your wedding 2014

5/19/2018 Your Wedding 2014

1/9


2/9

2

WADE GUYITT

[email protected]

RINGS go back a long way.

The unearthing of ancient

burial spots has shown that

some prehistoric people

used braided coils of grass to mark

out loved ones. The Ancient Egyptians

wore wedding rings on the third finger

of the left hand because a vein in

that finger was believed to connect

directly to the heart. In Ancient

Greece, many men gave their brides

puzzle rings, which fell apart when

removed and took time to reassemble,supposedly preventing women from

slipping them off to appear single. By

the time of Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD),

Roman grooms were giving brides a

gold ring to wear at the wedding and

an iron ring for wearing every day.

All these rings, though, had little to

do with love. Instead they signified a

mans ownership of his wife in a legal

sense. Marriage was a contract, and

a wedding an exchange of property.

In a sense, the ring was a small and

attractive shackle: The woman was

obliged to show off the wealth and

power of the man who bought it,

while also signalling her unavailability.

Since the purpose of marriage was to

guarantee an heir to the males family,

it was important she not sleep withany other man until this was achieved.

Part of the rings success as a

lasting symbol, of course, is its beauty.

When the Puritans in 17th-century

America called out wedding rings

as symbols of vanity and tried to do

away with them, men began giving

their wives something more practical:

a thimble. That lasted awhile until

people started cutting up the thimble

and making it into a ring.

If wedding rings showed a woman

was off the market, engagement rings

served as a kind of down-payment

on the investment. (Men, it should

be said, have never taken to wearing

engagement rings most likely to keep

their options open for a better deal.)

The first famous example of anengagement ring came in 1477, when

Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave

his fiance one with her first initial

spelled out in inset diamonds. But

it wasnt until an 1867 discovery in

todays South Africa that diamonds

came within reach for those who

werent European royalty and

became the jewels of choice for

engagement rings ever since.

In 1886 Tiffany & Co developed a way

to mount the diamond up off the ring

itself, for maximum sparkle. By 1890

diamond rings were common enough

you could order them from department

store mail-order catalogues.

In the 1920s, vendors tried to push

men to wear engagement rings too.

Likely they hoped to double their

profits this way just as a character

in Benjamin Cheevers novel The

Plagiaristadded the single wordrepeat to the instructions on a

shampoo bottle, thereby doubling sales

of said shampoo overnight because

everyone began washing their hair

twice instead of once.

But male engagement rings didnt

take off: The undertones just didnt

jive with the masculine image.

So jewellers De Beers came up with

a better idea: If they couldnt sell more

rings, they reasoned, they could at

least get people to spend more on the

ones they did buy.

It was De Beers, in the 1930s, that

came up with and promoted the idea

that a man should spend at least one

months salary on an engagement ring.

(These days its more often pegged at

two months.) And by draping starlets

in diamonds for their advertisements,

they kept sales high in spite of the

Great Depression.

In 1947, the company succeeded

in marrying the idea of true love with

a diamond ring for the rest of time.

Their advertising slogan, one of the

most famous in history, equated the

jewel with love itself, telling the paying

public that a diamond is forever.

As one study later found, though,

half of couples in the 1940s got

intimate before their wedding night.

While some US states had laws under

which an engaged man could be

sued if they ran off after sampling

the wares, others did not. So the

engagement ring ensured women had

at least some collateral if they were leftstanding at the altar.

For those couples in the 1940s

who made it through to the big day,

post-war prosperity and romantic

optimism meant that for the first

time in the century it was common

to shell out for double wedding rings

as well as an engagement ring. As

Katherine Jellison notes inIts Our

Day: Americas Love Affair With the

White Wedding, 1945-2005, before

the Depression only 15 percent of

weddings involved both the bride and

the groom wearing a ring. By the late

1940s, that figure had shot up to 80pc.

By the 1960s De Beers had the

markets for engagement and wedding

rings sewn up. But they also had a

supply deal with Russia for small

diamonds that werent large enough to

be set in the Tiffany style. What to do?

Enter the eternity ring a ring with

a thin band of diamonds all around,

meant to be given by the husband to

his wife on an important anniversary.

As one of the De Beers eternity ring

slogans of the day said, She married

you for richer or poorer. Let her know

how its going.To boost profits, dealers later

expanded into markets with no

tradition of wedding rings. In 1967 De

Beers struck again, heavily promoting

rings as a symbol of success that those

on the cutting edge should desire.

In 1967, when the campaign started,

under 5 percent of women in Japan

sported a diamond engagement ring.

By 1972, it was 20pc. By 1978, half of

married women sported a diamond.

By 1981, it was 60pc. Local traditions

were forgotten, or made secondary.

Why drink rice wine from the same

bowl when you can go shopping to

pledge your troth?

Today, overtones of ownership may

have faded, but rings still capitalise

literally on the notion that love

should be measured by how much a

man is willing to pay someone else

to have jewels and precious metals

scraped out of the earth on his behalf.

Today, the average diamond

engagement ring in the US costs over

$5000. The average wedding ring costs

$572 for men and $1000 for women.

There is some backlash against this

price inflation. Some couples opt for

less expensive materials, like tungsten.

Some re-use heirloom rings from their

parents or grandparents. Some opt for

tattoos instead of the real thing. And

some go entirely without, whether

because its unsafe due to their work

environment, or because they simply

dont like the look or feel of jewellery.

Still, stigmas remain against thosewho choose to wear nothing at all.

Western culture views those without

rings as less committed to their

relationship and one 2006 study by

a professor at the University of Alberta

even purports to show those who dont

wear wedding rings are less attentive

to their children.

Never mind that plenty of ring-

wearers cheat, or are bad parents also

after all, a symbol is only as strong

as the love it represents. For some

its sacred; for others, its just for

show. But after 4000 years of habit,

it doesnt seem likely to go away any

time soon.

LET me get this straight, a

friend overseas said when we

described our then-upcoming

wedding. Youre not getting

rings. And shes not taking your

name. So why are you getting

married at all?

We had to laugh. But neither

rings nor name changes are

traditional in Myanmar culture

which gave us the perfect excuse

on both fronts. In truth we probably would have done the

same even if one of us werent from Myanmar.

About the name thing: We know some couples choose

to hyphenate, but that didnt appeal to us, phonetically

or administratively. I didnt want to change my surname

to hers, so it didnt seem fair to ask her to adopt mine, as

Western custom dictates.

The ring proved a harder decision, at least for me. My

parents wore rings; my grandparents wore rings; like many

from the West, I had internalised the idea that wearing a

wedding ring was part of becoming a husband, and that

becoming a husband signalled the transition to adulthood.

But as my wife pointed out and as The MyanmarTimeshas noted in the past; see www.mmtimes.com/

index.php/lifestyle/2230-are-wedding-rings-a-myanmar-

custom.html while articles of jewellery, usually rented,

are often integrated into fancy wedding ceremonies in

Myanmar, theres been no habit of exchanging wedding or

engagement rings in the Western sense.

Until the last decade or two, that is. Some young

friends here are starting to opt for rings even as their

parents didnt. Some link this to the prevalence of films

and television shows from abroad, in which finding the

right ring is portrayed as being as important as finding the

right man. Others say the rising interest in wedding rings

was brought to Myanmar by its large Chinese immigrant

community though there too the fascination with rings

has risen only in the past few decades, and probably relates

to the same imported ideas of affluence.

