How long do islamic weddings last

Culturally, men do not wear mehndi. In more conservative gatherings, an invitation to the Mendhi party is only extended to women. The nikkah is the wedding ceremony, and it is relatively short and simple.

The nikkah usually takes place in a mosque but can happen anywhere like at a hotel ballroom or in a home. If the nikkah is taking place in a mosque, guests will be asked to remove their shoes out of respect for the holy space. In addition to the bride and groom, the key people in the nikkah are the parents of the couple, two witnesses from both sides, and the Imam , or spiritual leader who officiates the wedding.

Maher in Urdu is the dowry the husband presents to his bride before he is able to see her. Today, the dowry is usually in the form of a wedding ring.

It is something of financial value the bride can take with her should she want or need to leave her husband. After the dowry is presented by the groom and accepted by the bride, the Imam asks the couple to recite vows. A religious marriage contract is then read aloud by the Imam and signed by both the bride and groom. Guests can choose to also recite the prayer or observe quietly. At the end of the ceremony, the Imam will ask the guests to bring their hands together to pray for the couple.

Once the Maher is presented, the vows are said, and the marriage contract is signed, the couple holds up the Quran and a mirror to view their reflections for the first time as husband and wife. This is called Arsi Mushaf. Arsi means mirror and Mushaf means the Holy Quran. The family will hold a dupatta, a long decorated fabric, over the heads of the couple.

This is his grand entrance to his wedding celebration Shaadi. Customarily, he arrives on a heavily decorated white horse and is preceded by his family and friends dancing to loud Bollywood or bhangra music.

In more modern or western weddings, he may arrive by a luxury or vintage car instead. The Shaadi usually takes place on the same day as the nikah. At the start of the Shaadi, guests will stand and watch as the bride is escorted down an aisle by her parents to a stage where she will sit with her groom. He may not hope to see his shoes again until he pays each family member off with cash.

The Valima is the reception and final event of the days-long wedding celebration. The rukhsati concludes the entire wedding celebration where guests gather to say farewell to the newly married couple.

This is an especially bittersweet moment for the bride because traditionally, this is the moment she is leaving behind her childhood and her parents to live with her new husband. Start here. Build Your Vendor Team. Wedding Website. Find a Couple's Website. Check Out Top Designs. Save the Dates. Change the Dates. Invitations Invitations. Thank Yous. Shop by Style Shop by Style.

Shop The Knot Invitations. Start a Registry. Add Store Registries. Cash Funds. The Knot Charity Program. Find a Couple's Registry. Kitchen Kitchen. Tabletop Tabletop. Home Home. Lifestyle Lifestyle. Experiences Experiences. Shop Top Collections. Wedding Dresses Wedding Dresses. Bridesmaid Dresses. Mother of the Bride Dresses. Flower Girl Dresses. Engagement Rings Engagement Rings.

Wedding Rings. Wedding Jewelry. Wedding Accessories. Get Fashion Inspiration. Engagement Engagement. Travel Travel. Fashion Fashion. Gifts Gifts. Sponsored by Men's Wearhouse. Log In. Muslim Wedding Ceremony Rituals. Barbara Alessandra Photography. The bride and groom may be obliged to sit on 'thrones' on a platform, to be seen by the guests. They may receive gifts, or money.

The majority of brides favour a traditional white wedding dress. Some Muslim weddings might consist of vast feasts with hundreds of guests, usually with the males in a separate room from the females.

Other Muslims have simple celebratory parties with only close friends and relatives.