Just Married!

Our wedding took place early in the morning at 8 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Jakarta. The ballroom was filled with soft "gamelan" music, the scent of flowers, and with the warmth of 300 guests of just family and closest friends; it felt intimate and special. We both decided to have a traditional Javanese ceremony, specifically the Yogyakarta region, to honor Safrinna's late father's culture and heritage. It was important to her, and to both of us, to carry on his memory through these traditions. One of the things that meant the most for both of us was having Connor's parents (Cheryl & Peter) and sister (Taylor) there with us. They flew all the way from Denver, Colorado, to Jakarta, Indonesia, to celebrate us and their presence made the day even more memorable. The ceremony began with the "ijab qabul", the Islamic vow between Safrinna's paternal uncle, as her late father’s representative, and Connor, which officially made us husband and wife. It was a sacred and powerful moment. Saying those words, with our families witnessing, felt incredibly real and important. Then we continued with the "panggih" ceremony, which means 'meet' in Javanese. The ceremony itself consists of rituals that will prepare us for marriage. Such as tossing betel leaves at each other as a symbol of love and acceptance, and the washing of Connor's feet by Safrinna to show respect and care. Every step of the rituals felt full of purpose and meaning. One of the most emotional parts of the day was the "sungkeman". We knelt to both Connor's parents and Safrinna's mother & uncle to ask for their blessings, and thanked them for everything they’ve done for us. Our wedding was more than just a celebration. It was a way to connect with our roots, honor our families, and start our marriage with meaning and love. It’s a day we’ll always carry with us, and everything felt sacred & full of love.