Malaysian princess marries Dutchman in lavish ceremony

The daughter of one of Malaysia’s most powerful sultans married her Dutch fiancé on Monday in a lavish ceremony steeped in centuries of tradition.

Princess Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim, 31, the only daughter of the Sultan of Johor, tied the knot with Dennis Muhammad Abdullah, 28, following a three-year romance.

The Dutchman, who has converted to Islam, and the princess were married according to Muslim Malay custom at the Serene Hill Palace, the royal family’s residence in the southern city of Johor Bahru. The private ceremony was attended by close family and friends.

The groom wore traditional white wedding attire and the bride a white dress. Dennis Muhammad placed the wedding ring on Tunku Aminah’s finger in a special room in the palace, according to the royal press office. And in keeping with wedding customs in the Muslim-majority southern state of Johor, he also gave her a dowry of 22.50 ringgit (US$5), and the couple kissed the hands of their parents, aunts and uncles as a mark of respect.

An evening reception on Monday night, however, promised to be the main event, featuring a “sitting-in-state” ceremony, with some 1,200 guests expected to attend and crowds watching the event on a big screen in a city square.