So whats an East-meets-

West couple to do? Whatever

we wanted, we decided. One

challenging but exciting part

of falling in love with someone

from outside your own culture

is that nothing is a default

choice: You have to balance the

traditions of both backgrounds,

and decide which parts work

best for both of you.

At first we discussed exchanging rings on the day of the

ceremony and only wearing them afterward on occasions

when we felt like it until others warned us that they dont

slip on and off that easily, and that if they do theyre too

loose and might get lost. (Plenty of lost-ring stories online

confirmed this.)

We discussed me wearing one and her going without,

to reflect our different backgrounds until abruptly we

realised it would look to strangers like one or both of us

were having an affair.

In the end we decided to make things simple. Both of us

dislike wearing jewellery and accessories. Both of us try to

avoid unnecessary purchases, for environmental and anti-consumerist reasons. And lets face it we were feeling

pretty cheap at that point anyway. So the answer became

clear. No rings, we decided and simply deleted that part

from the program so we could stop worrying and get back

to the more important (to us) matter at hand: deciding

which songs should be played.

A few years later, we have no regrets whatsoever. And

if some overseas interpret our lack of rings as a sign were

playing the field well, they must not know us that well in

the first place.

While its our choice, we dont judge those who do

choose to exchange rings, in Myanmar or abroad. For

them, as for my ancestors, I imagine their mementos will

only become more meaningful with every passing year a

bit worn down and scratched up, maybe, but with a lot of

memories behind them. Just like love itself. Wade Guyitt

Staff writersWade Guyitt, Su Phyo Win, Lwin Mar Htun,Khin Su Wai, Myat Noe Oo, Zon Pann Pwint, Kyay Mohn Win,Tin Yadanar Htun, Lun Min Mang, Aung Kyaw Nyunt

ContributorsAung Myint Kyaw

Editors Myo Lwin, Wade Guyitt

Sub editor Mya Kay Khine Soe

Photography Lwin Ko Taik, Khin Su Wai, Kyay Mohn Win

Cover photograph Lwin Ko Taik(Dr Moe Thauk and Ma Nwe Oo Maw,in Mandalays Shwe Kyaung)

Cover designKo Htway

Page layout Ko Khin Zaw

For feedback and enquiries,please contact [email protected],[email protected]

Put a ring on it or not?

Perks of a cross-cultural wedding

The romantic role of rings in marriage is a modern twist, arepackaging of an institution that for most of civilisation has beenmore about business than pleasure

Photos: Staff

She married you for richer or for poorer.Let her know how its going.

Advertisin g sloga n, De Beers jewellers
http://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/khinzaw/Local%20Settings/Application%20Data/Adobe/InDesign/Version%207.0/en_US/Caches/InDesign%20ClipboardScrap1.pdfhttp://c/Documents%20and%20Settings/khinzaw/Local%20Settings/Application%20Data/Adobe/InDesign/Version%207.0/en_US/Caches/InDesign%20ClipboardScrap1.pdf


3/9

4 5

SU PHYO WIN

[email protected]

ALL the money you spend

on your wedding is gone

in one day except for

the photos. Those are an

investment in your future.

There is nothing which can revive

my memories, feelings and happiness

from the wedding like the photos

taken at the event which will never

happen again, said Ma Yamin, 38,

who got married seven years ago.

Ma Yamin thinks of a wedding

as a once-in-a-lifetime experience,

and looking at her photos brings it

all back love, nervousness and the

experience of standing there, about to

walk down that aisle into a new stage

of life.

I wanted to be beautiful when the

photographers were taking photos,

she said, as it can never be repeated

again. Even if someone gets married

again, its not to the same person as

first one. And anniversary celebrations

are far different than first-time

wedding ceremonies, I think.

As well as bringing back happy

memories, she said her photos

are useful in times when she is

disappointed or angry with her

husband: It reminds her of better

days and why she married him in the

first place.

All my anger goes away and I

start feeling happy whenever I see the

photos again, Ma Yamin said. In the

early days, she also loved to show off

the wedding album to any friends and

relatives who happened to drop by.

Knowing how important these

pictures will be makes wedding

photography very different from

taking pictures of landscapes or

models. And sometimes coaxing

people to relax, or to put forth their

best impression, is a challenge, said

professional freelance photographer

Lwin Ko Taik.

Actors know how to pose on what

occasions, but real couples dont.

It is not easy to make them happy

and direct them to pose so they are

naturally happy, beautiful and feeling

free, Lwin Ko Taik said.

He said the limited time he has

to get the necessary shots on the big

day proves another challenge, for

photographer and for subjects.

It needs to be artistic, Lwin Ko

Taik said. You have to try to get them

into a happy mode in a limited time.

Ko Shwe Zan Aung, who works for

7 Picture Wedding Dress and Photo

Studio, said taking wedding photos is

a special honour and a challenge for a

photographer: Theres no chance for

a re-take if the first shot doesnt come

out right.

I dont feel pressure, he said,

but I get a little concerned about

the organisation of the program. If

something goes wrong, the couple will

get confused and that will reflect on

their faces, which can spoil the photo.

After shooting more than 200

wedding ceremonies, Ko Shwe Zan

Aung says he has learned to match

his mood to the couples. Making

them happy, he says or naturally

beautiful as he calls it is part of

his job.

That requires a certain flexibility

and a willingness to improvise.

In wedding ceremonies its more

to do with snapshots rather than

following a strict plan. We always

make a plan in advance but it never

happens as we planned. More candids

and unexpected moments usually

happen, which end up being the more

precious photos.

I feel happy when taking wedding

photos because the couples are notpretending, he said. They really are

happy and excited.

The happier the couple is,

the more his job becomes about

documenting the scene, getting swept

up in the action, rather than being

conservative with his shots, he said.

Ko Shwe Zan Aung added that

weddings are also great occasions

for photos because relatives, friends

and colleagues from both sides are

all gathered together in one place. Its

the only time this happens, so its a

good time to get photos of people you

might not otherwise have a chance to

photograph.

Lwin Ko Taik said he likes

shooting for weddings because they

stand as a testament to the couples at

a milestone in their history.

Whenever they are in a fight, if

they see the photo album or the photo

on the wall the anger will definitely

change into happiness. So I feel very

special when taking the wedding

photos, he said. Different from

normal shooting.

APAIR of Italian

newlyweds stood before

a photographer recently

at Kamigamo Shrine in

Kita Ward, Kyoto, Japan, posing as

instructed.

Gaze into each others eyes

more earnestly Okay. Perfect!

the photographer called. Clad in a

red bridal uchikakerobe, the wife

stood beside her husband, who wore

a crested haoricoat and hakama

trousers. They blended perfectly with

the archway and the two-storied

gate at the Shinto shrine in the

background.

More and more foreign newlyweds

are having their photos taken at

temples and shrines in Kyoto wearing

traditional bridal outfits as part of

photo wedding services offered.

Maria Laura Raimondi, 37, and

her husband were in Japan on their

honeymoon, but Raimondi is no

stranger to this nation, having studied

Japanese literature at university. After

they married in Italy in May, they

applied online to a Kyoto company

for a photo wedding.

