We had three wedding celebrations over the course of July

First one - in KL for close relatives and friends
Second one - in Penang for Shaun's extended relatives and friends
Third one - in Ipoh for Evelyn's extended relatives and friends

Why three? You must think, we must be pretty loaded to be able to afford three "weddings".

Well, during our wedding planning, I stumbled upon this book in the Borders, Gardens.

Now, we both believe you must choose what you read carefully because your eyes are one of the avenues to your mind.

This is a book that talks about Malaysian customs, traditions, and expectations when it comes to weddings, as well as the racial differences. While some principles in the book were not quite what we wanted to follow, there were others that did teach us valuable lessons.

For one, very early on, we learnt that whoever pays for the wedding, decides (for the most part) the wedding.

We had at first decided to have a very small wedding in KL, with less than 100 people, for just the closest of family and friends. It was going to be simple, close knit, full of tears, and full of meaning. We had saved up enough over the course of the years to pay for the whole wedding as long as we kept it simple.

That didn't bode very well for one main reason:

1. Both sides of parents did not welcome the idea of having a restricted invitation list.

While we rejoiced in having control over even the smallest details of our wedding, we really wanted to honour our parents, and their wishes. My dad especially, had already pre-planned in his mind, all his colleagues and friends that he would invite.

In the end, we gained three blessings - three wedding celebrations.

Well really, it was one wedding, and two traditional Chinese dinner celebrations hosted by our parents.

1. My dad volunteered to hold a separate wedding dinner in Ipoh and he would pay for the whole Ipoh shenanigan - provided that he could invite whoever and as many people as he wanted (subject to my mom's approval)
2. That took off some of the pressure off us and relieved our KL invitation list.
3. Shaun's parents then decided as well that they wanted to hold a separate wedding dinner in Penang and they would pay for the whole Penang shenanigan too, given the same stipulations.

This gave us free reign to plan our KL wedding as we wished, principles held up high, according to what we believe in. This made me tear, because even though my parents and I don't necessarily believe on the same things, I thanked and praised God my parents were willing to help me keep the Sabbath.

However, in the midst of all the chaos and deciding who to invite, I got a phone call from a friend one day who said something I could never forget - don't forget to invite God to your wedding.

This prayer became our prayer everyday. While it's a ceremony, many people forget its true purpose and make it a show. We prayed that God would be at our wedding, and be with our planning as well. We prayed for this invisible guest to attend and bless not just the ceremony, but our marriage as well.

Grant them peace, most precious gift of all
Keep the worried world far away and small
When they return, may quiet fill their souls,
Dearest Lord, keep them safe within it's walls.

May the stone be cool beneath their feet.
The canyon breezes circle soft and sweet
When darkness falls, the stars and opal moon
Find them wrapped in each other, ever warm.

Many a burdened friend in their company rises,
A heavy heart is soon released to fly.
May their table be blessed with laughter and with grace
And by the comfort of kinship be surprised.

May the cold wind blow far from their front door
May the winter rains never bring them harm
May their hearthfires burn throughout the night
Grant them peace until morning's perfect light.

May it be a refuge for their love,
A harbor for their deepest prayer.
May they come to flourish in the grove,
Grow ever nearer to You there.