Wedding traditions of Yogyakarta
The Javanese court city, where the royal wedding rites, the paes bridal make-up and the wedding gamelan are preserved.
Yogyakarta is a centre of Javanese court culture. A Javanese couple here may follow rites that go back to the sultanate, with many symbolic steps.
A wedding here
Rites include nontoni, a viewing of the bride, the siraman, the midodareni eve when the bride is said to be visited by angels, the panggih meeting, where the couple throw betel leaves at each other, and the groom steps on an egg, which the bride washes from his foot. The bride's make-up is black pointed designs on the forehead, called paes.
Where weddings happen
Family houses, the kraton, pavilions and halls. The royal weddings of the sultan's family are held in the palace.
The season and the calendar
Families consult the Javanese calendar, and the month of Suro is usually avoided.
Wedding customs of Yogyakarta
Also part of it, and being written: Javanese wedding (The rites.), Siraman (The ritual bath.), Paes (The bridal forehead make-up.), Panggih (The meeting of the couple.), Gamelan (The music at ceremonies.).
A wedding trail idea for Yogyakarta
- Malioboro Street The shopping street.
- Beringharjo Market A market for batik and gold.
- Kraton Ngayogyakarta The palace.
- Kotagede A silver-working town.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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