BRIDE GOES THROUGH ‘BERSANDING’ ALONE
Her fireman husband was undergoing training, could not get leave
AWOMAN from Johor took the unprecedented step of undergoing bersanding (sitting-instate ceremony) alone after her husband, a fireman, was unable to get leave to attend their wedding.
Badriyah Amirullah, 26, was garbed in full bridal outfit as the bersanding took place in Teluk Intan last Sunday.
Badriyah said she and her husband, Mohamad Syaiful Izwan Mohamad Shah, both 26, had known each other for a year before they tied the knot on Nov 18 last year.
The wedding was held at the bride’s family home in Kampung Melayu Majidee, Johor. The reception for the groom’s family was scheduled to be held four months later to accommodate his sizeable family members, who are from Terengganu, Kedah and Perak.
Badriyah said she was overjoyed when she learnt that her husband, who is undergoing training with the Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department, had his leave approved for their wedding.
“He was given three days’ leave and was supposed to return to duty on Monday.
“We thought there would be no more problems. We were excited at the prospect of having the bersanding for the second time, but as it turns out, we could only plan, God decides,” she said.
It was only later that she learnt that her husband could not get leave.
Badriyah, who is a safety assistant at a Johor Baru factory, said her husband was scheduled to complete his training in July before being assigned to a fire department.
She said when she learnt that her husband would not be able to attend the ceremony, she broke down in front of her in-laws.
“I’m happy that my in-laws consoled me. They urged me to be strong and calm, as all the wedding preparations were in place.
“I don’t think I could have gone through it if not for their support,” she said.
As the days led up to the bersanding, Badriyah said she did not want to wear the bridal outfit as she felt it would be awkward.
“However, my husband said it would be better if I did. ‘You are still a bride’, he said, adding that many of our family members would be in attendance.”
She said on the day of the wedding at the Mini Arena Square, Chenderong Balai, guests were puzzled as she entered the hall alone.
The emcee quickly announced that Syaiful was not be able to make it as he could not get leave from work. It drew relieved sighs from the guests.
“I bravely walked past the guests and made my way to the main table. Only God knows how I felt at the time.
“I was embarrassed. Who wouldn’t be if her husband was not at her side on the day of their bersanding? But I knew that as the family’s first daughter-in-law, I had to be brave and make it to the end of the ceremony.”
Badriyah said she and her family hoped that no one would blame the Fire and Rescue Department for not approving her husband’s leave application.
She said she had taken the matter in her stride.
Badriyah said she accepted the challenges that came with being the wife of a fireman.
“Every cloud has a silver lining. My family and I are grateful that he is blessed with the opportunity to be a fireman.
“I see this incident as part of our life journey and that there may be more challenges in store (for us).
“But, whatever it is, the experience of bersanding alone is something I probably won’t forget any time soon.”