The vibrant bracelets on Lexi and Jamal’s wrists, called Sai Sin, are considered lucky. The ornaments were blessed by a monk before the ceremony, then tied around their wrists by family and friends with heartfelt wishes and joy for their marriage.
“It was almost like I could feel her aura,” Jamal Yeldell remembers of his first look at his fiance, Lexi Srisuwan, on their wedding day. Jamal could feel Lexi approaching before he turned around and saw her. “She has a presence that radiates and shines all over the place,” he says, “and the moment I turned around, I just couldn’t stop staring at her.”
Lexi’s brown eyes sparkled above her wedding dress, complete with an intricate gold and white sarong and “sabai” sash made in her family’s home of Thailand. Lexi and Jamal had waited for this day for six years.
A Love Story Across
an Ocean
Lexi and Jamal first met in 2016 at the coed Alpha Psi Lambda fraternity at Coastal Carolina University. They fostered a friendship over parties and events with mutual friends for the next two years. It was not until Lexi met Jamal’s family at his graduation that the friendship blossomed into romance. “I was so welcomed by his family,” says Lexi. “It felt very natural.” The two began considering that they should be more than just friends. There was only one challenge: Jamal was setting sail to work on a cruise ship.
“This wasn’t a sprint,” says Jamal. “This was a marathon — it’s life we’re talking about, so it’s not something that can be conquered in a day. It’s supposed to take time and be cared for with love, compassion, and thoughtfulness.”
With this mindset, Lexi and Jamal established their relationship. “We sent letters to each other and basically spoke every day,” says Lexi. Their patiently cultivated love would stand the test of time and distance across an ocean.
The ocean had never felt like a significant obstacle to Lexi. Growing up as a Thai American, Lexi remained deeply connected to her Thai heritage while living in Columbia. She spent hours with other Thai children in her family’s Bangkok restaurant off Garners Ferry Road. She learned the language and developed an appreciation for her family’s cuisine and cooking methods. Geography and love were not incompatible to Lexi. Anything worth loving could transcend space and time.
Six years after meeting Lexi, Jamal surprised her with an engagement ring on New Year’s Eve in front of their family and friends. “I just opened the box, and she started crying,” says Jamal.
A Dream Wedding
Lexi dreamed of having a traditional Thai wedding to honor her culture and family, but pulling off such an elaborate and meaningful celebration would take time and planning. Lexi and Jamal patiently waited two more years before exchanging marriage vows. Lexi’s dream wedding would unfold like a tapestry, woven with intricate rituals and symbolic gestures that have endured for centuries. Each step of the ceremony would unite her and Jamal, celebrate family and community, and resonate with the essence of Lexi’s Thai heritage.
The Blessing
On May 19, 2024, the wedding hall at Wat Sumter Buddharam Temple, located in rural Lee County, was adorned with delicate floral arrangements and shimmering golden decorations carefully prepared by Lexi’s mother, June Srisuwan. The atmosphere was calm, saturated with a sense of reverence and anticipation. At 10 a.m., five Buddhist monks dressed in simple yet elegant saffron robes entered the room with a serene dignity. Their presence brought an air of solemnity and grace.
The couple, dressed in traditional Thai wedding attire, walked down the aisle together and approached an altar adorned with fresh flowers and intricate garlands, creating a peaceful and sacred atmosphere. A profound sense of calm marked the moment as the couple prepared to light the candles, which symbolized their commitment to each other and their shared journey ahead.
Lexi and Jamal knelt side by side, their hands gently clasped in prayer. They bowed their heads in a gesture of respect and gratitude, their faces reflecting a deep sense of serenity and commitment. This moment was a profound expression of their reverence for the spiritual aspect of their union and their desire to lead a life of harmony and wisdom together.
After the candles were lit, Lexi and Jamal presented food offerings to the monks as an expression of their respect for the monastic community and their desire to receive spiritual blessings. The offerings included a variety of traditional Thai dishes, including fruits and sweets all prepared with meticulous care.