I wanted to have my wedding

photos taken with my husband

wearing a kimono, said Raimondi. I

like Japan even more now.

Noting the popularity of the service,

the Kyoto prefectural government

set up the Japanese-style Wedding

Admissions Group this spring to

offer original wedding photo services,

in cooperation with the Kyoto city

government, four wedding companies

in the city, the Kyoto Prefecture

Association of Shinto Shrines and the

Kyoto Buddhist Organisation.

With more than 10 million foreign

tourists visiting Japan each year, the

prefectural government aims to attract

more overseas visitors by offering

a comprehensive photo wedding

program that will bring them back to

Kyoto again and again, drawn by their

good memories of their previous visits.

According to the prefectural

government and other sources,

photo weddings first became popular

among young people in Taiwan

and Hong Kong. Kyoto apparently

became a popular destination for

these visitors several years ago when

travel agencies in Taiwan and Hong

Kong began providing photo wedding

packages. Some people even bring

a photographer with them to Japan

and spend several days having their

photos taken.

Domestic companies have recently

started entering the market. A photo

wedding typically costs about 200,000

yen (about US$1945), including

wedding outfits.

The photo session packages

provided by the joint venture of Kyoto

governments and businesses also

start at about 200,000 yen, which

includes a photo session, make-up,

wardrobe assistance and outfits.

The plan also includes a religious

ceremony and a presentation about

Japanese history and culture.

Eleven photo shoot locations

are offered, including such popular

temples as Toji in Minami Ward,

Ninnaji in Ukyo Ward and Kodaiji in

Higashiyama Ward. Participants can

also be photographed at a building in

Kamigyo Ward that once housed the

main Kyoto prefectural government

offices, designated as an important

cultural property by the central

government.

A website was set up in English

and Chinese on July 25 to accept

applications. It plans to seek the

participation of other shrines and

temples as well.

Photo wedding services have

also been incorporated into tourism

promotion programs in Sapporo and

Okinawa Prefecture.

In Sapporo, five wedding

companies established the Sapporo

Location Photograph Wedding

Conference in 2011.

Fifteen foreign couples used the

service in fiscal year 2011, with the

figure rising to 51 in fiscal year 2013.

Its popularity largely stems from the

photos that capture snow-dusted

landscapes and other breathtaking

views of nature. The citys tourism

planning department expects more

tourists to come from overseas after

seeing these photos.

Okinawa Prefecture has been

working to bring in people for

wedding ceremonies at local tourist

spots for the last decade. Last year,

more than 200 couples had their

photos taken on beaches and in other

locales.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

My best side is EastNeither honeymoon nor wedding photo, its a photo wedding

An Italian couple poses for a photo weddingat Kamigamo Shrine,Kyoto, Japan.

Photo:The YomiuriShimbun

In aflashFlowers fade andthe thrills of firstlove wear off, butwedding photosbring the memoriesflooding back

Dress-up funTaking nice photos of yourselvesbefore the wedding means youhave fun images to displayat

yourwedding ceremonyitself.It can also be a fun chance torelax and goof around with your

intended plus a chance torehearse yourdreamy, Ive-only-got-eyes-for-you expressions in

advance of the big day.Couples who want to take pre-

wedding photos at a studio dont

need to worryabout clothes,make-up oraccessories: Thestudio will provide all this: You

just have to be okaywith wearingclothes that arent yourown.

In fact, that fantasyelement is

part of the draw: Couples usuallypose in a varietyof costumes,and often dress up in imitation

of othercountries and cultures.Acommon package is to do one

traditional Myanmarset, oneWestern set and one Chinese set.

Sessions, however, need to bebooked at least one month ahead,

so dont leave it too late.7 Picture, a popularstudio

in Yangon, offers a numberof

packages forboth pre-weddingand wedding photography,starting from $120 and going all

the wayup to over$2500 forbothindoorand outdoorshoots, saidMa Ei Ei Khine, studio director.

Couples just need to book inadvance and come. We plan allthe stuff forthem and we have

full-colour dresses and havestrong make-up artists,she said.

If you choose to hire a

freelancerratherthan use astudio, youll need to handledress, make-up and accessories

yourself. But you can alsopersonalise yourshoot, andyou have more flexibility in

negotiating locations, time andthe numberof photos.

Some couples even arrange

to travel with their photographerin search of a more glamorous,romantic orunusual backdrop.

I charge from at least $350forone couple forpre-weddingphotos in Yangon,said freelance

photographer Lin Ko Taik, andmore forshoots in otherregions

and states.He also uses two ormore

assistants to keep things runningsmoothly.

Pre-wedding photos arent asemotional as wedding photos but if youre the type who likes

to pose and preen, youll haveplentyof chances to showoff allyourbest angles.

We always make aplan in advance butit never happens as

we p lann ed.Ko Shwe Zan Aung, 7 Picture

7 Pictures Wedding Dressand Photo StudioSA-8, Aung Zaya Housing,

Kannar (Strand) Road, Corner

of Ahlone Road, Yangon

01-2300392, 09-73077708

[email protected]

facebook.com/7picturestudio

7picturestudio.com

Lwin Ko Taik09-43063675

[email protected]

lwinkotaik.com

Pre-wedding shoots on location can be fun weather permitting. Photos:Supplied/KoTaik
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1311oxmvgosbx/?&v=b&cs=wh&[email protected]://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/1311oxmvgosbx/?&v=b&cs=wh&[email protected]


4/9

6 7

KHIN SU WAI

[email protected]

THESE days weddings in

Yangon and Mandalay

sometimes seem to

reflect the characters of

the cities themselves: one leans

toward the cutting edge with

brides occasionally opting to sport

glamorous dresses from the West or

South Korea while one opts more

often toward tradition and local

talent. For the latter, the care that

goes into the brides wedding dress is

a made-in-Mandalay affair.

Since the bride and her dress

always seem to be at the centre of

the wedding day, some women spare

no expense in finding something

unforgettable. Fortunately, intricate

filigree delicate traceries of gold or

silver woven into the designs are

where the artists of Mandalay Region

really shine.

The traditional bridal dress, or

htain ma thein, is designed to be

paired with diamonds and accessories.

The choice of colour is important:

It can be the brides favourite, or it

can be one chosen by astrologers and

calculated to bring the best of good

fortune to the new pairing.

Yellow is one common choice

with good associations and makes a

popular choice for the citys brides,

said Ko Myo Min Soe, a well-known

wedding dress designer in Mandalay.

I make wedding dresses in all

shades of yellow, Ko Myo Min Soe

said, from light yellow to a bright

golden colour.

This season hes also specialising

in violet-coloured dresses, which pair

well with gold and silver accessories.

The time-honoured cherry-coloured

dresses also never go out of fashion.

Ko Myo Min Soes filigree work

is so popular he now has enough

orders to last until next February. His

creations range from K700,000 to K4

million.

Many Mandalay brides order their

dresses from a designer. Some even

go so far as to choose their favourite

chaik the most common design for

weddings from the artisans of the

Amarapura silk industry just outside

Mandalay city. Then the weavers

give the chosen silk to the designer,

who uses it to assemble the finished

creation to match the brides vision.

