For those of us in the US, we have an idea of what a typical American “anglo-saxon” wedding looks like. The dress, the cake, the reception, the vows – all pretty typical. The dress is white. The cake is either chocolate or vanilla. The reception has speeches from the bridal part. The vows incorporate 1st Corinthians 13.
But weddings aren’t what they once were. There isn’t a “traditional” wedding, anymore. Even the “traditional” weddings of today are very different than the “traditional” weddings of our parents’ and grandparents’ day. There’s a lot of change happening and much of it is due to the acceptance of different cultures’ traditions and customs. It’s fascinating!
I’ve had the honor of designing weddings all over the globe and for many intercultural marriages here in the US and I want to pass some of that information on to you. Whether you’re marrying into a different culture or you’re attending a wedding hosted by more “traditional” ( 
) family, you’re sure to fit right in! This week, we have a guest post from Sofia Angeli, a writer and blogger in the wedding and engagement ring industry.
What to Expect When You Attend a Muslim Cultural Wedding
Like all weddings, Muslim cultural weddings are preceded by a multitude of concerns, which include banquet halls, invitations, wedding feast menus, and gifts of jewelry (which may include the usual engagement rings). However, traditional Muslim weddings have many interesting features that are worth mentioning.
Muslim nuptials are grand activities that take into consideration not only the wishes of the bride and groom but their elders and families as well. The celebration can last for three days but this can vary, depending on how much a Muslim community adopted Western practices. In urban communities where getting families together is not possible, festivities have become simpler.
Basic Rules
During a Muslim wedding, especially when the families of the bride and the groom are devout believers, no wine and no pork will be served. In the Middle East and in conservative societies, men and women are seated separately. There is no dancing and no physical touching between men and women. In many cases, taking pictures is not allowed.
The Wedding Venue
Most conservative couples prefer to be married in a mosque, but more and more couples are opting to have their ceremony in other venues. If the wedding is held in a mosque, only the bride and groom can be adorned with flowers, but if the ceremony is held in a restaurant or a hotel, you can expect the usual beautiful floral adornments.
The Clothes
In countries where men and women still wear traditional clothes, you will be treated to the beautiful sight of ethnic wedding clothes. In the Middle East, India and Brunei, the bride and the groom may wear beautiful and elaborate versions of their traditional clothing. When Muslim weddings are held in non-Islamic places, the bride and the groom may wear Western style clothes, but these are typically modest and conservative in cut. Definitely, no décolletage is allowed and the bride’s arms and legs are covered.
Taking a hint from this dress code if you will be a guest in a Muslim wedding. You must wear clothes that are not revealing since this would be offensive to some conservative members of the wedding party.
Beautiful Traditions in Muslim Weddings
On the day of the wedding, it is the custom in many Islamic communities for the groom and his family to travel to the bride’s home to show that they welcome her into their clan. The groom’s party can travel in a motorcade or a procession. In many cases, the street immediately leading to the bride’s home is decorated with balloons and other decorations.
At the end of the wedding, the guests shower the couple with coins to symbolize prosperity, in the same way that couples are showered with rice in Christian weddings. After the main ceremony, the wedding party proceeds to the groom’s home where the father of the bride offers his daughter’s hand to the groom, asking him to take care of her. As the bride and groom enter their home as a couple for the first time, the mother of the bride holds the Holy Quran above her daughter’s head.
At the Heart of the Wedding
Some traditions in a Muslim cultural wedding may be similar to Christian weddings, while some may be vastly different. If you are invited to a Muslim friend’s wedding and you are not Muslim, know that it is an honor to be included among the guests. Use this time to see that beyond the ceremonies people surround themselves with, the foundation of weddings crosses culture. At the heart of a wedding, you will find a couple and their families hoping that this new family will prosper.
Author Bio:
Sofia Angeli is a PR & communications consultant for companies in various industries. In particular, she brings her writing skills and passion for travel, culture, arts and lifestyle, including wedding planning and engagement rings, to the online world.