A wedding ceremony at Batak Angkola

Kotanopan region, Mandailing Natal district of North Sumatra

Every region of Indonesia has its own special wedding ceremony traditions, and its own costumes for the newly-weds. This is how Batak Angkola couples dress for their weddings in North Sumatra, in the Mandailing Natal district. Large numbers of wedding guests are invited – people here believe that the more guests come, the more prestigious and auspicious the wedding will be for the family clans of the young couple. Everyone is welcome, even outsiders. The names of all the guests are recorded in the wedding album.