Some choose silk cotton with

arabesque designs set off glamorously

with crystals. Some choose Amarapura

chaikwith gold and diamonds added.

Adding diamonds and crystals can add

at least K1 million to the price tag of

the finished product.

Designer Han Nway Nway Aung

said large cord embroidery chaik

designs with a full crystal pattern

from ankle to knee is currently

popular. Most of the customers order

some variation of this dress, letting

the designer know what they can

afford so the finished product can be

tailored literally to their budget.

At Yin Thu Htike silk shop, Ma

Nge said she emulates the chaik

design worn by the queens of

Myanmar a fitting style for the

royal city. Kyo gyi chaikwith a fancy

design, like the queens wore, together

with cord embroidery and thicker

lines is what were creating this year.

She said she emphasises the

quality of the silk cotton to the

customers, so they can be assured

they are getting the best. Her cotton

costs K300,000 to K700,000. But add

fancies diamonds, crystals and so

on and of course youll be adding

more to the bill.

Price, however, is not the only

consideration. More complicated

creations require more care and

attention to create. While no

weddings occur during Buddhist lent,

orders should be planned and placed

during that period to ensure the

design of your dreams is ready once

wedding season comes around.

Ma Aye Mya Mon is just one of this

seasons many nervous brides-to-be.

Shell be getting married on November

11, and her dress will be ready for pick-

up at the end of October. But of course,

she knows you always need time for

last-minute adjustments.

There may be more needed for

the dress; I may need time to fix it,

she said. I hope it wont be too late.

Ma Aye Mya Mon turned to the

Amarapura silk industry to choose

the chaikas well as the designer,

on the recommendation of a friend.

She said she chose her style of chaik

because its comfortable.

She also broke down the price

options as knowledgeably as only a

well-researched bride can do.

A design from a famous designer

costs K700,000. The cost to rent a

new wedding dress is K300,000. The

cost of sewing a dress is K150,000,

and the charge for adding diamonds

and crystal is K50,000, she said.

Grooms, of course, could spend

K100,000 and still look their best.

But thats the burden that the filigree

wedding dress demands and most

brides dont think twice about paying

extra for their auspicious day.

LWIN MAR HTUN

[email protected]

WHAT will this

years well-dressed

bride be wearing?

According to

designer Ma Pont, who opened

Yangons My Favorite fashion shop in

1999, muted pastels are set to be the

trend this year.

She said if a customer chooses

pale yellow, for instance, a designer

can easily match it with golden lace

or other suitable accessories.

She added, however, that some

brides are also opting for a more

striking hue, at least for their

wedding reception dresses.

People didnt used to wear black

and other dark colours [like dark

green or dark blue] because they

thought these were unlucky. For some

this idea comes from the advice of

fortune tellers.

Ma Pont said she didnt share this

opinion, but added she does prefer

designs that are elegant, even if they

are more modern.

Designers are warmly welcome

to create really different designs,

she said. But the customer needs to

know that trends are great but they

can pass. The wedding is a big day

to remember, and people need to be

satisfied when they look back at their

wedding photos in future.

She added that some looks may

be beautiful, but that doesnt mean

theyll flatter everyone.

Most customers want lace, a

diaphanous lace. Last year laces

were popular in both traditional and

modern dresses. This year designers

and couples used really thin lace,

which is too smooth for many.

Couples need to choose depending on

ones body structure.

This can create a problem when

average folk clamour for dresses Ma

Pont has designed for celebrities or

for the many wedding shows she has

displayed her creations at, whether at

home or abroad.

Most of the models and actresses

are thin. People think skinny people

look good in any kind of dress. But

if the bride is a little chubby and she

wants to wear a dresses worn by one

of the celebrities, I have to explain it

may not prove suitable, Ma Pont said.

Usually, she added, she can steer

them to something more becoming.

Im always talking to the customers

and listening to their wants and

giving advice on which designs suit

them better.

For this years wedding season,

shes decided to work with a simple

look, and plans to use few accessories,

so as not to distract from a dresss

classic lines.

Sometimes the simplest is the

best, said Ma Pont.

She also supports brides who

want to keep to tradition. I advise

brides that traditional wedding dress

cant be worn at any other event. Its

only right for a wedding. So I would

like every bride to wear a traditional

Myanmar wedding dress on her big

day.

Designer Latt Latt, who founded

Latt Latt Lady Boutique on Kabar Aye

Pagoda Road, agrees. The wedding

is a highly pleasant time and brides

need to feel royal. Its a more perfect

day with Myanmar traditional dress.

Latt Latt said her customers are

also opting for a pale look.

Most of the customers choose

pink and I match with silver. Some

want to look cute, and think pink is

perfect for wedding time, she said.

She is not using any artificial gems

or sequins in her dress, she said, as

its not a good match for a traditional

dress.

Im just using computer-assisted

embroidery and some crystals. As

for the bridegroom, I dont put many

accessories in the clothing. Some

customers want to dress creatively,

though, and I personalise it for them

at the time, she said.

With many couples holding three

ceremonies signing, wedding

and dinner there are plenty of

opportunities to dress up, Latt Latt

said. She encouraged brides to seize

every opportunity to its fullest.

The wedding dress is a very

important dress for a lifetime, said

Latt Latt. Please dont be stingy for

the dress. Make it the best because

the wedding event is your own event

and you must be the prettiest among

everyone.

Ma Ngwe from Yin Thu Htike silk shop displays chaikcotton dresses.

Photo: Khin Su Wai

High fashion is displayed in Shi Ni Zus Yangon showroom. Photo: Supplied

A husband-and-wife due front The Piano Koun Zaw Music Band. Photos:Supplied

Mandalay has styleall wrapped up

Pretty in pale

The royal city loves fashion and no wonder, with so many localdress designers and the talented Amarapura artisans nearby

Soft colours are in for 2014-15

Know your longyihtain ma thein = a traditional Myanmar wedding dress

kyo gyi chaik= a design with thicker lines

kyo latt chaik= a design with lines of medium thickness

kyo lay chaik= a design with thin lines

Top 10 designersMTlooks to its hip, fashion-

forward sister publicationNow!for advice on which local weddingdress designers are really turning

heads.

Mogoke Paut Paut

Ma Myint Zu(Zu Zu Collections)

Ma Poe (My Favourite)

Pyae Soe Aung(Exclusive Bridal)

Latt Latt (Lady Boutique)

Sai Bauk Ya (Shayi)

Kaung Myat

Min Thet San

Ei Kyaw Zin (Vivid)

Yone Yone

MYA KAY KHINE

[email protected]

NOTHING brings an appropriate

air of class to a wedding like live

music provided the singer dresses

the part.A singer shouldnt wear a

sports shirt with a skull image

and short pants. No one likes that

style of dress, said Daw Lae Lae,

a former traditional singer and

currently assistant director at

MRTV.

She and her husband U Koun

Zaw founded The Piano Koun

Zaw Music Band in 1975. They

now play weddings and donation

ceremonies, Thingyan celebrations

and novitiations.

The band has seven to 20

musicians, depending on the day,and there are three main singers

and six back-up singers, with

costs ranging from K300,000

to K500,000 depending on the

number of players and the choice

of vocalist.

