Getting Married!

[HoneyandSonny 0]

Finally after all the trials and tribulations we are finally getting married next saturday! Iam so happy that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now the only thing we will have to worry about are the little arrangements for the party/wedding contract signing. Although we are finally getting married i will be at the mercy of my SIL's since they will most likely control all aspects of the event. Iam just suppose to sit and look pretty and I know this will be difficult for me...I like helping out and planning. Anyway, I think the only downer here is that there are no real traditions...you don't wear henna, or wear multiple dresses. Perhaps Lebanon is different from the rest of the middle east in that respect...There is a bigger emphasis on family, socializing and looking good at the wedding. Iam just curious for those of you who had your wedding abroad...I noticed here that the dresses are super expensive even for a simple dress one has to fork out alot of money. I just wanted to know if its like that around the rest of the MENA.

[~ameriptian~ 54]

Congratulations!! May your big day comes out greater than you expect!

[ridasgirl 1]

Congrats to you both. May u have a long and happy life together.

[Cheryl & Medo 3]

Congratulations!!

[100% Al Ahly Fan 53]

Finally after all the trials and tribulations we are finally getting married next saturday! Iam so happy that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now the only thing we will have to worry about are the little arrangements for the party/wedding contract signing. Although we are finally getting married i will be at the mercy of my SIL's since they will most likely control all aspects of the event. Iam just suppose to sit and look pretty and I know this will be difficult for me...I like helping out and planning. Anyway, I think the only downer here is that there are no real traditions...you don't wear henna, or wear multiple dresses. Perhaps Lebanon is different from the rest of the middle east in that respect...There is a bigger emphasis on family, socializing and looking good at the wedding. Iam just curious for those of you who had your wedding abroad...I noticed here that the dresses are super expensive even for a simple dress one has to fork out alot of money. I just wanted to know if its like that around the rest of the MENA.

Alf mabrook!! Gotta say that what you said is how most Egyptian weddings are like that I have attended here in the U.S. I've only been to an Egyptian wedding in Egypt when I was around 8 years old and again it was the same thing. I also attended a few in Saudi Arabia when I lived there as a kid and well, let's just say that was a different experience. I think most of the MENA region involves FAMILY, FOOD, FRIENDLYNESS (trying to stick to the F thing was hard, hee hee) and FASHION As for our ceremony, it was a very small, just immediate family. We didn't want a BIG thing...just not my cup of tea. As for a dress, I brought one with me (my luggage got lost - which was almost a disaster), so I can't advise on a dress, but in Egypt you can rent dresses. I am certain you could in Lebanon is my guess.

Anyhow, I'm sure it will be wonderful!!! Best wishes!

[~Jess~ 0]

Congrats on setting the date to marry!!!!

Goodluck on all the arrangements!! Take lots of pictures!!

Im not sure on any of the details because we got married in the states and havent had a wedding in Lebanon yet.

[Ihavequestions 419]

Iam just curious for those of you who had your wedding abroad...I noticed here that the dresses are super expensive even for a simple dress one has to fork out alot of money. I just wanted to know if its like that around the rest of the MENA.

Yeah, the traditional western wedding dresses are very expensive to buy so it's not unusual for the bride to wear a rented gown.

Mabrook! Mabrook! Mabrook!

[faryan 4]

oohh, congrats! :thumbs:

[chaishai 1]

Finally after all the trials and tribulations we are finally getting married next saturday! Iam so happy that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now the only thing we will have to worry about are the little arrangements for the party/wedding contract signing. Although we are finally getting married i will be at the mercy of my SIL's since they will most likely control all aspects of the event. Iam just suppose to sit and look pretty and I know this will be difficult for me...I like helping out and planning. Anyway, I think the only downer here is that there are no real traditions...you don't wear henna, or wear multiple dresses. Perhaps Lebanon is different from the rest of the middle east in that respect...There is a bigger emphasis on family, socializing and looking good at the wedding. Iam just curious for those of you who had your wedding abroad...I noticed here that the dresses are super expensive even for a simple dress one has to fork out alot of money. I just wanted to know if its like that around the rest of the MENA.

in israel you rent them. but you are still paying ridiculous amts of money, usually for something hideous. i brought my own.

