Weddings : A celebration of love or cruel sport?

There comes a time in every Asian girl’s life when her relatives start pestering her about marriage. You know those meddling Indian parents/aunties you see in Bollywood movies? Or maybe even Raj’s parents on the Big Bang Theory? THEY EXIST – and they are like Pit Bulls in the sense that they will never let the subject go even when your dignity is mangled beyond recognition. It seems like the more young people get married, the more vociferous these aunties become, as if all this young love and potential for baby making pumps the life back into their own shriveled uteruses – you’re welcome for that mental image.

(For the sake of clarity, let me just say that “Aunty” is a generic term of respect for any woman over thirty. “Uncle” refers to any man with a beard. It’s an Asian thing, and it’s pretty convenient, especially if you’re the kind of person who never remembers anyone’s names.)

How many of you hate weddings? I can't be the only one. They’re just such a gigantic pain in the ass – why on earth would people inflict this kind of pain on themselves? Don’t tell me it’s to share their happiness with everybody else, because by the end of it they’re ready to unleash some grievous freakin’ bodily harm. Or are weddings our version of the Hunger Games, where we forcefully put people into an uncomfortable situation and watch them try to survive? 

I went to a friend’s wedding a while ago. She is a lovely person, but this didn’t alleviate the fact that I hate weddings. (I mean, maybe some of them are okay, but for most part, especially in Sri Lanka, where I’m from, weddings tend to be massive, exhausting affairs that start eating away at your sanity like bread-mould). This wedding in particular was not too overwhelming - however as it transpired I was not allowed to bring a date (I suspect it’s because my boyfriend is going through the boho-hobo phase of his life – something to do with the novelty of facial hair and all that. It’s to be expected). Unfortunately this meant I’d have to hobnob with strangers, awkwardly guzzling champagne and praying that my sari would not unravel. Socially, I am my own worst enemy; I'm practically handicapped*. I am terrified of strangers. As this realization began to sink in, I admit that I panicked. I then proceeded to do the cowardly thing - I phoned my boyfriend from a dark corner of the Taj ballroom and practically begged him to pick me up. He did so, calling me rude for running away from a wedding that wasn’t even my own. I was like a lame(r) version of Julia Roberts or something. But holy heck I was free and it felt amazing because there was still another three hours or so until the guilt would set in. This was when we passed a movie theatre. Tin Tin was playing. I had nothing more to do that evening, and neither did he…so that’s how I wound up in a dodgy cinema in my fancy gold-embroidered sari, caked in make-up, decked in glittering jewelry and sitting next to my hobo boyfriend, watching Captain Haddock scream ‘blistering barnacles!’ every five minutes and trying to align my big toe with the inside of his nostrils.

*(with apologies to those of you who are offended by my analogy. Give me alternatives and I will use them. I couldn't think of a single way of rephrasing this without changing the meaning of the sentence.)

 The most annoying things about Sri Lankan weddings, in no particular order, are:

1. The guests

In order to have a truly traditional Sri Lankan wedding, you must invite EVERYONE you’ve ever met in your life. This includes close relatives and friends, people you can’t stand but you want to show off to, people your uncle worked with when he was seventeen and that one guy you once hired to fix your kitchen sink. Every aunty you’ve ever tried to avoid will corner you at this event, asking awkward questions about how much money you’re making and when you’re going to get married. There is no escape.

2. The venue

Having now accumulated a guest list three times your height, it is time to cram everyone in a claustrophobic hall with little to no ventilation save for a lone air conditioner/fan that circulates the same stale air over and over and you think: this is how it feels to live in an armpit.

3. The food

Fuck moderation. Get every kind of CHD-inducing food you can get your paws on. Fuck themes or the notion of complementary dishes. You’re going to do this buffet style. In fact, you’re going to kick buffet’s ass and have a MEGA buffet! Order curries and dosai and put it next to the tempura. Get some freakin’ biriyani going and make sure it’s next to the pasta. You want people to know that you’re a well-travelled person and nothing says ‘well-travelled’ like smoked salmon roses surrounded by pittu. Make sure plates are piled higher Amy Winehouse’s hair. When you see people taking only as much as they can eat make sure to berate them and accuse them of being anorexic. 

4. The clothes

Your aim is to out-do the bride. In fact, your aim is to out-do everyone. Every part of you should glitter. There’s no such thing as too much gold. Your makeup should be five shades lighter than your complexion and your lipstick must be toxic pink. Rhinestones can never be too big. Ensure that your sari is tight enough to cut off the feeling in your arms, allowing for only shallow breathing. Whenever you see someone prettier or more glamorous than you, loudly comment that they are vulgar attention-whores. Whenever you see someone who is not a walking disco ball, stare at them unsubtly and tell them that this is why they aren’t married yet. 

5. The drunk uncles

Inevitably, all your embarrassing drunk uncles will feel like dancing. They have been boozing loudly in a corner of the wedding hall, suspiciously devoid of females, and are now ready to party. They will attempt to sexually assault anything with a vagina (or anyone with long hair, depending on how drunk they are. My boyfriend is usually molested at these gatherings). They will then proceed to do the uncle-step, a bizarre ritual accompanied by shrill whistles and shouts. Their awful behavior will eventually drive everyone away from the dance floor and the DJ will bring the romantic Peter Gabriel stuff to an abrupt halt and play Baila for the rest of the night.  

Cool things about Sri Lankan weddings, just to be fair:

1. The booze

Rest assured there is enough alcohol at this event to turn people into walking Molotov cocktails. Not to mention it keeps the creepy uncles busy for hours.

2. The spectacle

Flowers and shiny things everywhere. Traditional Kandyan dancers doing some crazy shit. Elephants, if you’re lucky.

3. The fire-hazards

With traditional lamps lit everywhere, these weddings are a pyromaniac’s wet dream come true. 

4. Seeing people you only ever seem to meet at weddings and funerals

Even though they’re on your facebook.

5. People-watching

Because bitches be crazy. 

Glossary

Sari : Traditionally Indian garb – six meters of decorative cloth you wrap around your body allowing you to fulfill your fantasies as a human toilet roll. 

Pittu: Usually dry and inedible. Eaten in place of rice. The equivalent of edible sawdust. 

Biriyani : Awesome spicy-savoury rice.

Dosai: Sort of like a pancake, but more tart.

An example of Sri Lankan aunties as mothers

An example of Sri Lankan uncles as fathers