Getting Married In Malaysia - Malaysian Wedding Guide

To discover Malaysia is to discover a country of many faces. Geographically, the country is split in two, with the Malaysian Peninsular and East Malaysia separated by the South China Sea. Modern Malaysia is a melting pot of race, religion, and culture, with large Chinese and Indian populations who call the country home. Without forgetting the country’s rich history and the foreign influences of past centuries. The result of such diversity? When it comes to planning your perfect destination wedding, Malaysia offers a setting to suit every taste and budget.

Fact File

• Size: 330,803km2
• Population: Approximately 32 million  (2022)
• Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
• Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
• Languages Spoken: Malay (official), English, Mandarin, Hindi are also spoken.
• Main Religions:  Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity
• Major Holidays and Festivals: 
  • New Year’s Day – January 1st
  • Easter - but Good Friday is only celebrated in two states on Malaysian Borneo. The date varies each year.
  • Labour Day – May 1st
  • King’s Birthday – First Saturday of June
  • Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) – August 31st
  • Malaysia Day – September 16th
  • Christmas – December 25th
  • Wesak Day (Buddha’s Birth) – falls on a different day each year
  • Hari Raya Puasa (Malaysian translation for Eid al-Fitr) – end of Ramadan
  • Mawlid (The Prophet’s Birthday) – falls on a different day each year
  • Start of the Islamic Calendar – falls on a different day each year
  • Chinese New Year – falls on a different day each year
  • Diwali – falls on a different day each year

Highlights

From swimming in crystal clear seas, to diving off uninhabited islands, and exotic animal spotting in the rainforest, Malaysia is to many the embodiment of tropical paradise. There’s no shortage of dream wedding locations. From the white sandy beaches of Langkawi to the more isolated splendor of diving the Sipadan Islands and the picture-perfect sunsets over the Straits of Malacca, the hardest decision is settling on just one!

Weather and Climate

There’s only one word for the climate in Malaysia: tropical. Temperatures range from warm to even warmer, so expect a hot and humid 25-35°C depending on the season. If you're looking for a bit of breezy respite; however, head inland towards the verdant hills, such as the Cameron Highlands, which can offer a cool relief.

Before finalizing the date for your big day, ensure it doesn’t coincide with the monsoon season. The east coast monsoon falls between mid-October to mid-March and you’ll find many resorts closed and little access to the islands.

The west coast monsoon is generally considered milder and falls between May and October.

Culture and Etiquette

Prepare to be enchanted by Malaysia. Here’s a land of some of the friendliest and most welcoming people who will go out of their way to ensure your wedding day is unforgettable. Yet this is still a fairly conservative and predominantly Muslim country that guards traditional values, therefore it’s important to demonstrate respect in your actions. Avoid kissing or hugging in public; show your affection for each other by holding hands instead. Try to keep a more modest dress code and take off your shoes before crossing into someone’s home. It is becoming more accepted to shake hands, but not always between the sexes. Traditionally, introductions are made by holding out both hands in greeting before bringing them back into your chest.

You can expect slightly fewer restrictions in bigger cities and tourist resorts. Whilst drinking in public is a no-no, many Chinese-run restaurants serve alcohol with meals and larger hotels and resorts include a bar area and operate a more relaxed attitude.

There’s no excuse not to greet people with a cheery “hello” since it’s the same in Malay! Other key phrases to remember include sila (please), terima kasih (thank you), apa khabar? (how are you?), and selamat tinggal (goodbye).

Food and Drink

Spicy, sizzling, saucy, sweet: just some of the words which are used to describe the Malaysian menu. A reflection of the population and the location of the country, the local cuisine is infused with Chinese, Indian, and Thai influence. Chili, shrimp paste, lemongrass, coconut milk, and garlic are the main ingredients, so you can be assured of a fresh and flavorsome wedding menu. Popular dishes include Laksa (noodle soup), Rendang (a spicy, dry curry), Nasi Goreng (stir-fried rice), and perhaps the most famous of all, Satay (peanut sauce).

Search out street food at bustling roadside stalls and diners (Kedai Kopis), an essential part of the Malay experience, and wash it down with exotic-sounding fruit juices made from lychees and longans. Note that the service charge is included in restaurants, so tipping is not expected. There is also no tipping in street stalls or food courts.

Money and Wedding Costs

The local currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). ATMs are located in the major cities and on popular tourist islands such as Langkawi. However, there are still many parts of the country without cash withdrawal facilities, so you are encouraged to check prior to departure to outlying areas. In general, it is recommended to have sufficient cash to cover outstanding wedding expenses when traveling to less frequented parts. This rings true for your plastic as well, whilst major resorts and restaurants accept credit cards, even in urban centers the smaller traders still operate on cash-based transactions.

Money changers can be found in tourist centers and larger hotels and resorts that offer currency exchange, although, as with anywhere, the rates are usually less favorable than banks or foreign exchange booths.

Speaking of matters financial, Malaysia definitely represents value for money as a wedding destination. There’s no shortage of five-star hotels and resorts offering destination wedding packages, especially on islands such as Langkawi and Penang. Whilst these start around 10,000MYR (£1,800), expect an array of options to suit all budgets.

Legal Requirements - Getting Married In Malaysia

The following notes are not comprehensive and are intended as a guide only. Before planning your wedding in Malaysia we strongly advise you to contact the Malaysian embassy in your home country or your country's embassy in Malaysia to obtain up-to-date legal requirements.

It’s a relatively painless bureaucratic process to turn your dream of a Malaysian destination wedding into a reality.

Your first step is registering your marriage at the National Registration Department. To complete this, as a foreign citizen you must be in Malaysia seven days prior to registration and present documents including your passport, passport photos, birth certificate, and a statutory declaration of marital status from your embassy or high commission. The civil ceremony, or ‘solemnization’ of marriage, can then take place after 21 days (but before six months) in the presence of two witnesses over 18 years of age. A fee can be paid to fast-track this time frame.

If one party is of the Islamic faith, Malaysian law dictates the other party must convert to Islam before the marriage can take place.

Requirements do change, so it is advisable to visit the website of the Malaysian Embassy in your own country for further up-to-date information about the legal requirements for marrying in Malaysia.

If you need any more information on getting married in Malaysia, you can contact the U.S. Embassy website if you are American or the UK Embassy website if you are British. Likewise for other nationalities, we encourage you to reach out to your appropriate Embassy, to confirm details. 

States and Territories of Malaysia

Malaysia is made up of thirteen states and three federal territories, administered by the Federal government. Thirteen of these regions are found on the Malay Peninsula, which borders Thailand to the north and Singapore to the south. The remaining three are separated from the mainland by the South China Sea. Collectively referred to as East Malaysia (or Sabah or Malaysian Borneo), these regions share the island of Borneo with both Indonesia’s Kalimantan and Brunei.

Find out more about the States and Territories of Malaysia or browse our Malaysian Wedding Directory to start planning your dream wedding.