If you’ve lived in Indonesia long enough, I believe you’ve heard some controversial statements from MUI (Indonesia Ulema Council, got this translation from google btw). Earlier this year, MUI stated that pre wedding (pre-wed) photographs are “Haram” (or in other words: prohibited) for Moslems in Indonesia.
This takes me back to several years ago, when I was still in high school, I think. At that time, my mother commented on the wedding invitations that she received. In several of them, the soon-to-be-husband-and-wife are posing very intimately. Something not well-perceived by my mother, and perhaps also by other Indonesians who lived their younger lives in the 70′s, when most people still lived in the eastern way (read: more limited relationships between men and women, especially in terms of physical contact).
As I grew older, I saw more and more wedding invitations with special pre-wed pictures on them.. And I must say that most couples gave a lot of effort (finding the best photographer, locations, concepts, etc) and of course money to shoot a memorable pre-wed picture. Those pictures basically showed people how much the couples are in love with each other and also how happy they are together. A very sweet thing, indeed. The photo themes are also becoming more and more creative. “The intimate pose” is no longer the only theme of pre wedding pictures.
Below is one example of a cute pre-wed picture. Unfortunately I have to edit the whole picture and close the bride and groom picture..
Hope you’ll get the concept..

Courtesy of someone on Facebook.
What do you think of this wedding invitation? It has a very simple concept. The couples sitting on each side of a park bench, hence far away from each other. No revealing clothes. Inexpensive photography. But still, happy faces (sorry, can’t show it.. :p).
Would this kind of pre-wed photo for a wedding invitation considered as “HARAM”? What’s your own standards of a pre-wed picture? Let me hear from you!
Surabaya, March 16th, 2010.
Cheers! *definitely in the mood for writing*
What they've said..