Pelaminan Never

After being in a relationship with him since 2006, numerous break up, one cancelled engagement and lots of cuddles in between, we both finally have the guts to tie the knot. Although we didn't want to plan a big reception in the beginning, now I'm in the middle of designing a reception for 200 invitations. That's 400 people in the wedding world because apparently people don't come alone to weddings, so it's safe to prepare twice the amount of invitations for the buffet. So much for an intimate small wedding.

I should have gotten engaged to someone less "Indonesian". I know I sound like a total pretentious bitch but it's just that his family is so "Indonesian". His mother wants to invite everyone on her address book, thus the cheap catering and main stream venue (read: Balai Kartini, Balai Sudirman, what is it with the Balai balai lah), with a huge bridal stage or pelaminan, god I hate typing that word, pelaminan. I just don't get why this pelaminan is so damn big in all Indonesian weddings. Pelaminan are so faken tacky! The idea of having a huge stage covered with flowers with four single chairs for both side of the parents and a two seater in the middle for the bride and groom,  for the following purposes:
 1. For the bridal party : so all the guests get to stand in line waiting their turn to congratulate the couple and their parents
 2. For the guests : to take a mental picture of the bride's make up and outfit so there will something to bitch about while munching on the below par catering, ah another crap to bitch about.

Who came up with the idea of pelaminan in the first place anyway? I tried to google it, but no results. Also tried googling this : asal usul pelaminan, guna pelaminan. No results! Even google seems to think it's useless and the person who invented it should be considered non existent.