This Fusion Wedding of Chinese-Malaysian-Indian-Punjabi-Aussie cultures is a true testament to the multiculturalism of Australia!
Jay is Punjabi from Malaysia and moved to Australia when he was 17 years old and Mei Wan is Chinese from Malaysia and born in Australia. They met 3 years ago in Perth where they both reside and connected instantly over their love for delicious Malaysian food and witty banter. Within a year they were engaged and the following year they had their dream ‘Chindian’ wedding.
Tell us a little about your wedding- the functions & venues
The wedding week comprised various distinctive events, each paying homage to Jay and Mei Wan’s cultural backgrounds. The venues for the wedding week were transformed into enchanting landscapes, reflecting the rich tapestry of the couple’s heritages.
Sangeet – Day 1: Kick starting the JayWan Wedding Week with the magical Sangeet night.
A vibrant night of song, dance, feasting and absolute JOY! The word Sangeet is a Sanskrit word that translates to ‘sung together’. Elder females sang traditional Punjabi songs to celebrate our oncoming union. So much fun, colour and big big ENERGY and how about those EPIC Bollywood dance performances. It was beautiful to see the families and relatives from around the world come together to celebrate.
Maiyaan & Mehendi – Day 2: As the sun was shining in all it’s glory, we started day 2 of the #JayWan wedding week with the cleansing ‘Maiyaan’ ceremony with golden curry puffs and steaming cups of cha. This glorious ceremony is traditionally done two days before the Wedding to purify the bride and the groom and make them GLOWWWW (I’ll do anything for a J Lo glow!!!)
The rich ‘Haldi’ paste is made from a combination of turmeric, channa chickpea flour and mustard oil.As the ladies sang jovial folk songs, family and friends smothered the decadent mixture onto our skin to purify it and wash away all bad omens. Apply in moderation …said no one ever !!!
To wrap up the auspicious ceremony, we got fed and fed our unmarried sisters and friends a sweet ghee rice ‘meethe chawal’.
Event #3 ‘Mehendi’ was one for the ladies! From midday to midnight, this was one epic 11 hour Mehndi (henna) sessions that I’ll never forget! The Mehndi party is traditionally held to adorn a bride’s hands and feet with elaborate henna art and symbolises good health and prosperity of the marriage. It was originally used for its natural cooling properties in hot climates and to treat ailments such as aches, burns and wounds. Henna leaves are dried and ground into a powder to create the paste which is then wrapped into piping cones. The process starts way before the actual application. Thank you lovely Jeeto from Jugni Henna for bringing my ideas to life (and all the detailed requests) with the most stunning and intricate fusion design. It was mesmerising watching you create this masterpiece of art with such grace!
We had so much fun watching Bollywood movies, bonding over spiced cha, life choices and of course, snacking!
As I reflect on the beautiful henna experience (+ sitting very still for a whole day challenge hehe), it reminds me of the commitment, patience and devotion of entering into the divine union that marriage is.
Anand Karaj Wedding Ceremony – Day 3
The Anand Karaj was held at Canningvale Gurudwara Sahib as per traditional Sikh rituals. Mei Wan, radiating beauty and cultural significance, adorned herself in an exquisite red velvet lehenga gown covered in embroidery and embellishments for the Ceremony. Red holds deep symbolism in both Indian and Chinese traditions and is associated with life generating energy (the sun, blood, heart and fire) and is the colour of auspiciousness, celebrations and prosperity. The groom looked dashing in a cream sherwani paired with a maroon red turban and velvet scarf.
Tea Ceremony and Reception:
This time it was Jay’s family’s turn to embrace and experience different traditions at the Chinese Tea Ceremony held at the Yong’s Residence where the couple served Chinese tea to their parents, in-laws
and elders, symbolising harmony and unity of the two families.
The festivities culminated in a spectacular Wedding Reception at The Westin Perth, where
Jay and Mei Wan astounded the crowd with a meticulously choreographed dance. Their
performance encompassed a medley of five of their favourite songs, seamlessly transitioning
from a romantic first dance to an exuberant Bhangra display, igniting the celebration with
infectious energy and joy. Guests were also surprised with a Bollywood dance lesson by
dance professional Jiten Bhatt which opened up the dance floor for a night to remember.
Tell us about your journey in finding and selecting your wedding vendors, and your experience with them.
We were recommended a range of high calibre vendors from South Asian and Western backgrounds and we used a mix of both cultures to create a wonderful wedding dream team. It was important that they didn’t compromise on quality whilst delivering an exceptional service, the type that goes above and beyond. I also did research online and had meetings with a few vendors before we selected our preferred suppliers so that they understood our vision and the fusion of cultures. It was also an opportunity to see if our vibes and energy matched.
We were really happy with all of our South Asian suppliers including Harmony Decor and Events, Rakesh Catering, Jugni Henna, Elona from Muse Studio Collective and DJ Mixtabishi ft dhol player Gugz.
Renowned photographer James Simmons and talented videographers Mitch & Tijana were present to capture every precious moment, ensuring that the memories are forever treasured. Our amazing glam team included my best friend Gemma from Hidden Hair, Sheridan MUA for make up and Jay’s barber Mel who were all so fun and friendly. Chris from Ilumin8 Events provided our fabulous dance floors and photobooth, stunning cake was made by Alisha from AR Sweets and the bar at the Sangeet from Tailored Events Group.
How easy or difficult it was it to find South Asian wedding vendors in Australia?
It was easy to find fantastic and experienced South Asian wedding vendors in Perth as it’s such a melting pot of cultures here plus being in the event management industry was also a plus. Over the last few years, our friends who hosted their own weddings recommended their South Asian vendors onto us which made it simple to connect with smooth operators.
Any “wedding planning” tips or advice for to-be-weds who are based in Australia but getting married in traditional South Asian style?
Start with a vision that both you and your partner can work towards. Remember why and who you are doing it for – yourselves! That being said, we South Asians know that you don’t just marry your partner… but marry into a family. It was important for us to respect scared family and cultural traditions as the marriage was a special union between not only us but also our families. Give yourself a good amount of lead time to plan and delegate to family and friends where possible. Preparation is key!
Wedding Vendors:
Wedding Planner | Mei Wan, Jay and Mumma Nerin
Photography | @jamessimmonsphotography
Videographers | @mitchandtijana
Hair | @hiddenhairperth
Make Up | @sheridanmua @elonacommerell_muse @musestudiocollective
Henna | @jugnihenna
LED Dance Floor | @lumin8events
Decor | @harmonyeventsperth
Stationary | @meitingart
DJ & Dhol | @mixtabishi @gugzcoshal
Outfits | Custom Made from Malaysia
Catering | Rakesh Catering
Bar | @tailoredeventsgroup