There are many regional wedding traditions, both old and new, that can add a unique flair to your wedding! The Middle East is full of rich and varied wedding customs. Here are a few you may want to consider including in your own special day:
Middle East:
- Candy covered almonds are originate from here! This traditional treat is often the same color as the bride’s dress. They represent both the bitterness and sweetness of married life. There’s numerous ways to include sugared almonds into your wedding, but including them as wedding favors is a current custom. You could also use them as cake toppers!
- In Jewish ceremonies, it is actually the groom who veils the bride! This traditional ceremony is called “B’deken” and stems from a story about Jacob, who was tricked into marrying his lover’s sister. This ceremony is also intended ty symbolize the groom’s love for his bride’s inner beauty. What a great way to showcase your Jewish heritage before the ceremony!
- An interesting Arabic wedding tradition involves the groom and a close friend of the bride (like the maid of honor, or her sister) picking up the bride in a fancy automobile. The rest of the family follows them in a procession of cars, almost like a personal parade. This unique tradition could easily be incorporated into your own wedding — renting a fancy old-fashioned car or a sleek modern vehicle would make for great pictures!
- A unique Iranian wedding ritual involves a cup of honey. Immediately after being pronounced as husband and wife the lucky couple should each dip one pinky finger into honey and feed it to their new spouse. This is intended to symbolize how the new couple will be there to sweeten each others lives. What a tasty way to conclude the ceremony!
These ceremonies can add a deeply personal touch to your special day. Any of these rituals would serve to make your wedding fun, romantic, and symbolic of you and your fiance’s devotion to each other!