No matter who sings lead,

though, Daw Lae Lae said the

No false notes allowed on the dayLive wedding music adds a dose of sophistication to your ceremony

vocalist will always wear a colour

which matches the outfits of the

couple, just to keep every detail

harmonious and pleasing.

She said the band isnt

old-fashioned, and does invite

modern singers to weddings. Butour band plays traditional music,

so we choose Myanmar melodies

and singers who wear Myanmar

dress mostly. She described their

wedding repertoire as a mix of

well-loved local favourites and

modern pleasant music.

Is there no room for a track or

two from the couples favourite

mix? Songs with meaningful

memories can make the

ceremony more personal for the

couple, she said but she also

cautioned that our Myanmar

weddings recognise grace and

blessings and that its important

to reflect that all music played

reflects the dignity of the

occasion.

When wedding arrangers,

the engaged couple or their

relatives ask me for favourite

singers or songs, we accede to

their requests, she said. But

we warn modern singers not to

sing sad songs or those with rude

words.


5/9

shopping guideWedding

Flowers Available at Sandys Floral

102/A Dhammazedi Road, Bahan township, Yangon. 01-500142

Jewellery Available at Myanmar VES, 66 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Yangon. 01-661902, 666770, 666823, 73066284, Fax 665503. [email protected], www.myanmar-ves.com

Dress Available at Happy

Heart

166 Kyun Shwe Myaing St,

Thuwanna, Yangon

Dress Available at

Happy Heart

166 Kyun Shwe Myaing

Street, Thuwanna,

Yangon

ShoesAvailable at VNC, ground floor, Taw Win Center, Pyay Road, Dagon township, Yangon

$45$4

1

K132

,000

K730

0(1

pc)

K29,50

0

(Set

of4) K4

4,50

0

K25,00

0

K23,00

0

K24,85

0 K86,00

0

$49

$57 $

33

GiftsAvailable at IKON Mart, 328 (A), Pyay Road, Sanchaung township, Yangon. 01-534216, 527705 www.ikonmart.com

JewelleryAvailable at May Myanmar, 58, corner of Ma Naw Hari and Taw Win streets (near Thai Embassy),

Dagon Township, Yangon. 09-73111451

K300,000

to rent

K200,000

(to rent)


6/9

10 11

KYAY MOHN WIN

[email protected]

WHILE jewellery

remains a popular

investment choice in

Myanmar, sales are

extra-brisk this time of year, Mandalays

jewellers report. But its love, not

profit, that drives demand at the start

of wedding season and prompts

craftspeople to design newer and ever

more elaborate works of beauty.

This year we have created gold

shawls in floral designs, said Daw

Phyu Phyu Aung from Aung Thamadi

jewellery shop in Mandalay. We have

also made different shawls for thebride, including traditional designs of

the olden days.

White gold is popular this year,

she said. As gold has long been the

most popular item among Mandalay

residents, we have created gold rings

for couples. Those between K70,000

and K600,000 are selling very well.

Daw Phyu Phyu Aung said most opt

for a plain gold band with no design.

For those who prefer something

different, however, white gold accented

with pink, white and yellow colours

runs between K80,000 and K200,000.

Daw Phyu Phyu Aung said couples

can also choose to have their names

inscribed in this design.

U Kyaw Swa Win from Taw

Win Diamond Jewellery Shop said

diamonds represent a range of qualities

making them the perfect symbol of love

hardness, courage, prosperity and

long-lastingness.

This year his shop has created 20

different designs specifically for couples

getting married.

We have short-listed 10 designs

with a single diamond and gold out of

20 different ones. Most of the designs

are popular in the international

market, U Kyaw Swa Win said.

He said one popular design is made

to allow the engagement ring to sit

easily next to the wedding ring on the

brides finger.

Sales of diamond wedding rings

have been rising year after year, U Kyaw

Swa Win and that this has to do withthe influence of diamond-ring culture

of foreign celebrities, as well as Korean

movies and TV series which present the

diamond ring as a sign of love.

U Kyaw Swa Win explained that a

diamond ring can cost up to K250,000,

as only finest diamonds are used for

wedding rings. Taw Win Diamond

Jewellery provides couples the choice

of ready-made casts of their initials or

free-of-charge orders.

He added that platinum fits

diamonds best, and that people from

upper Myanmar prefer it to gold.

He also said the tradition of

a bridegroom presenting a set of

diamond jewellery to the bride is being

revived lately.

Young couples today want their

wedding to be more special and

extraordinary. So grooms show their

respect and sincerity by giving a set of

diamond jewellery to brides, spending

K5 million and above, said U Kyaw

Swa Win.

Daw Phyu Phyu Aung from Aung

Thamadi Jewellery agreed. Our

customers often buy sets of diamonds,

rubies or sapphires.

While many buy jewellery sets with

the intention of passing them down

through generations, not every couple

can afford the expense of decorating

the bride with so much jewellery. As

couples tend to choose wedding dresses

of unusual colors these days, it also

becomes a challenge to find jewellery

sets to match.

To solve this problem, many

jewellery centres offer rental services.

Aung Thamadi began their rental

service this year. Prices range from

K300,000 to K1 million, depending on

the type of set the couple wants.

Taw Win Diamond takes a differentapproach, offering rentals to their

regular customers as a gift to honour

their big day.

U Myint Thein from Ngwe Htee

Thone Latt Jewellery said most couples

can afford only artificial jewellery sets,

designed to be as beautiful as the real

thing. U Myint Thein said they see a 20

percent increase in such rentals each

year.

Ngwe Htee Thone Latt produces

about 50 designs for the year, he said.

We make them out of high-quality .925

sterling silver. The sets are designed

and made locally, and rent for K10,000

to K100,000 each.

We have customers not only from

Mandalay but from other towns. Some

buy them for their own business, said

U Myint Thein.

TranslationbyMyat SuMon Win

MYAT NOE OO

[email protected]

STYLES always come and

go, but this year many

brides are turning to a new

source of inspiration when

searching out their perfect wedding-

day look.

This year ladies are liking

the style of plait theyve seen on

Facebook, said make-up artist Ko

Than Aung. At his South Okkalapa

studio hes printed out different

examples of this braided hairstyle

online so that brides-to-be can mull

over which will suit them best.

Its all part of the democratisation

of style that the internet brings: Brides

are still depending on the best dress

and make-up artist they can afford,

but now they can also learn about

whats popular in hair and make-up by

themselves before they come in.

The trend toward plaited hair

is also a sign that some brides are

looking beyond traditional Myanmar

outfits and toward Western or South

Korean influences, which allow

more flexibility in hair and make-upfashions.

Ma Myint Myint will be getting

married on October 26. She is

already preparing her make-up and

hair choices, she said. Because the

make-up artist is busy, I gave a list in

advance.

Shes also matching her hair and

make-up to the non-traditional gown

shes chosen.

Im wearing a gown so I will do

my hair in plaits, she said. And I like

the smoky eye look so I told my make-

up artist to do my look like this.

Ma Myint Myints decision to

wear a gown rather than traditional

Myanmar dress gives her more room

for expression in hair and cosmetics,

said make-up artist December Hnin.

