Roomie A and I spent a week with our friend the week before her wedding. Here are a couple photos and some stories from the week...
The first few days were pretty chill without much extended family around. The afternoons were simple visits with close neighbors and friends. The party really got started on Tuesday.
Tuesday: Zuqara Day - The bride dresses up in traditional clothing and wears all the old traditional silver jewelry. In the morning neighbors and friends visited and in the afternoon there was a party for her. At the party we danced to LOUD music, drank tea and talked with friends in between the songs.
This is me modeling one of the bride's scarves. At this party she usually wears a scarf like this that only shows her eyes along with all the silver jewelry. I found it interesting that they actually don't have antique jewelry passed on in their family, but rather they rented it from the silver market!
This is how we dressed for that party...
Wednesday: Washing Day - In the morning the bride bathes in scented oils and perfumes for hours while her family and neighbors sing, chant and play drums for her. In the afternoon there is another party where the bride wears a prom type dress and has her hair styled. Again, there was loud music, drinking tea, snacks, and of course dancing!
They use this to scent all the clothing the bride wears during the week before the wedding on the honeymoon. They burn incense over coals in the white thing on the floor all the way on the left and put it under the “birdcage.” They sprinkle the clothes with a couple perfumes and stack them over the cage.
This is my roommate modeling the Washing Day dress. We had 'henna' done our arms also, which is typical for close friends and family to do the week of a wedding. The bride also has it done.
Thursday: "Free" Day - We were told this day nothing was going on; however, they killed three sheep and invited at least 30 women and at least that many men to eat with them. Afterwards we went to pick up our dress from the tailor, meanwhile back at the house they were having another party with loud music, drinking tea, and dancing!
Friday: Wedding Day - By Thursday night Roomie A and I had reached our breaking point of culture and language so we left and slept in our own beds. Friday morning we missed all the craziness of fighting over mirrors and everyone doing their hair to get ready for the wedding. However we did show up to the wedding much more sane after our restful morning. The wedding is held in a reception hall. Only women are allowed in the hall and no cameras or cell phones with cameras are allowed in so that their picture will not end up in the hands of any men. When you enter the hall you are handed a bag with water, soda, and a snack inside. There is loud music playing and girls dancing. At around 6pm the bride enters and slowly walks down the elevated aisle (catwalk) while all her friends clap, sing, and chant for her. At 7:30 or 8pm the announcer warns the women saying "men are coming" and all the women put on their black robes and head scarves before the men enter. The bride's father and brothers come
in and take her back down the aisle to meet her groom. She and the groom come up the aisle again and take some pictures while everyone else is chanting and clapping. The bride and groom cut the cake and feed each other and give each other a drink of soda. They sit awhile and then leave down the aisle for the last time. After family and friends ride in a parade of cars and buses behind the bride and grooms car chanting and clapping and driving crazy until they finally arrive at the bride and groom's new house.
These are the dresses Roomie A and I had made for the Wedding Day...
It was a fun, but exhausting week with so much activity (in another language!). I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of a local wedding!
