The Wedding of Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Ms Selvie Ananda: The Best Examples of Indonesian Fashion Diplomacy

“As the spouse of the then Mayor of Solo, I was tasked to attend and give the winning sash to Selvie who was chosen to become Putri Solo (Miss Solo) in 2009. As I helped her to wear the sash, I told myself how beautiful this young woman is. Surprisingly, she is destined to marry my son and will become my daughter in law” as stated by Ibu Iriana Widodo, First Lady of the Republic of Indonesia to a recent interview about the wedding plan of her son, Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka to Ms Selvie Ananda.

Each wedding of any member of First Family in Indonesia would always attract major attention from all Indonesians as it would be the closest thing that Indonesians have to a sort of Royal Wedding.

Only a few days ago, Mr Raka, the first son of President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, officially wedded his long time sweetheart, Ms Selvie Ananda. They first met in the pageant of Putri Solo which Selvie participated in 2009.

Mr Raka is a successful entrepreneur with a flourish catering enterprise namely the Chilli Pari catering (Web: www.chilliparicatering.com, Instagram: @CHILLIPARI) and the popular Martabak Kota Barat (Indonesian sweet pancake) outlet in Solo (Instagram: @MARKOBAR96). Ms Ananda is currently working at a bank in Solo.

The wedding ceremony was conducted in Solo where the First Family comes from. In accordance with Javanese tradition, the ceremony was conducted in a few stages which took place in three consecutive days.

During the ceremonies, the First Family as well as the bride and groom were all proudly displaying their traditional attire including beskap (jacket like top for men), kebaya (for women), and hand-painted Indonesian Batik cloths (for both men and women) which carry significant meaning behind each unique pattern.

Indeed, as an Indonesian, I am happy and proud to see that the First Family has proudly carried out the best examples of Indonesian fashion diplomacy which can be clearly seen by their attires.

Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the best of Indonesian fashion diplomacy through the following amazing photos of Mas Gibran and Mbak Selvie as they are now called by all Indonesians.

Day One (9 June 2015): Tembungan (Engagement)

In the first day, the groom to-be accompanied by his parents and siblings visited the house of bride to-be to officially state his intention to marry.

 Both Mr Gibran Rakabuming, the groom to be, and his father, President Joko Widodo wore a long sleeved Indonesian Batik shirt. Madam Iriana Widodo, the First Lady, chose to wear a similar colored kebaya with her daughter, Ms Kahiyang Ayu.

 Ms Selvie Ananda, the bride to be, wears a dark green colored kebaya with a dark brown (soga) colored Batik cloth.

Day Two (10 June 2015): Siraman (Shower) and Midodareni (The night before the wedding)

At the morning of the second day, both the groom and bride to be will be showered/washed by their respective parents in front of the guests and family. The water that will be used to wash are usually taken from seven water springs which portray the couple’s life will be flowing like water. The ceremony takes place at the exact time for the bride and groom to be.

 The groom to be clad in a sash made of jasmine is washed by his father, President Widodo, and mother, First Lady Mrs Widodo.

 After the siraman takes place, the groom to be posed for the media accompanied by his parents and siblings. Notice that the President and his younger son, Mr Kaesang Pangarep, wear similar colored beskap and Batik cloth whereas the First Lady and her daughter wear also similar kebaya kutubaru with Batik cloth.

 The bride to be as she prepared to be washed.

After the siraman ceremony, the bride to be dressed up in a similar colored kebaya kutubaru and Batik cloth which was worn by her soon-to-be Mother and Sister in law at the siraman ceremony.

 The groom to be bring gifts and meet his future Mother in law. During the ceremony, the groom to be is forbid to meet his future bride. The bride stays inside her room during this ceremony.

Day Three (11 June 2015): Ijab Kabul (Wedding Vows) and Reception

At the morning, both exchange vows in accordance to the Moslem tradition as witnessed by their parents as well as former President Megawati Sukarno Putri. Then the newly married couple ride in a carriage to arrive at the reception venue for the reception.

