'Our love has never changed': M'sian man holds 'ghost wedding' for late fiancée

A Malaysian couple’s plans for a November 2026 wedding were tragically cut short when the bride-to-be unexpectedly passed away on Jun. 23.

The deceased, an influencer and livestreamer known as "SaKira Saw" on Facebook, had her wake held at a funeral parlour in Penang the following day.

To honour their commitment, her fiancé, John, organised a "ghost wedding" ceremony on Jun. 28, the final day of her funeral, to commemorate the union they never got to share.

John had shared a wedding invitation via SaKira’s Facebook account, inviting guests to attend the ceremony instead of their originally planned wedding.

A ghost marriage is a traditional custom where one or both parties are deceased, typically involving ritual offerings to ensure the couple can be wed in the spiritual realm.

The ceremony

John shared a video of the ceremony on Jun. 28, which showed an aisle decorated with flowers, balloons, and photos of SaKira leading up to her coffin.

Offerings and joss sticks were placed on a table at the front.

A video montage of SaKira with her family and friends played in the background as they walked down the aisle in formal attire.

John, who wore a blazer and a t-shirt, carried a bouquet and a life-sized standee of SaKira in a wedding dress.

John was then seen slipping a ring onto his own finger before leaning over the coffin and breaking down in tears.

The event also included a traditional tea ceremony, a cake-cutting session, performances, and the burning of paper offerings.

'Our love has never changed'

Following the ceremony, John penned a tribute post to his late fiancée, addressing her in Hokkien as his "Sui Boh", a Hokkien term meaning "beautiful wife".

He expressed regret that they could not hold their wedding at the hotel as promised and had to fulfil their vows under these circumstances instead.

Nonetheless, he believed that she could feel "the full weight of (his) love and sincerity".

He wrote:

"But in the next lifetime, I will definitely find you again, and be with you forever."

John added that she will always be the "greatest Superwoman" in his heart, promising to look after their children and family while waiting for the day they meet again.

"Our love has never changed, not even by half a fraction, because of this parting."