In Malay tradition, couples who plan on getting married do not only work on the details of the wedding but also have to send dowry to each other’s families. Known as hantaran kahwin, this traditional dowry is given by both the bride and the groom for other’s family.
Often, the dowry consists of rich cloths and clothes, jewelry, and food. For those who can afford it, branded items and luxurious handbags are also included in the dowry. But one wise couple aims to change tradition by giving each other useful household appliances as dowry!
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
Practical bride Syarfa Abdullah said that they both agreed to give each other household appliances because such would be more useful in helping them start a new together, compared with branded new clothes and luxurious handbags.
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
“These appliances can be used until it spoils in our household and it’s more worth it,” Syarfa said.
What made this idea even more appealing for the couple is that they were able to give each other plenty of gifts for the dowry, without spending a lot of money! Plus, they now have a household with the right appliances for them to start their new life together. Talk about being practical!
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
Syazwan Suhaimi, Syarfa’s husband, gifted her with a cake mixer, kettle, toaster, five-layer pots, iron, blender, and coffee maker. But before you say that’s unfair because that would mean he’s making her cook everything, Syarfa also got her husband some cooking stuff!
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
This wise bride bought her husband oven, frying pan, cauldron, cutlery, steamer, Tupperware set, rice cooker, vacuum cleaner, and even got him an old-fashioned pestle and mortar.
The couple revealed that they got plenty of gifts but only spent about RM2,000 ($480) for everything. To fully show their unconventional gifts for guests to see, they did not wrap the boxes but only placed matching ribbons and bows.
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
The unconventional hantaran kahwin went viral, with many netizens tagging their partners and commenting that this looks like an excellent idea they can do for their wedding.
Photo credit: Syarfa Abdullah / Facebook
What’s a Dowry?
A dowry is a gift, whether property, money or thing, that the bride’s family gives to the groom’s family. There are several countries that enforce the dowry system; though this is frowned upon.
It is the opposite of ‘bride price’ wherein the groom pays the bride’s family a certain amount of money or give lavish gifts to her family.
However, there are cultures that promote the exchange of dowry between the two families.