Photo courtesy of Edwin Tan Photography
Due to overwhelming inquiry and request from our beloved fans and members, we have put together some information for you to search for your ideal Dai Kam Jie. For brides who would like to recommend or review their Dai Kam Jie, please do so here. Watch the tradition here!
Traditionally, the ‘Dai Kam Jie’ is a female either hired by the bride’s family, or is a relative of the bride’s side, who is considered an ‘auspicious’ lady (with living spouse and children). Nowadays, the ‘Dai Kam Jie’, also known as wedding or chaperone, is a professional practice, where the practitioners have to achieve a certain level of competency in their skills and knowledge before they could qualify to handle an actual wedding ceremony.
How to choose your Dai Kum Jie:
- Pleasant appearance
- Quick thinking and observant
- Good with speech
- Well-versed in traditions, ceremonies and important customs
Their Roles and Tasks
The most important part of a wedding chaperone is to guide the couple through all the traditional customary ceremonies and rituals, particularly during the day of the wedding. Here are some parts of a wedding that may requires the help of a Dai Kam Jie. However, do discuss with your Dai Kam Jie first before the engagement as some Dai Kam Jie only provide a few of the optional services:
- Betrothal Ceremony – Where she will help prepare the items of significance for exchange of gifts
- Dowry
- Installing the Bridal Bed
- Initiating the hair-dressing ritual for the bride
- Prepare all the necessary items for the wedding ritual
- Assisting the bride during her journey to the groom’s house
- Interacting with the guests and elderly, especially during tea ceremony
Throughout the ceremony, the wedding chaperon will be saying auspicious words and greetings, and if there is any uneventful happening, or a guest who came up with a less-auspicious word, it will be up to the chaperon to ‘save the day’ with another auspicious remark, while keeping the merry mood of the wedding intact.
Do’s and Don’t s of choosing your Dai Kam Jie
1. Morning only or full-day?
Unless you need a Dai Kam Jie to coordinate another tea ceremony during dinner, else it really doesn’t worth it to spend that money. But you should know, as of 2010 November, the market price of Dai Kam Jie is about RM450 for morning session only, and about RM600 for full-day. You may not need a Dai Kam Jie for the dinner since the restaurant will include emcee for dinner and some couples had their own friends as emcee.
2. Meet your Dai Kam Jie and discuss thoroughly on service provided
If you do not want the Dai Kum Jie to talk too much irrelevant stuff during your wedding, you better make yourself clear on what are the services he/she will be providing. Do speak to your Dai Kam Jie first to understand how knowledgeable is she in the wedding traditions.
3. No extra Angpow
You do not need to pay your Dai Kum Jie additional ang pow besides the quoted fees. However, giving extra angpow is totally personal preference. If you think that this is a good implication, then just give.
4. Do not disturb the gaming session
You may tell the Dai Kam Jie about gaming time before hand and ask him/her to help remind instead of keep on commanding the Ji Muis open door. Tell your Dai Kam Jie upfront to avoid her from stealing the show.
You can find a directory of Dai Kam Jie here. Please leave your comments and reviews of any of the Dai Kam Jie you have used here!
Dai Kam Jie from Perlis. She has over 20 years of experience in her job. She is a traditional “dai kam” with the proficiency in Cantonese and Chinese language.
CONTACT – 016-202 8978 , 03-8075 4959.
CONTACT – 016 2711176 / 019-3816733.
A male “Dai Kam” who is funny and hyperactive. He is also multi-talented. The Chinese Opera face (mask) changing trick performance by him was interesting. Here’s a wedding actual day video1, Video 2showing some of his work.
CONTACT – 016 2139993 / 03-62571866
CONTACT – 012 -222 3878, 012 222 3826, 03 62801549
CONTACT – 012 3762318
CONTACT – 017 2521818
CONTACT – 016 3468397
CONTACT – 012 6338684, 03 21426977
CONTACT – 012 3808117
Gui Fei Jie from Sri Bintang with high proficiency in Cantonese, Hakka, Mandarin, English and Bahasa Melayu. In addition, she can speak some Japanese. She has over 4 years of experience.
CONTACT – 012-606 1863
CONTACT – 012 3278621
CONTACT – 012 3419394
CONTACT – 016 3670177, 03 62570791
CONTACT – 016 238 8687
CONTACT – 012 3816112
CONTACT – 012 222 3878
Mei Jie, she has lots of friends and colleagues working in the same industry. She handles marriage arrangements seriously and will try her very best to ensure things go alright.
CONTACT – 017 6059866
CONTACT – 016 6986610
Kim. Since 2007 she has been working with English speaking couples, who wanted a Chinese traditional wedding but do not know how to go about it.
Tel : 016-6261673 or email : kim88@gmail.com
Other recommendations (but no pictures):
Xin Jie
Tel: 016-2785507, 012-2920337
Review from Malaysia Brides: Her hilarious words of good wishes had everyone laughing their hearts out. The phrases weren’t too traditional yet meaningful. The guests and family members complimented her for the job well done. Rates: RM390 (2010)
Geng Kor
Tel: 012-5013301
Geng Kor is one of the best “Dai Kam” around. This male wedding chaperone is fun and friendly. Reviews: “You may contact this Gengko, he is a male tai kum, my cousins sister hired him and he is quite fun and friendly” my cousin sister introduced”.
Doris
Tel: 016-2793185
Friendly and humorous. Rate: RM480 (2012)
