Cambodian Bride

Bride-to-be Mei had a panicked look as she changed clothes in front of thongs of tourists. Her friends tried to hide her as she went through countless traditional Cambodian gowns and wedding dresses for wedding photos. Meanwhile, her future husband Heng and his groomsmen waited amidst the nearby ruins of Bayan Temple in Angkor Wat. They wore white tuxedoes, smoked cigarettes and told jokes. Traditional Cambodian weddings are two-day events: the first is for photographs and a private ceremony with family; the second is an extravagant feast for the village. More than 850 people attended Mei and Heng’s 2-hour reception, which included a nine-course meal, karaoke, an open bar and gifts for everyone attending.