There is no question that Ade and Rama are proud of their cultural heritage. After all, their pre-wedding photos were inspired by old portraits of their ancestors. Naturally, the couple planned a multicultural wedding from the very beginning. "The combination of Javanese and Mandailing traditions reflects our appreciation of everyone involved in this wedding, and symbolizes our unity despite having different cultural backgrounds," explained Ade.
During the wedding ceremony, Ade had on a classic Javanese kebaya designed by Dina Vahada. "It had a traditional silhouette, embellished with hundreds of pearls and beads," she said. Meanwhile, Rama was dressed in a white beskap jacket with matching batik fabrics.
At night, the couple changed into exquisite Mandailing attires that renowned Indonesian designer, Didiet Maulana, worked on for six months. "Our reception attires were so glamorous and opulent, I couldn't even count the compliments we received that night!" Ade enthused. Shades of black, gold, and red were blended harmoniously to represent the traditional colors of South Tapanuli. Even the accessories were custom-made by local artisans in Sipirok, North Sumatra. "The whole design process took one year, as we wanted them to be special. He even managed to add the off-the-shoulder details that I requested. To this day, I'm still in awe of how Mas Didiet was able to create attires that represented us and our culture so strongly," said Ade.
For their grand entrance, Ade and Rama practiced the Tor-Tor dance weeks before the wedding. It was indeed a memorable and meaningful procession. "Manortor signifies the start of our journey as husband and wife. The dance symbolizes how the husband protects the wife and the wife provides harmony, while they both work on loyalty and sincerity together," stated Ade.
Last but not least, Ade has some useful tips for future brides. "Stay close with your loved ones as they will be the ones to support you physically and mentally throughout the entire process. Also, pray a lot as God will shower you with blessings for not only your wedding, but also your marriage," said Ade.