We have freedom to choose a

hairstyle if the brides wear a gown, he

said, but the traditional dress limits

the possibilities for hairstyles because

a trendy hairstyle is sometimes not

suitable for traditional dress.

December Hnin offers packages

including make-up, hair, dress and

accessories what he calls a one-

stop service. But brides can also

just arrange for hair and make-up iftheyve chosen their outfit elsewhere.

Whatever it is, he cautioned

that bookings need to be made

early, particularly for the kind of

personalised service he offers.

Brides need to choose their make-

up artist one or two months before,

because the artists lists can fill up. I

always do make-up and hair myself,

so I can accept a few but not too

many, December Hnin advised.

Ko Than Aung said that in the

past brides wore pink or white gowns,

but now they are opting for more

varied colours so the make-up needs

to change as well to match. Pink and

sky blue, purple and blue are among

the colour combinations he sees, and

brides are wanting to pair these withblue and green eye shadow.

He also seconded Ma Myint Myints

smoky-eye look, saying many brides

are opting for this choice.

Mens traditional outfits also

limit the options for hair, but some

men are showing increased interest

in their appearance and wanting to

look a bit more spiffy than most. And

those opting for suits or tuxedos find

it gives them more options when

deciding what kind of look they want

to rock on the big day.

Now men like to adopt the curly

hairstyle of Korean actors if they are

wearing Western dress, Ko Than Aung

said. The traditional dress does not

require men to style their hair because

they wear a Myanmar turban.He said some women choose a

facial steaming and other skin care

treatments starting at least a month

ahead and that some men are even

following this trend as well, all in

hopes of sporting a fresher look on

the day.

Hair and make-up costs vary

but can range between K50,000

and K100,000, not including any

accessories worn. Plan for higher

prices if the make-up artist comes to

the wedding venue itself.

ZON PANN PWINT

[email protected]

MUSIC is a passion for U Yan Paing

Soe. As a teenager he used to mimic

the sound of classic Myanmar vocalists

Twantay Thein Tan and Than Tun Lay,

and he was soon performing on stage

in his native Warkhema township,

Ayeyarwady Region.

But like all musicians with big

dreams, though, he knew to turn his

dreams into reality he needed to head

for the big city in this case, Yangon.

And luckily, he caught a break as

many well-known singers do gigs at

weddings, this gave the young Yan Paing

Soe a chance to get close to the limelight.

I followed famous classic singers

Mar Mar Aye and A One U Soe Myint

around whenever they performed at a

wedding, U Yan Paing Soe said.

In fact, thats where he got his

lessons during other peoples big days.

The wedding connections also gave

him some crucial job experience. On

busy weekends, Mar Mar Aye and A

One U Soe Myint sometimes only had

time for brief appearances, singing a

number or two before they rushing off

to do the same elsewhere. Soon, U Yan

Paing Soe was stepping in to cover the

rest of the program.

He might have become famous as a

wedding singer himself, in fact, had a

twist of fate not led to something else.

One day he was singing at

a wedding where the master of

ceremonies, or MC, failed to show. Mar

Mar Aye was scheduled to sing after the

MCs introduction; they didnt know

what to do.

But like the consummate performers

they were, they decided the show must

go on. She knew I am very good at

talking and entertaining so she asked

me to take on the MC role on his

behalf, U Yan Paing Soe remembered.He had always been impressed by

the talents of MCs, and when he took

the stage found had the gift as well.

Soon, word spread that he was a

natural talent at capturing attention

and making guests laugh. It wasnt long

before his friends were asking him to

MC at their childrens weddings.

I am happy being an MC, so I love

to act for free for friends, that is.

For others the demand became

too great, and he soon realised he had

found himself with the makings of a

busy, well-paying career.

Thirty-five years after he got started,

he now plays two to five weddings

every weekend during wedding season.

Demand spiked, he said, after he

became close friends with singers and

actors in the film industry and was

offered a few leading roles, and later

acted in some supporting roles.

When I became an actor as well as a

singer, many wedding planners wanted

to hire me. [The celebrity quality] is an

advantage, he said.

Over the years, U Yan Paing Soe has

a number of funny stories funny in

retrospect, at least.

Some couples can hire both an MC

and a music band with singers, he said,

but some cant afford both. So when

one couple hired him but couldnt

afford a band, they asked him for help.

U Yan Paing Soe has always believed

there are two kinds of crowded

occasions. Funerals are silent and a

wedding is noisy, and so if a wedding is

too quiet, it is inauspicious. To keep the

mood light at this couples wedding, he

decided to play a cassette to fill the gap

left by the missing band.

I told the man at the hotel to play

the cassette when the bride and groom

made their entrance. When the couple

had taken three or four steps inside,

I winked at him as a sign to start the

cassette. The couple took more steps

but nothing was playing. I was anxious.

Then when the couple was closeto the stage, the sound came out loudly

all of a sudden. But it wasnt music: it

was the four political and economic

objectives every musicians record has to

include as an introduction!

He said the industry has changed a

lot since his early days on the scene.

Before 1988, there were three

or four venues in which to celebrate

weddings, such as Inya Lake, Strand

Hotel, the Chinese communal temple

in Chinatown and the Hong Kong bar.

But from 1988 onward the number of

venues has increased, including Yuzana

Garden Hotel, Sedona Hotel and many

restaurants, he said.

Another change is that MCs once

had to be married, but these days

single men and women act as MCs

as well. U Yan Paing Soe said this

helps fill the shortage of MCs but

no matter how polished their skills at

the mic, he said, theres one area of

experience single people still lack.

If he is single, how he will guide

the bride and groom if he hasnt

experienced married life?

Brides and grooms sporting Western and South Korean fashionsare finding they offer more flexibility for hair and make-upthan traditional Myanmar styles

The centrepiece of asuccessful weddingceremony isnt thebride its the MC

Master ofceremonies

Know your accessories for men:gaung-baung the Myanmar

turban, worn on wedding days

and other very special occasions

taun shei baso a double-length longyi, consisting of a

single flat piece of fabric rather

than a loop, measuring up to 15

feet long and folded around the

body. Since its only worn for very

special occasions, most grooms

need help to tie it.

Beyond the ordinaryReal or artificial, purchased or rented,wedding jewellery means big business

Grooms show their respect and sincerityby giving a set of diamond jewellery to

brides, spending K5 million and above.U Kyaw Swa Win, Taw Win Di amond Jew ellery

Heart of gold

U Yan Paing Soe sings on MRTV in 1986.

