Muslim Wedding Traditions Photography 

Devarshi Photo has vast experience of capturing Hindu Wedding Photography in London and it will reflect in photography.

Mayun

One day before the wedding, the ceremony of mayun is performed at the couple’s respective homes. The prospective bride or groom is seated on a wooden plank called a Patri, and a red cloth is held above by four female relatives, while married women of the household and baradari led by the mother, rub a paste of turmeric, flour and mustard oil on his or her face, arms and legs. During the ritual women sing traditional songs and those of the baradari receive the ritual gift of gogley (Punjabi sweets specially cooked for weddings) at the end of the ceremony.

Mayun

Mehndi

The Mehndi Ceremony generally takes place the day before the wedding, in the morning. The bride and the groom’s family observe this ritual separately at their own residences. It is traditionally a women centric ceremony with the men of the family generally not participating. The outfits preferred for the ceremony are simple, in light colours, nothing too flashy. The venues are decked up with flowers and colourful draperies. The bride wears a light yellow or light green coloured Lehenga or Salwar Kameez with short sleeves preferably and the groom wears Kurta Pyjama also in light colours. It is not compulsory for the groom to wear Mehndi, but a little bit is applied on his hands and feet in simple dots or small designs. The ceremony also involves application of oil on the groom’s hair. The henna for the bride’s ceremony must arrive from the groom’s side along with some other gifts like fruits, dry fruits and sweets. Women of the house assemble, and the Mehndi is either applied by one of the bride’s relative or nowadays by professional Mehndi artists. Designs are more elaborate and depending on what the bride prefers, the henna is applied on the front and back of her palm, forearm, till above the elbows, and on the feet till below the knee. Elderly ladies sing traditional Mehndi songs with dholaks and other musical instruments. Women relatives of the bride also get Mehndi applied to their hands, although the designs are not as elaborate as the bridal Mehndi.

Nikaah

The actual Muslim wedding is known as a nikah. It is a simple ceremony, at which the bride does not have to be present so long as she sends two witnesses to the drawn-up agreement. Normally, the ceremony consists of reading from the Qur’an, and the exchange of vows in front of witnesses for both partners. No special religious official is necessary, but often the Imam is present and performs the ceremony. He may give a short sermon.

There are certain things which are basic to all Muslim marriages. Marriages must be declared publicly. They should never be undertaken in secret. The publicity is usually achieved by having a large feast, or walimah – a party specifically for the purpose of announcing publicly that the couple are married and entitled to each other.
Many wedding customs are a matter of culture and not of Islam. The bride and groom may be obliged to sit on ‘thrones’ on a platform, to be seen by the guests. They may receive gifts, or gifts of money.

Most brides favour a traditional white wedding dress, but brides from the Asian subcontinent often favour a shalwar-kameez outfit in scarlet with gold thread, and have their hands and feet patterned with henna. They might also have vast feasts with hundreds of guests, usually with the males in a separate room from the females. Other Muslims have simple celebratory parties with only close friends and relatives.

In some cultures, there may be dancing, firing of guns, lots of noise and hilarity. Asian weddings often include pre-nuptial parties and gathering too – the whole process may last several days.

Baraat

The Barat is a big event of Pakistani Wedding that takes place after the nikah. This is the day where the groom, his family, and friends come to take the bride away. This event is arranged purely by the family of the bride.

Arrangements of a modern-day Barat include the wedding hall, food, and photography.

Walima

It is the final dinner organised by the groom’s side once their marriage is official and it is a celebration of the two individuals coming together. Typically, the groom opts for a formal Western suit or tuxedo and the bride will wear a dazzling dress with gold jewellery provided by the groom.