Jamie + Santi | Traditional Lao Wedding Ceremony | Seattle

It was a Wednesday morning when I headed to Jamie’s house to capture her Lao wedding ceremony. This is the first time I’m shooting without Charles so I brought my sister to assist me.

Jamie and Santi had a traditional Lao wedding held at her house. If you’re not familiar with traditional Lao wedding ceremony, it is cheerful, colorful and symbolic. Therefore not only will I share photos of Jamie and Santi’s special day but I will also share the custom and describe the common tradition performed during a Lao wedding ceremony as well.
For many of us who are Lao I’m sure you’ve been to at least one Lao wedding (if not more) and is pretty familiar with “ Su-Kwan” for weddings. For everyone else Su-Kwan or the “Calling of the Souls” is a Lao cultural ceremony that is held to celebrate a special event such as births, homecomings, departures and of course weddings.

Whether in Laos or in the US (or other parts of the world), Lao wedding ceremony is usually perform in the same manner. It begins with the groom, his side of the family and friends parading to the bride’s house in a festive way, commonly singing, dancing, clapping and cheering. The bride’s side of family and friends wait guarding the front door.

Upon their arrival the groom’s family is questioned by the bride’s family for the reasons of their visit and has to try to bargain their way in. The groom will give a small amount of money to the bride’s family and take shots of liquor. When the bride’s family is satisfied with the answers and gifts, the groom will then get his feet wash (pretty much just pouring water on his feet) by a young relative of the bride before he and his entourage can enter the house.
While the groom journeys to her house, the bride waits dressed in the traditional Lao wedding outfit which consists of vivid colors and intricate patterns. Her skirt is made from silk call “Sinh“. Her top also made of silk fabric with patterns on the collar that match her sinh. A matching sash is place across her left shoulder pinned with a decorative pin. Her hair is placed in a bun (pulled as tight as possible) and decorated with gold jewelry. Once she is done, she is fully accessorized with gold from head to toe.

Jamie was in red and gold sinh. She looked very pretty and appeared calm and happy.

The wedding ceremony is perform by the “Maw Pawn”, an elderly man who usually was a former monk and is known by the community to officiate the ceremony. The bride and groom sits across from him and in between them are two “Pha Kwans”, an arrangement made from banana leaves held up on a silver bowl that consist of flowers and white threads. The threads are later used to tie to the wrists of the bride and groom by everyone as they offer blessing and will-wishes to the new couple as they start their lives together.

The bride and groom later goes around and pay respect to the elders called “Somma”, by offering flower and candle wrap with money. The ceremony ends when the bride and groom are led to their bedroom by an elderly woman. If the couple had the ceremony and reception in the same location like in Jamie and Santi’s case, it usually leads right into the reception.

Jamie and Santi’s had a his and her’s wedding cake. Santi’s cake was a Mercedes cake with a customize license plate that said “Mr. & Mrs. Nakhavith” on it. It looks really like a car, I couldn’t imagine cutting into it.

Modern day Lao American incorporates many of the western traditions into their reception. Most commonly the reception is held at a large venue with a Lao band, Lao food, Lao dancing (lamvong) and tons of people, typically 500 guests (the more the merrier). Yes the whole community is invited! The reception begins with presenting the family of the bride and groom to the guests as Lao wedding is all about honoring their families. The bride and groom then goes into their first Lao dance (fon). They later go around each table offering their guests shots of liquor. The bride changes into her white bridal gown, they cut the cake, toss the bouquet and garter. After that the floor is open to dancing and the alcohol keeps flowing…

Congrats Jamie and Santi!