Photo: Youtube

Brides in white dresses get help with their tresses.Photos: Staff

Staff show off bridal jewellery at Aung Thamadi in Mandalay. Photo: Kyay Mohn Win


7/9

12 13

Asia Plaza HotelRoom fee No (K120,000iffewer

than200people)

Capacity 700Decorations Included (room,

backdrop no band)

Food K5000-K7000Booking 1 month in advanceContact 277 Bogyoke Aung

San Road, Kyauktada

01-391070, 391105~6

www.asiaplazahotel.

com

Central HotelRoom fee K120,000Capacity 500DecorationsNoFood K4000-K5000 per

person

Booking 1 month in advanceContact 335/357 Bogyoke

Aung San Road,

Pabedan

01-241007~20

www.

centralhotelyangon.

com

Location,location...Beautiful venue optionsfor a Yangon wedding

TIN YADANAR HTUN

[email protected]

Sedona HotelRoom fee NoCapacity 1000DecorationsIncluded (style to

change in October)

Food K15,000 per personBooking 1 year in advanceContact 1 Kabar Aye Pagoda

Road, Yankin

01-8605377,

8605366

www.sedonahotels.

com.sg

Sule Shangri-La HotelRoom fee NoCapacity 1000DecorationsIncluded (room, backdrop no band)Food $14-$17 per personBooking 6 months in advanceContact 223 Sule Pagoda Road, Pabedan,

01-242828

www.shangri-la.com/yangon/

suleshangrila/

Karaweik Palace HotelRoom fee No (K100,000 if fewer than 200 people)Capacity 400 (200 in one Brahminy Duck)DecorationsIncluded (room, backdrop, flowers)Food K10,000-K18,000 per personBooking 4 months in advanceContact Kandawgyi Lake, Mingalar Taung Nyunt, 01-290545,

09-459222222, www.karaweikpalace.com

Inya Lake HotelRoom fee NoCapacity 800DecorationsIncluded (room, backdrop,

flowers, dry ice)

Food $13-20 per personBooking 6 months in advanceContact 37 Kabar Aye Pagoda Road,

Mayangone

01-9662866, 9662857~59

www.inyalakehotel.com

The Strand HotelRoom fee $3000Capacity 600DecorationsIncluded (room, backdrop,

wedding cake, servers)

Food No (arrange yourself)Booking 2 months in advance

Contact 92 Strand Road, Kyauktada01-243377~78, 01-243389

www.hotelthestrand.com

Belmond Governors ResidenceRoom fee NoCapacity 160 in garden; 120 indoorsDecorationsFlowers onlyFood $45-$100 per personBooking 1 month in advanceContact 35 Taw Win Road, Dagon

01-229860, 229861

www.belmond.com/governors-residence-yangon/

Photos and information: Supplied by respective venues


8/9

14 15

LUN MIN MANG

[email protected]

IN countries where living

together before marriage

has become more common,

honeymoons these days seem

more about relaxing and celebrating

that starting a new life. In Myanmar,

though, where couples do not

usually live alone before marriage, it

remains what it once was elsewhere

a chance for couples to experience

life on their own for the first time,

whether its out in public or in

private behind closed doors.

The idea of the honeymoon as a

trip dates to the early 1800s in Great

Britain, when couples would travel

to visit relatives who were unable

to come for the wedding. This was

known as an English-style voyage

when the fashion spread to the rest

of Europe and now its taken over

the world.

Somewhere along the way, of

course, the purpose has changed

from visiting relatives homes to

leaving family behind.

The non-travelling honeymoon

a special post-wedding period, spent

at home dates back much further

in time. As for the name, there

are a number of explanations, and

many are contradictory. The Oxford

English Dictionarycites a mention

in 1552 from an early dictionary,

Richard HuloetsAbecedarium

Anglico Latinum:

Hony mone, a term proverbiallyapplied to such as be newly married,

which will not fall out at the first,

but thone loveth the other at the

beginning exceedingly, the likelihood

of their exceadinge love appearing

to aswage, ye which time the vulgar

people call the hony mone.

In other words, the love is never

as sweet as in the early stages and

that phase is bound to end soon.

But other explanations are

cheerier: Some say the name comes

from a month-long period in which

the couple were brought gifts of

mead to encourage fertility.

However it came about, the

honeymoon is popular in Myanmar

too. Photos taken during this period

will remind a long-married couple

of their first days of getting to know

one another as husband and wife.

To close out our special Wedding

supplement,The Myanmar Times

spoke to two local travel agents

Sun Far Travels & Tours Co, Ltd and

Thousand Islands Travels & Tours

to map out the options for those

deciding where to spend their first

days of married life.

Romantic MyanmarFor those whose budget is more suited

to domestic travel, why not head to

one of Myanmars glorious beaches?

Whether its Myeik, Kawthaung, Ngwe

Saung, Chaung Tha, or Ngapali, the

lazy waterside atmosphere is perfect

for bonding. One particular spot

recommended by local tour operaters

is Kawthaungs Adaman Resort, with

its unique feature of coral reefs for

visitors and small islands that can be

visited by boats.

For those looking for a cozy private

getaway, an unexpected but highly

recommended place for honeymooners

is Popa Mountain Resort, located

halfway up Mt Popa. Honeymooners

who visit this place say it is very

peaceful and quiet just what

you want after all the flurry of the

wedding. The weather is pleasant and

the views are a reward of their own.

Want something even more remote

and intimate? Putao in Kachin State

offers stunning views and activities.

Hike in the foothills of snow-capped

mountains, or just nestle down

together away from it all. Either way,

Malikha Lodge and Putao Trekking

House offer options that cant be beat.

For a memorable culturalexperience, many choose to go to

Inlay, Bagan, Mrauk Oo or Mandalay.

Other inland honeymoon destinations,

for those looking to see an area they

havent been to before, include Kalaw,

Pindaya and Pyin Oo Lwin.

The world at your fingertipsFor those with more to spend, most

honeymooners choose Phuket,

Pattaya or Bangkok in Thailand; Bali

in Indonesia; Hanoi and Halong Bay

in Vietnam; or Sentosa in Singapore.

As these three regional countries

share a common Southeast Asian

heritage, they arent too far removed

from Myanmar. But they also have a

trace of the exotic bound to excite the

blood of any young couple.

Couples are also lately showing

signs of interest in South Korea,

enjoying the chance to delve into a

different region without going too far

abroad. Jeju and Seoul are popular

choices.

Some couples want to take a

honeymoon trip as well as a shopping

tour. They usually choose Singapore,

Seoul or Bangkok, as these places

offer vast choice at a more reasonable

price than heading all the way toEurope, which requires a good deal

more investment, in time and money.

For those willing to take that

plunge of leaving the continent,

Brazils Rio De Janeiro and Ipanema

Beach, Canadas Niagara Falls,

and New Zealands Auckland are

top-ranking choices, with local tour

operators are working hard to cater

to that demand.

One particular spot that cant go

unmentioned, according to an official

from Sun Far Travels and Tours, is

Kani, in the Maldives.

Maldives is a very beautiful

and pleasant destination to take a

honeymoon or a family trip, the agent

said, praising its weather, high levels

of service in hotels, and peace and

tranquility. Visitors are flocking to its

beach villas for snorkelling and sailing.

Another choice you can never

overlook is the City of Love. Visit

Paris and you can see everything

from Disneyland to Versailles (the

Disneyland of its day, at least for

Marie Antoinette and her friends); the

Louvre; the Eiffel Tower; Notre Dame

Cathedral; Sacre Coeur Basilica; the

Arc de Triomphe; and round it all off

with shopping at the Champs Elysees.One thing you wont be able to do,

though, is put a lock on the Pont des

Arts bridge and throw away the key, as

thousands of couples in love have done

the past few years. Officials have just

announced theyll be removing the

railings and replacing them with glass.

Ah well. Plenty of other places to

feel romantic. Is it any coincidence

that travel season and wedding

season both start at the same time,

with the full moon of Thadingyut,

falling this year on October 8?

