As I find myself preparing to attend my third wedding since moving to my new home, I can't help but to draw a few comparisons to the weddings I'm more familiar with back in the U.S. - including our own beautifully simple ceremony.
Jeremy and I planned on a budget, but were extremely happy with our results. My dress was perfect - as was his fantastic tuxedo, we served a light meal that everyone seemed to enjoy, and we even found a way around the alcohol ban at our chosen location with a makeshift open bar set up in the parking lot out of the backs of trucks and my uncle's camper (but shhhhh....that part is supposed to be a secret!). Our wedding was everything we hoped it would be, and allowed us to spend a little more on a honeymoon we equally enjoyed.
Weddings here offer a glimpse into a whole new world (yes - I mean for you to think of Jasmine and Aladdin with that line - it is the Middle East, after all). This world is one where money is NO object and opulence is an absolute necessity. In a country where citizens are treated to jaw-dropping monetary rewards by their government just to get married, one would expect no less than a wedding to end all weddings. Even with the generous amounts of dirhams the U.A.E. bequeaths to its citizens with pending nuptials, it's evident that some families deem the donations too small. Thus, they throw some of their own savings at the bride and groom to ensure that the wedding is one to remember.
Let's start with the setting. Muslim weddings are far different from the Christian ones many of us are more familiar with. The men and women must be separated. Often, and indeed, this is true for all three weddings I've attended so far, women are allowed to view the festivities that the male guests attend on screens positioned throughout the wedding hall. Speaking of the wedding hall, picture the most lavish wedding decor you have ever seen. Now add about $30,000 of extra glitz and glam to that picture and you might be close to the usual decor displayed at a U.A.E. wedding. Here is a picture I found that looks very much like one of the weddings I attended:
While the women are allowed to view the men, the male party is NOT allowed to view the women's party. Why? Good gracious - you should SEE what the women wear to these things!!! It might as well be a red carpet party or a royal ball for all the effort the women put into dressing up for all their lady friends. And ladies, we know we dress for other women - so you can imagine the undercurrents of envy that float through the wedding hall when a best-dressed lady walks by. Women here are used to being covered, and a wedding is a time for them to celebrate being beautiful, fancy, and fashionable divas - which many of them take to heart! The following photo is of a dress that would be for a bride back home in the states, but I saw a guest dressed in almost the same style - and her dress was of modest price compared to many of the others!
The bride is the centerpiece of the whole affair, as should be the custom. Usually, she arrives about two hours after the party begins. Her entrance is a dramatic affair, with loud, climactic music penetrating the hall and the ears of all guests and a twenty minute slow parade down the catwalk to center stage as photographers snap shot after shot. This part seemed odd to me at first, but I find myself staring as the bride makes her way down the raised platform - awestruck by her amazing dress. Here is a photo I found from the site http://khaleejia.blogspot.com/2009/10/wedding-dresses-gulf-style-3.html - where you can see many other styles typically chosen by brides here. I can't (and don't want to) imagine the cost of these dresses state-side.
The bride sits on the stage for a little while after her arrival and the women continue to party. Often, friends of the bride - or any guests brave enough - venture to the platform to dance and show off their dresses. After a warning announcement for all faithful women to cover themselves, the new husband and other important males in the family are allowed to come into the party - but only for a very brief time. Then, they are ushered out again, and the women-only festivities continue.
And how could I describe these lavish affairs without mentioning the food. Wow. There are trays upon trays upon trays of food. Servers start by bringing out traditional appetizers of bread, hummous, vegetables, salads and various finger foods. Most of the time, the main course is an extraordinary plate of half of a roast goat and pounds of rice placed at each table for the guests to serve themselves. I know - I like goats too and think they're the cutest part at the petting zoo....but MAN is this dish delicious!
I'm sure I've just barely scratched the surface in my description of the opulence that is the U.A.E. wedding - and I'm certain I've forgotten some of the important parts. But hopefully this provides at least a glimpse of life in a completely different world.
Also, it's important to note that while the reception that I've described screams of lavishness, the actual wedding ceremony is very small and has already taken place before all of these events even begin. This ceremony is for close family only and I honestly can't say exactly what happens there - though I know they are very traditional and humble.
As amazing as these weddings are, I wouldn't take a do-over if I was offered the same kind of ceremony. Jeremy and/or I personally knew every single guest at our wedding. Here, I've only met one of the brides personally from the three weddings I've attended! The intimate, personal ceremony and reception fit Jeremy and I much better than the lavish U.A.E. style...but they definitely are an experience to watch!
