THE wedding day is one of the most important days a newly married couple will have in their lives and one to always remember, and for that day to be a happy one there are many things that are important factors in making the day run well and smoothly.

It is not only having the money needed to make the day go well to meet budget, but the wedding must be well organised in a way that makes both the couple and their families happy.

But there is one other factor and an important one, the significance of the health and beauty of the couple getting married.

According to the Khmer custom, a girl to be married in a wealthy family was required to hold the “Choul Mlub” ceremony (a ceremony which takes place upon a girl reaching puberty when she is kept in the house and not allowed to go out into the sun), which used traditional beauty care methods and taught the girl about her demeanor and that of a housewife.

However, the “Choul Mlub” ceremony has almost disappeared in modern Cambodian society in which both men and women have equal rights to get education and work outside the home, although the traditional health and beauty care methods have been adapted by both parents and pre-marriage couples.

“I don’t care too much about my beauty before marrying, but most Phnom Penh places that provide clothes and self-decoration for the wedding day even offer free of charge milk baths for the bride before the event,” said Touch Sa Mai, who was married last year.

Leng Hakheng, 57, a Phnom Penh vendor, has experience after seeing three daughters get married and believes using a wedding service agency is a good way to help stop the tension and tiredness you get preparing for a wedding by letting the agency organise the event.

She and Por Lanin, 29, were married in March this year and said that health and beauty care was very important.

“The couple has to care about their health and beauty, sleep enough, eat good food and take some time to do regular physical exercise. If possible, they should have a sauna, spa and jacuzzi, which will help both their health and beauty,” said Por Lanin.