Rosanna & Doug's Traditional Cambodian Engagement Ceremony | Lawrenceville Atlanta Khmer Asian Multicultural Wedding Photographer

A little late on this week’s featured shoot post… which is supposed to be published on a Monday I know :(. You know, the normal excuses of rocking out a wedding on Saturday and then doing a walkthrough of Country Club of the South on Sunday with one or our fabulous June brides… oh, and watching an episode or two of Boys Over Flowers with Betty when I should be editing photos =). I had so much fun at this engagement ceremony, and since their wedding is not until 2013 (my first 2013 wedding on the books!) I know we’ll be chatting and seeing each other many times through 2012! On to the ceremony, the day started out at the bride’s house with a flurry of activity from food being prepared, the bride getting more beautiful, the groom getting into his engagement attire, and guests and family arriving for the celebration.

As the time drew near Rosanna put on her traditional Cambodian Khmer Sampot dress. The dress was gorgeous and of course it doesn’t hurt when you have a gorgeous bride to wear it!

Doug also wore a traditional Cambodian Khmer men’s shirt as well for the ceremony. Once the final details were set, Doug’s family lined up for a grand processional to formally enter the house and state their case why Doug was a worthy man to marry Rosanna.

Doug’s entourage was greeted by Rosanna’s parents at the door.

The groom, Doug, made a formal offering at the door to the ancestors before entering the house with everyone in the party bearing gifts to celebrate the union of Doug and Rosanna.

As the formal ceremony began, lead by Rosanna’s Aunt, Doug’s family had to plead their case as to why he was worthy to marry.

After Doug had made his case and was accepted, Rosanna made her formal entrance to join the family that had gathered in the living room.

Doug and Rosanna together performed a small ritual and lit an incense offering.

The ceremony came to a conclusion and Rosanna and Doug were officially engaged to be married!!

We took a few family photos together in the living room as the banquet was being prepared in another part of the house.

Once these photos were done, I took a few individual photos of the new couple together and we even snuck them out of the house for a quick trip outside where we got one of my favorite photos ever! They are such a photogenic couple, and yes this photo is probably super familiar with any who reads this blog because it is one of our rotating banners at the top of the page and is also on the main home page as well! I just love these two =)

We could only sneak out for a short while and took maybe 4 or 5 quick poses in the same location, but it’s that final pose and composition that just does it for me! Thanks you two for being troopers and running away for 10 minutes for my ideas, and also thanks to Cristallina for her assisting by holding some equipment!!

Mmmmm traditional Cambodian food… and lasagna for the less adventurous =)

And of course some Sakiri for good measure!

Lastly, a few details of Rosanna’s traditional Cambodian Khmer wedding dress that she wore for the engagement ceremony.

Congratulations Rosanna and Doug! And also, happy New Year! This past weekend was the New Year celebration for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. I know from the Facebook posts from friends that it was a great time at the various temples around the Atlanta metro area. And from the photo that Rosanna shared from Wat Khmer Georgia that the newly engaged couple had a great time as well with family and friends! Stay tuned to this blog for an upcoming “Western” engagement session that is a bit more casual for these two and then their wedding ceremony next year in 2013! Congrats you two, thanks for having me be a part of your special day!

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Engagement Photography Equipment List (B&H Affiliate Links)

Canon EOS 5D Mark II (x2)
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L IICanon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS

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Zachary Long and Betty Feng are wedding photographers based in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia and routinely photograph weddings of every culture from Indian to Pakistani to Cambodian to Chinese to Korean to Romanian to everything in between, too many to list! View our main portfolio at http://www.FengLongPhoto.com/ and use the contact form to inquire about remaining 2012 wedding dates or to see more examples of stunning multicultural weddings in Georgia and around the United States!