(Note: taking pictures at these weddings is not exactly allowed, so I had to pull photos from other sites. Here is a reference for where the other pictures came from:
Decor photo - http://www.invent-uae.com/blog/tag/event-decor/
Party dress - http://www.paklinks.com/gs/wedding/327994
Wedding dress - http://khaleejia.blogspot.com/2009/10/wedding-dresses-gulf-style-3.html
Food photo - http://www.letseat.at/medina/gallery)
Jeremy and I planned on a budget, but were extremely happy with our results. My dress was perfect - as was his fantastic tuxedo, we served a light meal that everyone seemed to enjoy, and we even found a way around the alcohol ban at our chosen location with a makeshift open bar set up in the parking lot out of the backs of trucks and my uncle's camper (but shhhhh....that part is supposed to be a secret!). Our wedding was everything we hoped it would be, and allowed us to spend a little more on a honeymoon we equally enjoyed.
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| Our beautiful wedding at the Shelton Wedding Chapel in Iona, Idaho |
Weddings here offer a glimpse into a whole new world (yes - I mean for you to think of Jasmine and Aladdin with that line - it is the Middle East, after all). This world is one where money is NO object and opulence is an absolute necessity. In a country where citizens are treated to jaw-dropping monetary rewards by their government just to get married, one would expect no less than a wedding to end all weddings. Even with the generous amounts of dirhams the U.A.E. bequeaths to its citizens with pending nuptials, it's evident that some families deem the donations too small. Thus, they throw some of their own savings at the bride and groom to ensure that the wedding is one to remember.
Let's start with the setting. Muslim weddings are far different from the Christian ones many of us are more familiar with. The men and women must be separated. Often, and indeed, this is true for all three weddings I've attended so far, women are allowed to view the festivities that the male guests attend on screens positioned throughout the wedding hall. Speaking of the wedding hall, picture the most lavish wedding decor you have ever seen. Now add about $30,000 of extra glitz and glam to that picture and you might be close to the usual decor displayed at a U.A.E. wedding. Here is a picture I found that looks very much like one of the weddings I attended:
While the women are allowed to view the men, the male party is NOT allowed to view the women's party. Why? Good gracious - you should SEE what the women wear to these things!!! It might as well be a red carpet party or a royal ball for all the effort the women put into dressing up for all their lady friends. And ladies, we know we dress for other women - so you can imagine the undercurrents of envy that float through the wedding hall when a best-dressed lady walks by. Women here are used to being covered, and a wedding is a time for them to celebrate being beautiful, fancy, and fashionable divas - which many of them take to heart! The following photo is of a dress that would be for a bride back home in the states, but I saw a guest dressed in almost the same style - and her dress was of modest price compared to many of the others!
The bride is the centerpiece of the whole affair, as should be the custom. Usually, she arrives about two hours after the party begins. Her entrance is a dramatic affair, with loud, climactic music penetrating the hall and the ears of all guests and a twenty minute slow parade down the catwalk to center stage as photographers snap shot after shot. This part seemed odd to me at first, but I find myself staring as the bride makes her way down the raised platform - awestruck by her amazing dress. Here is a photo I found from the site http://khaleejia.blogspot.com/2009/10/wedding-dresses-gulf-style-3.html - where you can see many other styles typically chosen by brides here. I can't (and don't want to) imagine the cost of these dresses state-side.
And how could I describe these lavish affairs without mentioning the food. Wow. There are trays upon trays upon trays of food. Servers start by bringing out traditional appetizers of bread, hummous, vegetables, salads and various finger foods. Most of the time, the main course is an extraordinary plate of half of a roast goat and pounds of rice placed at each table for the guests to serve themselves. I know - I like goats too and think they're the cutest part at the petting zoo....but MAN is this dish delicious!
I'm sure I've just barely scratched the surface in my description of the opulence that is the U.A.E. wedding - and I'm certain I've forgotten some of the important parts. But hopefully this provides at least a glimpse of life in a completely different world.
Also, it's important to note that while the reception that I've described screams of lavishness, the actual wedding ceremony is very small and has already taken place before all of these events even begin. This ceremony is for close family only and I honestly can't say exactly what happens there - though I know they are very traditional and humble.
As amazing as these weddings are, I wouldn't take a do-over if I was offered the same kind of ceremony. Jeremy and/or I personally knew every single guest at our wedding. Here, I've only met one of the brides personally from the three weddings I've attended! The intimate, personal ceremony and reception fit Jeremy and I much better than the lavish U.A.E. style...but they definitely are an experience to watch!
(Note: taking pictures at these weddings is not exactly allowed, so I had to pull photos from other sites. Here is a reference for where the other pictures came from:
Decor photo - http://www.invent-uae.com/blog/tag/event-decor/
Party dress - http://www.paklinks.com/gs/wedding/327994
Wedding dress - http://khaleejia.blogspot.com/2009/10/wedding-dresses-gulf-style-3.html
Food photo - http://www.letseat.at/medina/gallery)
