Do you know how do Egyptians celebrate their weddings?

Question

If someone could help me I would appreciate it very much! My boyfriend is Muslim and he lives in Egypt and I am Christian living in America.

We would like to get married and I am looking for information how are the weddings in Egypt:

Wedding licence, engagement celebration, the wedding itself, traditions and things that could help me knowing more about how weddings are in Egypt.

For your help THANKS. Please just serious answers.

Answer 1

It is a lot simpler than you might first think. First of all, no need for a marriage license, does not exist here. Engagment celebrations are usually on a small scale. You invite family and friends to a party either at home or in a hotel ballroom, DJ, dancing etc.

The wedding it self is very similar to western weddings take out the priest of course. Usually in a big ballroom at night or in a garden in the afternoon. Again a lot of dancing, cutting the cake as a symbol of inviting the attendees to eat, followed by exchanging the ring from your right hand to the left as a sign the couple is now married. That replaces the priest saying I now pronounce you husband and wife.

The main difference is that there will be no priest or sheikh. You have no choice but to have a civil union (marriage), more like a contract that aknowledges the union. There wont be a religious ceremony.

Weddings and engagments are strikingly similar. You invite more people to a wedding, like co-wrokers, long lost friends etc and weddings usually cost a fortune.

I do not know if u guys have a financial arrangment or not but traditionally, the groom gets the house, ring, dowry, all household related appliances. The bride handles the furniture and engagement expenses.

The process is huge, took me 4 months of preparations to finalize my wedding. It is a beautiful event that u will always remember and cherich, but the setup is very tough. I am egyptian and it took me 6 stressful months to get it done.

Let me know if u need any more info

Answer 2

I presume you are having a city wedding - you will get married in an office for foreigners (ministry of Justice, 4h. floor Lazoughly,Cairo). You will then have the wedding ceremony which will be a noisy celebration (don't forget ear plugs), in a hotel, private club or if space permits in the family home. Lots of music, belly dancing, singing, food and sharbat (a sweet drink),and maybe alcohol depending on whether the family is religious. The US embassy (Cairo) site explains very clearly what is required for a legal marriage and the how to have yr marriage certified by the Embassy. Hope this is useful and congratulation - just make sure that yr marriage is made at the Ministry of Justice and Certified by the US Embassy.

Answer 3

ok. i can be serious.
my answer is: very loudly.

Answer 4

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199505/family.affairs-weddings.in.egypt.htm

http://www.zawaj.com/weddingways_main.html

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/weddings.htm