Partumpolon

18:53

traffic jammed on the way to Menteng and I was driving in my kebaya!

My sister's Partumpolon (read: partupolon) started at 3 p.m. yesterday, but we got ready since morning, having make up artists did our faces and hairs. We arrived at Menteng area at 1.30 p.m., had our late lunch, then marched in big group to the church. I must say that the whole 200-300 guests were all strangers except for my family and friend sisters that we knew since 1992: Nalya (my schoolmate) and Nadya (Clemy's peer).

with Nalya, my schoolmate and family friend since 1992, who came from Bandung - so happy that she came!

As part of Bataknese wedding, a soon-to-be-wed couple has to to do the Partumpolon or Martumpol (read: martupol) about two weeks before the wedding day. Partumpolon is Bataknese for "face-to-face" literally. It means that both sides of the couple, together with their parents and family, come to the church and state their willingness and deal to do the wedding and build a new family together.

this is Bataknese traditional clothes: kebaya, tenun skirt and long handwoven scarf - this one I'm wearing is tenun Palembang I borrowed from Clemy's mom-in-law, and I'm super loving the purple!

Long time ago Partumpolon was conducted for limited closest relatives in consistory or church council in North Sumatra, but now they go for big party after the service. The church council will check their readiness and sincerity on getting married, including all the papers and legality, and ask them in front of the people if they have any current status and relationship with other person(s).

my sister and her fiancé with a church council

This is also a chance to ask the parents/guardians of the couple if they have any other in-law deal with other party. If everything is clear, the couple, parents/guardians, witnesses and church council will sign the agreement letter to get married. Based on this letter, the church will announce their matrimony officially in the services for the next two weeks.

The Kusnoto family

And, this is the time if there is any party who doesn't agree on the wedding, to speak up or stay silent forever. But if the couple then cancel the wedding plan after Partumpolon, a heavy sanctions will be charged upon because it's considered a lie to the council, unless there are strong reasons that could be talked about and cleared first before they continue to the matrimony.

a little after party at Letter D with the family

The event went extremely success, we thought, that many people came and my sister and her fiancé were happy, the food was excellent, both families blend well together and we even had an after party at Letter D, Jl. Ahmad Dahlan. They got a live band and we sang along non-stop with them till 11 p.m. as if the restaurant was ours. It was a hell great party day. Wish this would go on till the 20th!