Red and white hantaran theme

Green and purple themed

Sirih junjung using only chrysanthemum and baby breath 

Fruit basket

Bath towel

A piece of cloth

'Bunga rampai'

Chocolate basket

Cake

              These 'hantaran' was made for my friend's daughter engagement. The original theme was green but I used white and purple chrysanthemum and button mums to harmonized the colour combination. For brides-to-be this flower arrangement is one of the cheapest 'hantaran' set you can get from us. Price range  from RM 35 and above.

Flowerless Malay Hantaran

               We are trying to create flowerless hantaran that are easy to be transported, cheap, no fuss but elegant. We managed to produce one design with frills and bows only. This design can be altered to your taste. We will advertise more sophisticated flowerless hantaran for the future.

               For more info and to order, please contact me at 016-7914204 or mail me at jujucupcakes@gmail.com.

 Cupcakes

 Chocolates

 Toiletries

 Hat cookies

 Shirt

 Two tier mini cakes

 Sirih junjung

Books

Wallet and belt set

Malay Wedding Doorgifts: How much is enough?

              In my line of business, I've attended a lot of weddings. I've collected a box full of ceramic mugs, another box of small ceramic cups with English rose stickers, melamine bowls and plates, vases and many more. Perishables such as tapioca chips, chocolates, candies, muffins, buns, cakes and cupcakes, 'bahulu' and a whole lot more. I've eaten some of them, gave them away and even threw them away.

               Do you know what our favourite is - 'kuih bakar Melaka'. It tasted like bahulu but a bit harder and spiced.  There was one wedding where we got an assortment of cookies. We couldn't wait to open the container and eat them!

Spoiled door gifts

              There were times when we received molded cakes or cupcakes but it is not the organizer's family's fault. The fault lies on the bakers! As a baker, you should know the shelf life of your products and advice your customer on the timing of the delivery. Not to mention, stale tapioca crisps, softened Bin Bin sticks and many more!
               Door gifts should be pack around 3 to 4 days prior to the wedding reception. For cakes and cupcakes, they should be baked around 2-3 days prior to the wedding reception date and delivered a day before the wedding reception. All of these issues should be address to the organisers. The shelf life of perishables items such as bread, buns, cakes and cupcakes are around 7-10 days. The shelf life should be spent at the receiver's hand not at the giver's hand.
              As bakers, we tried to educate our customers regarding shelf life and the intention of giving.We encourage our customers to give something useful such as foodstuff. It's not that mugs and plates aren't useful but too much of the same kind will be a waste. Tidbits such as potato chips, Bin Bin sticks, chocolates and candies (Johorean called them 'jajan') were the usual door gifts because of the reasonable price, long shelf life and easily available.

Paper Bags Issue

              I live in Kluang, Johor  and it's only 15 minutes to Air Hitam - paper bags and souvenirs heaven but I hate paper bags! When my brother got married in 2010, my sis and I actually thought of just giving a cupcake each to our guests. Unfortunately, when my baby brother came back from UAE, he informed us that he wanted to put his door gifts in paper bags! Our condition is that the paper bag should not be empty or contain one or two small items inside. Since he was marrying a Pahang girl, he wanted to show his new families the Johorean culture. He went to Parit Raja in search of 'Kerepek Tempe' (molded soybean chips)! It took us about 3 days to pack everything and around 3 days before his wedding reception in Kluang, we started baking the cupcakes.
               Recently when my cousin was preparing for her second wedding, her former mother-in-law insisted she should give paper bags for the groom's family. She was a bit reluctant to prepare the paper bags since she has forked out about RM3 for assortment of cookies as door gifts. In the end, she gave in and asked us to buy paper bags big enough to put in the cookies, a photo frame and a pen. We searched through at least four shops before deciding on one design. What an experience!
                 We used to receive paper bags and boxes with holder; and we collected so much that I sold some of them to the old newspaper guy! The issue here, do we have to give everyone paper bags?
                  The answer is no! Paper bags cost at least RM0.45 each and sometimes we received expensive paper bags that usually cost RM1.20! Inside the paper bag? - just tapioca chips! Well, we need to end this trend! WE SHOULD STOP BUYING AND GIVING PAPER BAGS AS DOOR GIFTS! Once, I was given an Ikea glass and an egg inside. The two items were put in a pouch which many of us used to put candies inside. It's practical and it saves cost!
                  Why do we have to fork out so much for door gifts? It's a waste of money! Let's be practical! If you want to give 'bahulu', put them in a nice plastic bags and tie them with a ribbon. End of the story.