Theres a whole world out there,

you two lovebirds. Go exploring.

Top choices athome and abroadHoneymoons

AquariusJan 20-Feb 18

PiscesFeb 19-March 20

AriesMarch 21-April 19

TaurusApril 20-May 20

GeminiMay 21-June 20

CancerJune 21-July 22

Ideal partners Gemini,Libra,Aries, Leo,Sagittarius Aries,Scorpio,Taurus,Virgo,Capricorn

Virgo,Capricorn,Cancer,Scorpio,Pisces

Virgo,Capricorn,Cancer,Scorpio,Pisces

Libra,Aquarius,Aries, Leo,Sagittarius

Scorpio,Pisces,Virgo,Capricorn,Taurus

Special match Taurusforbusiness Sagittariusmakesyouopen-mindedandkind

Aquariestobring goodfortunewithothers

Leofor compatibility Virgoto makeyou famousandbringgoodfriends

Leofor specialluck

Keys to marriage Behumbleandnotboast ful Posi t ivediscussioneveryday Vi tamins,carminati vesandlessgreed

Mutualunderstandingandcoordination

F aith ful ne ss M ut ua la dor ation w ith ou td ou bt

To have children Takegoodcareof health,particularlybloodissues,and holdback youranger

Domeritoriousdeeds tothreetreasuredpeopleand sharethemeritsearnedwith others

Knowyour feelingsandtake refugeinthree treasuredpeople

Balanceddietand avoidpleasure-seekingandtemptation

Spendtime togetherandbuildmutualrespect

Mentalstrengthand stress-freeliving

Yourcolours Skyblue,redandyellowforwisdom,kindnessand gooddeeds

White,blue andyellowfor peaceandhonestyinyoursocialandbusinesslife

Green,blue, purpleand whiteforstrengthoflove andkindness

Red,yellow,and pinkfor reputation,pearlwhitefor compatibility

Red,yellowandskyblueforpeaceandgood reputation

White,yellowandpinkforluckandpower

Yourjewels Sapphire,diamondand rubyforpowerand selflessspirit

Pearl,topazand diamondforglory,wisdomand greatness

Jade,emeraldand sapphireforprosperity

Rubyand diamondforrespect Emeraldand sapphireforboostingsocialskills

Pearl,emerald,jade, platinum,rubyforglory,peace andhappiness

Yourflowers Flowerswithred, blueand purplecoloursandwhite lotusesforfaithfulnessandkindness

Whiteor yellowchrysanthemumsforsafetyand leadership

Purple,greenand blueorchidsforlonglastinglove

Wearredoryellowrosesforwishescomingtrue

Gladiolusandother flowersforeasedburdens

Orchidsforwishes comingtrue

Know your add-ons:from head to toesadone a bun of fake hair wornon top of the brides head to

make her own hair look longer

ka-di-ba pha-nat thick-soled velvet slippers especially

designed and ordered for the

wedding ceremony, worn by both

bride and groom

A couple sets off on the road ahead. Photo: Lwin Ko Taik

Ma Ei Thandar30, Printing executive assistant

IAM going to marry in October. I have

decided to marry because I trust him. I

believe that he can provide for me so that

I can live decently. I also trust his talents

and his love.

I know there will be difficulties and

we have to face them. I am not afraid to face these difficulties. If

we trust each other, we believe we can overcome the problems

however difficult they are.

I still dont know how I should make good use of the love in

my life. But I understand the need to make the marriage safe and

happy. I know if one makes a mistake, the trust will be finished.

So it is important to continue to have trust.

U Myo Min Soe36, Trader

THE main things are coordination and

understanding. Love is also required.

We have eight years of married life. We

dont have big problems, though we do

have some small bickering. The marriage

will not be okay if the husband is doing

what he wants and the wife is doing just what she likes to do. It

is necessary to understand the minds and feelings of each other.

Its give-and-take

The reason why we got married is we thought we can

understand each other well. We also thought we could maintain

our marriage. I am happy with my married life. We now have

two children.

Daw Hla Hla Thwin53, Bank employee

IDONT mean Dont love each

other, but understanding is more

important. When we were young we

built our married life with both love and

understanding. Now we have had 28 years

of married life.

We have passed through many difficulties together. Life is

not always a bed of roses. Married life can have problems and

difficulties. If a couple doesnt have the ability to face these

problems, the marriage will not last long. Marriage is the

merging of two lives. We cant look at from only one perspective.

We have to look after both and share both. For us, there have not

been big problems. But we need to be patient.

LeoJuly 23-Aug 22

VirgoAug 23-Sept 22

LibraSept 23-Oct 22

ScorpioOct 23-Nov 21

SagittariusNov 22-Dec 21

CapricornDec 22-Jan 19

Sagittarius,Aries, Libra,Aquarius,Gemini

Capricorn,Taurus,Scorpio,Pisces,Cancer

Aquarius,Gemini,Sagittarius,Leo Pisces,Aries,Capricorn,Taurus,Virgo

Aries,Leo, Aquarius,Gemini,Libra Taurus,Virgo,Pisces,Aries,Scorpio

Scorpiowillkeep yousafe fromharm

Sagittariusbrings goodresultsthroughdiscussion

Aries,for business Leobrings powerand promotion Virgomakesyou strongerphysicallyandmentally

Librabringslove andrespectfromothers

Flexibility,balancingneeds ofyourselfandothers, andsympathy

Avoidsuperstitionandtake refugeinthree treasuredpeople

P ol it enes s a nd t r us t D on t o ve r- wo rr y o r th ink t oo m uc h M ut ua l tr us t, ha pp ines s a ndunderstanding

Mutualunderstandingand patience

Dontget overwhelmedbyunwantedthoughtsor strictrules

Monitordrugsandbloodpressure Guardagainstinfectiousdiseases Dontignorereason,andacceptpositivediscussion

Createhappinessand bementallystrong

Wiseupanddropyourstubbornness

Redandyell owforpower Green,purp le,b lue,ye ll oworwhi teforhappinessand health

Skyblue andpurple forreputationandmore friends

Yellow,white andgreen forbusiness

Red,yellowand orangeforgooddeeds,honestyand bravery

Darkblue andgreen forbalancebetweenworkand sociallife

Ruby,topaz,amber formentalgrowth

Emerald,jade,sapphireforbrightnessandpeace

Sapphire,tourmalineandpearl forconfidenceandlove

Sapphire,emerald,topaz,pearl forluckand health

Diamond,emeraldand rubyforpower,healthand peace

Sapphire,emeraldand pearlforextraordinaryideas andgoodfriends

Eugenialeaves,coconutflowersandredrosesforsuccessandbusinessgrowth

Anythat arered, blueand purple,andalso whitelotus

Anythingbrightfor harmonioussocialisationand luck

Redroses andred gladiulusforloveand kindness

Red/yellowroses,or white/yellowchrysanthemums,forpopularityandbusiness

Fragranceofsandalwoodorjasmineforglory andsuccess

What makes a good marriage?WITHAUNG KYAW NYUNT

Howto

happily-ever-after

Predictionsby

AUNGMYINKYAW

4thfloor,113

ThamainBayanRoad,

Tarmwetownship,Yangon

09-73135632

[email protected]


9/9

16