been lost in the modern day wedding ceremony and the bersanding (see explanation below) ceremony is more about “being royalty for a day” than anything else.

What are the bride and groom suppose to do at the dais? Well, like kings and queens… nothing much. They just sit there looking pretty for all and sundry and there is actually a name for this – it is called bersanding. Bersanding means erm, parading at the pelamin (‘parade’ as in “displaying” or “look at us parading our beautiful royal selves, my humble subjects, now get me a drink!”, not a ceremonial procession).

Anyway, sitting pretty for long hours (sometimes up to 8 hours in a day) is no mean feat. One of my friends who got married told me that her chair (a wooden bench type with thin cushion and without a backrest) was so uncomfortable that she was suffering the whole day. You have to note that traditional wedding costumes may be adorned with heavy beading. Add to this elaborate headgear (sanggul lintang), you’ll understand why a good, comfortable chair is an important element of the ceremonial dais.

The chairs must look that it befits royalty and Victorian-style chairs are common. Of late, simpler parsons chair with or without skirting is gaining popularity. Loveseats, benches and sofas are also common choices. If you’re not one to trust your wedding planner’s suggestion of a comfortable chair, why not get some of your own to be used on your pelamin?

Here are some comfy looking chairs (kerusi).

Another skirted chair option.

I love the gorgeous turquoise leather.

I love the floral pattern on this bench but a friend advice, “You’ll regret not getting one with a back rest!” I guess it’s okay for those with 2-3 hour sanding ceremony?

I love this image. The luscious dark red leather against a navy wall with a large feature piece. Simple but dramatic.

Kerusi bonus – a balloon chair. Yay or nay? Hmm… Maybe a bit difficult to hear when others are talking to you. Wait, maybe that’s a good thing?

All chairs from Neiman Marcus.