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  The bride (from left), her father and the groom stroke the elephants escorts. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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  A couple on a horse-drawn carriage. (Photo courtesy: Sin Chew Daily)

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ALOR SETAR, KEDAH: He was not a prince and she was not a princess. He was only an executive officer for a shipping company and she was only a secretary for an insurance company. But they were carried by a horse-drawn carriage and escorted by two elephants along the way to the wedding reception.

The luxurious traditional Malay wedding was held in Kampung Baru Padang Satu near the Malaysia-Thai border here and some 30,000 guests witnessed the celebration.

The 25-year-old groom Mohd Khairulnizam Rozali and the 24-year-old bride Siti Norbadariah Md Rejab got onto the carriage at noon Saturday (23 Jan) and they stopped at the wedding reception after a 1.5km journey. They were cheered by villagers and children along the way.

The wedding concept came from the bride's father Md Rejab Awang Kecil, 52. The businessman said that most Malay weddings nowadays have been simplified and many people have forgotten about how a traditional Malay wedding looks like.

Therefore, he spent a month for the preparation. He borrowed two elephants from a Thai friend and two carriages from a friend living in Perlis to make the occasion special.

Present at the function were Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Bukit Kayu Hitam state assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Zaini Japar, former Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Affifuddin Omar and Songkhla Provincial Administrative Organisation Chief Executive Officer Utitt Chuchouy.

The bride was happy and thanked her father for giving her and her husband a unique wedding. (Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)