'Bunga Telur' or Flower with eggs

                'Bunga telur' is a must have tradition in Malay wedding. Years ago when I was a kid, my late mother was famous with her artistic touch and was sought after to create 'bunga telur'. When my eldest sister got married, she made around 500 stalks of 'bunga telur' as door gifts for the female guests. My mother created a new design of 'bunga telur' to be put at the dais. The ones at the dais were really sought after. In fact, before the bride sat at the dais, almost half of the 'bunga telur' were taken!
                Nowadays. there was an influx of imported 'bunga telur' from China. There are no sentimental values over 'bunga telur' anymore! People got it and throw it away as if it meant nothing. I think we should stop wasting our money on 'bunga telur'. If you want to give boiled egg, then find a nice glass/plastic container for it.

I think I should stop grumbling for now. Will write again and give a calculation of how much people actually spend for door gifts!

See you soon!

My Cousin's Wedding

 

Handbag

 

Shoes

Two tiered mini cake

Sirih junjung

Chocolate coated strawberry

Revathi's Engagement: Similarities between Malay and Hindu Cultures

Watch and ring

Chocolate coated strawberry

The flower ensemble

Toiletries 

Sirih junjung

Shirt

Dark Red Hantaran Theme

This 'hantaran' set was ordered by Intan Liyana for her engagement in January 2012. 

Basic 'hantaran' ensemble. 

Toiletries for him.

 

Sirih Junjung for him.

 

Cupcakes for him.

 

Shirt for him.

 

Steamed cakes for him.

Yellow and Peach Wedding Theme

This 'hantaran' set was ordered by Norhidayah of Tmn Intan for her wedding on 7 April 2011. 

   The 'hantaran' ensemble.

Chocolate cake for him.

Red and white theme hantaran

This hantaran set was ordered by Mohd. Hafiz Yunos of Kg. Lambak, Kluang for his wedding on 7 April 2011.

Watch for her (side view)

Watch for her (top view) 

Three bottles of perfumes for his bride.

There were another four 'hantaran' which were not photograph. We will update this entry once we have obtained them from the couple.

A Step Forward

          Anything that has to do with 'Malay Wedding' is a lucrative business! We started with cupcakes for 'hantaran' and moved to bake wedding cakes, and earlier this year we designed our very own dais for my cousin. 'Hantaran' or gifts exchanged during wedding ceremony have been modernized over the year. Fresh flowers have been used to decorate 'hantaran' nowadays. Years ago, my late Mom made the flowers from crepe papers to decorate the 'hantaran'.
          In this blog, we will emphasized a simple, convenient, affordable and practical wedding theme. Very few bride-to-be agreed with our concept in Kluang, Johor but at the end of the day, they have to accept that those concepts featured by the bridal magazines are very expensive to follow. We found that brides and bridegrooms families spent a lot of  money for unnecessary things. We will start a campaign to reduce unpractical door gifts. We will suggest things that are useful and affordable as door gifts.
          We will include cost-saving tips and also our favourite caterers and bridal boutiques around Kluang or Johor. We invite caterers and bridal boutiques to introduce themselves to us and seek partnerships for advertisements and adhere to our concepts.
          As a devoted Muslim and also a follower of old Javanese Islamic scripts called Kitab Perimbon, we will introduce old beliefs or superstitions regarding the good months in which couples should marry. I believe that something which was deemed to be 'afdhal' according to Islam will not necessarily be convenient nowadays but I'm sure every step of the way will be rewarded by Allah!