Ceremonies that pay homage to a rich cultural heritage and tradition, several changes of traditional clothes and shoes , incessant dances and festivities, an explosion of colors, music and local dishes: Moroccan weddings are nothing less than a splendid spectacle.
Rich hues, silky textures and distinct Moroccan lanterns provide the perfect backdrop for the traditional Moroccan wedding experience.
You think you know everything that goes into a wedding, but Moroccan weddings take the decor, customs, traditions, and celebration to a whole new level. In this article, find out what a Moroccan wedding looks like.
What happens at a Moroccan wedding?
First of all, when we talk about Moroccan weddings, we are not really talking about wedding vows. In Morocco, the wedding takes place before the celebration. It is a small ceremony called Drib Sdak, during which the groom and the bride sign a marriage contract in the presence of witnesses, usually members of their family, and an Adoul, a Moroccan notary.
The festive and colorful three-day event is actually the wedding celebration, which is similar to a reception in other cultures.
Hammam Day
The first day marks the beginning of a new chapter in the bride's life. Custom dictates that she undergoes a purification ritual by visiting the hammam, a traditional sauna, to prepare for married life. The visit lasts all day and the bride is accompanied by her friends and relatives.
The Henna Festival
The next day, the henna festival takes place: the bride gathers her relatives and friends to have her hands and feet tattooed with henna. This plant-based dye has long been used in Morocco to create complex and symbolic temporary tattoos. They are said to symbolize good luck, beauty and fertility.
Moroccan wedding
The third day is the climax of the pre-wedding festivities. Guests gather at the wedding venue and hand over their gifts for the couple . The festivities are attended by the groom and his family. Everyone awaits the arrival of the bride, who will arrive in an amaria (an elaborate covered platform, carried by 4 to 6 men), usually accompanied by the Neggafates, the master planners.
During the party: The bride removes the amaria and sits next to the groom on a raised sofa. Guests can come and sit near them and take pictures. It is customary for the bride to change her traditional white wedding dress into several outfits throughout the party. A two-part takshita is usually worn, which consists of a first layer dress and an over-dress that usually buttons up the front.
The couple shares the last dance, eats cake, joins in the festivities and observes a few other traditions before departing for the wedding night.
After the party: The couple leaves the party in a parade of cars through the streets, stopping at a few places to take pictures with friends and families who join the convoy. They then head to the groom's house, where the bride's mother-in-law usually welcomes the newlyweds with dates and milk.
There is no standard way to celebrate a Moroccan wedding. While some weddings are elaborate and filled with decorations, others can be quite simple and involve only a small gathering. But, regardless of how different Moroccan weddings are celebrated, their common denominator is that marriage remains an important part of the country's culture and an opportunity for families to come together and celebrate.
"