In the evening, another reception is held where the couple and their parents are dressed in another attire.

Mr Gibran Rakabuming in white colored beskap (jacket like attire), a black colored bow tie, a collier made from fragrant jasmine and Indonesian Batik cloth with the pattern of Sido Mukti.

President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Widodo accompanied their son in the procession to the exchange vow ceremony.

Ms Selvie Ananda dressed up in white colored lace kebaya and similar patterned Batik as Mr Gibran. The designer for the bride’s kebaya is Ms Tuty Adib, a Solo based designer. Ms Adib is also the designer who is trusted with the ensemble for the groom and the respective mother of groom as well as bride.

The Ijab Kabul (exchange of vow in accordance to the Moslem wedding ritual) as witnessed by the parents of bride and groom and guests of honour including former President Megawati Sukarno Putri.

The happy couple after the vow.

The newly married couple with the First Couple of Republic of Indonesia.

The newly married couple with both of their parents and siblings. Notice that the First Lady, Mrs Iriana, wears similar colored kebaya with her daughter as well as the mother of the bride. While, President Widodo wears the same traditional outfit including beskap with the father of the bride. Both parents wear the same patterned Batik cloth namely truntum which is believed to bring harmony to the newly married couple.

The happy couple accompanied by their parents as they ready to greet the guests.

The smiling First Lady, Mrs Iriana, accompanied her husband, President Widodo as they joined the procession. The couple’s younger children walked behind them.

The newly married couple as they were carried in a carriage with the groom’s parents.

The happy couple inside the carriage.

The procession for the evening reception.

The handsome couple in black velvet with gonden thread hand-embroidery matching ensemble.

Governor of Jakarta, Mr Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, accompanied by his wife, Mrs Veronica Purnama, attended the wedding. While Mr Purnama wore a long sleeved Indonesian Batik shirt with the traditional pattern which is titled Sekar Jagad (Flower of the Universe), Mrs Purnama is gorgeously dressed up in a lovely Chinese Peranakan dress namely cheong sam which is crafted from Indonesian Batik.

On behalf of his father the former President Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), Mr Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono accompanied by his wife, Mrs Aliya Rajasa Yudhoyono, attended the reception in Solo. Mr Edhie Yudhoyono’s wedding in 2011 was the last wedding of First Family’s member during the term of his father. Take a closer look at the beautiful fuchsia colored long kebaya of Mrs Rajasa-Yudhoyono (Photo from Mr Yudhoyono’s instagram: @IBASYUDHOYONO).

Martabak Manis (Indonesian sweet pancake), which combines Kit Kat, Cadbury chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, green tea and cheese among others, is one of the special culinary dish from Solo that was served during the reception. The groom is the owner of the Chili Pari catering and Martabak Kota Baru outlet in Solo.

Mr Gibran Rakabuming proudly displays his popular dish of Martabak Manis.

President Joko Widodo and First Lady Mrs Iriana Widodo, then as the Mayor of Solo and spouse, gave the sash to crown Ms Selvie Ananda as Putri Solo (Miss Solo) in 2009. (Photo from Mr Gibran Rakabuming’s instagram account: @GIBRANRAKABUMING)

First Lady Mrs Widodo, dressed in an Indonesian Batik red colored blouse with Parang (dagger) pattern, shares a tender moment with her friend, Ms Tuty Adib, who was chosen as the designer for the bride and groom’s wedding ensemble.

Ms Tuty Adib, the designer for the bride and groom, made the sketch.

The sketch of the bride’s dress by Ms Tuty Adib.

The First Daughter, Ms Kahiyang Ayu, shares laughter during selfie moments with her new sister in law, Mrs Selvie Ananda. (Photo from Ms Widodo’s instagram: @AYANGKAHIYANG).

The newly married couple in a more relaxed outfit.

Photo source: Instagram, The Jakarta Post, Detik, Wolipop, CNN Indonesia, Bintang, Kompas

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