With a serene expression, the lead monk began chanting traditional Buddhist prayers and blessings. His voice was steady and calming, creating an atmosphere of spiritual reverence. The other monks joined in, their collective chants creating a symphony of sacred sound that enveloped the room. Lexi and Jamal listened quietly, their heads bowed and hearts filled with gratitude, as they received the blessings bestowed upon them by the monks.
Once the chanting concluded, Lexi and Jamal poured water into a ceremonial bowl, symbolizing purification and blessings. A monk carefully dipped a bundle of reeds into the blessed water, extended it towards the couple, and deliberately sprinkled the drops over their hair and shoulders. Each water droplet symbolized a blessing, a wish for a harmonious and prosperous life together.
This ritual, though simple in its execution, was deeply symbolic. It marked the purification of the couple’s spirits and the invocation of divine blessings upon their union. The sprinkling of water was more than a ritual — it was a sacred affirmation of their bond and a blessing for their shared journey ahead.
Threads of Tradition
Lexi and Jamal sat together at the center of the room, radiating happiness as they prepared for the next part of the ceremony. Friends and family members formed a long line around the room and prepared to impart their personal blessing and support to the couple. Lexi and Jamal extended their hands, palms open and facing upward, ready to receive symbolic strings, called “sai sin,” from their guests, representative of the support and well wishes of their loved ones. Each guest tied a string on Lexi and Jamal’s wrists one by one, taking a moment to offer a personal blessing or wish for the couple’s future. The atmosphere was serene, filled with whispers of words of support and the rustling sound of the strings in a celebration that bridged the past and the future, weaving together the threads of tradition and love.
As the last strings were tied, the ceremony concluded with a moment of collective reflection. This moment, rich in tradition and sentiment, was a powerful reminder of the couple’s connection to Lexi’s heritage and the importance of their relationships with family and friends. These bracelets were not merely decorative; they were cherished tokens of the community’s blessings, wrapping them in good fortune as they embarked on their new life together.
The Khan Maak
The second phase of Lexi and Jamal’s ceremony occurred several days later in Atlanta, where more friends and family were invited to celebrate. The day began with a playful custom known as the Khan Maak. Jamal proved his love for Lexi by passing through three “gates,” symbolized by six of Lexi’s bridesmaids. Each bridesmaid took a turn asking Jamal a question about Lexi, each question more challenging than the last. Jamal triumphantly answered each question correctly and was happily escorted to his bride.
The Sacred Stream
Lexi’s grandparents applied three traditional white dots on the couple’s foreheads, arranged in a pyramid shape, to symbolize good fortune for the newlyweds. After the couple exchanged rings and vows, Lexi’s parents placed ceremonial headbands, “sai monkhon,” on each of their heads, symbolizing their blessing over the union. Jamal’s mother and father then presented the couple with flower garlands, symbolizing purity, love, and the couple’s connection to their cultural heritage. Now adorned with headbands and flower garlands, Lexi and Jamal stood together with deep reverence and happiness. The headbands and garlands symbolized their union and the future they were about to share.
As the ceremony progressed, the moment arrived for the traditional water blessing ritual called “Rod Nam Sang”. Each guest was handed a conch shell and lined up near Lexi and Jamal. Lexi’s bridesmaids carried containers filled with water the monks had blessed several days prior. With careful hands, they filled each conch shell with the blessed water.
One by one, the guests approached Lexi and Jamal, who sat side by side with outstretched hands. The bridesmaids stood by, offering gentle encouragement and support as each guest poured water from their conch shell over the couple’s hands in a delicate stream, symbolizing the transmission of good fortune and heartfelt wishes.
Lexi and Jamal’s wedding was a testament to the enduring beauty of Thai culture and the timeless values that unite generations. Beyond the ornate rituals and lavish celebrations lies a profound commitment to family, community, and the sacred bond of marriage. “I’m really blessed and appreciative that I’ve learned so much from my parents, my grandparents, and aunt,” says Lexi. “I’m just so happy that they helped me so far in life but also helped guide me with this ceremony. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have had this dream wedding!”
As Lexi and Jamal embark on their journey together, they carry the blessings of ancestors, the wisdom of tradition, and the promise of a future filled with happiness, prosperity, and the everlasting legacy of love patiently cultivated over time.
