That dream finally came true on her special day when she and her partner, Fildzuan Jefry, chose to revive the fading Orang Asli tradition by wearing tree-bark outfits crafted specially for the occasion.
According to the 29-year-old – a member of the Jakun indigenous community from Rompin, Pahang – tree-bark attire is more than just clothing: it is a symbol of identity rich in history and cultural value for her people.
She said given that the material is hard to obtain, many Malaysians are unaware of the existence of such a unique cultural heritage.
“Once I wore a tree-bark outfit to an event, and people were so excited to see it. So I decided to wear one at my wedding, not only to preserve our heritage but also to introduce our culture to guests who had never seen it before.”
Normaliati added that she had also worn a similar outfit at special events such as National Day celebrations.
The wedding outfits, she revealed, took about a month to complete. They were handcrafted by an elderly woman, Lisa Samad, who still practises traditional methods, including sourcing terap bark directly from the forest, cleaning it, and soaking it repeatedly to soften it for wear.
“Lisa, who is 70 years old, sewed my wedding dress. The material is a bit heavy and stiff, but after being soaked multiple times, it becomes comfortable. I wore an inner layer to make it easier to wear,” Normaliati shared.
She decided to pair her wedding dress with a traditional handwoven bouquet and hair ornaments crafted by her community.
The two-day celebration was steeped in tradition, complete with customary engagement and river-bathing ceremonies for the groom, followed by a bersanding ceremony in accordance with Jakun customs.
The event was also enlivened by a performance of sewang, a traditional Orang Asli dance usually performed to welcome the groom’s entourage.
“Many Malaysians don’t know what Orang Asli customs are like, including our wedding traditions. So, I hope that by doing this, our culture can be more widely recognised and appreciated,” said Normaliati, a Bachelor of Science Education degree holder from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
Meanwhile, wedding planner Hanizan Bakar, the owner of Asha Wedding Studio, was thrilled to be part of such a meaningful celebration, describing it as an extraordinary experience.
She was pleasantly surprised when videos of the bride and groom, which she uploaded to social media, quickly went viral.
“I was initially worried the outfits wouldn’t be completed on time due to the difficulty of sourcing the materials. Moreover, the elder who made it required great mental and physical strength,” said Hanizan, who has 15 years of experience in wedding planning.
She hopes such exposure will raise awareness and appreciation for Malaysia’s diverse cultural heritage.