[Amoon 0]

I got married in Jordan. There were lots of shops in Irbid, the city my husband lives in. We paid a flat rate to rent a dress (they had lots to choose from and they weren't so bad looking---see my pic below) and the price included fixing my hair and makeup. It was about $100 so I don't think that was too bad. We couldn't have the traditional Jordanian wedding (big huge party with fireworks & singers, dancing and lots of music) because my husband's brother in law passed away a week before I arrived so the family was still in mourning. But we did gather a lot of his family and had cake and drinks and lots of pictures. My MIL did all the arrangements and I was actually very happy she did! Everything was great. I was able to pick out my dress and my husband's two younger sisters were there with me the whole day in the salon so I got the chance to bond with them, although we were speaking with hand signals to each other the whole time!! Lol. We had a separate ceremony a few days before...the signing of the wedding contract with the man from the court at my husband's house...several family members and friends were there and I got to wear the hijab and abaya. It is an experience that I will never forget!!

[CasandraYounes 0]

Congrats and try to make this event all about you, don't worry about all of the little things that make you unhappy...I don't know how it is across different MENA cultures, but for me in Morocco, it seemed to be a lot involved in the whole celebration. Henna, dresses, cookies, candy, cake, hair, make-up. Just for an engagement party that was close to $600 or $800. Try to make the wedding what you can and what you're comfortable with spending. You want this to be about you and your soon-to-be hubby. I hope that it proves to be a memorable day for you.

Edited June 27, 2009 by CasandraYounes

[Aymsgirl 0]

I wish you a blessed marriage and a lifetime of beautiful memories.

[Krissy! 0]

Mabrook! Enjoy your day, and I wish you a blessed marriage!

(Haven't had a wedding in Jordan yet... we married at a courthouse here in the States)

[HoneyandSonny 0]

Thanks everyone for the congrats! Its getting really stressful, i really wish my mil would have taken care of the arrangements but since she is older and can't get around very well. I have a feeling that Iam turning into a bridzella! LOL...maybe this happens to all new brides. Just curious for those of you that are married and you hubby is overseas, how did you file your taxes? I read somewhere that although your husband is a alien for tax purposes you claim them as a resident? If anyone knows more about this please let me know...thanks!

[Ramialbali 23]

Finally after all the trials and tribulations we are finally getting married next saturday! Iam so happy that we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now the only thing we will have to worry about are the little arrangements for the party/wedding contract signing. Although we are finally getting married i will be at the mercy of my SIL's since they will most likely control all aspects of the event. Iam just suppose to sit and look pretty and I know this will be difficult for me...I like helping out and planning. Anyway, I think the only downer here is that there are no real traditions...you don't wear henna, or wear multiple dresses. Perhaps Lebanon is different from the rest of the middle east in that respect...There is a bigger emphasis on family, socializing and looking good at the wedding. Iam just curious for those of you who had your wedding abroad...I noticed here that the dresses are super expensive even for a simple dress one has to fork out alot of money. I just wanted to know if its like that around the rest of the MENA.

Congratulations!!

We had our wedding in my country, Palestine. Wedding here depends on the family or the area's tradition. But, there are common things most families do. It starts three days before the main party. Shopping day " clothes, make-up, rent or buy dresses, buy gold" mostly for the bride and the groom pay for everything which cast a lot. Is it fair ?!!!. The second day is for the gold and Hennah parties. The groom goes to the bride's house, "Usually people do it in a hall", to give her the gold and do the Hennah for her including dancing, music and screaming . Then when the groom finishes, he goes back to his own Hennah party with his friends and family. People dancing and do the traditional Palestinian dancing "Dabka". In the last day, the main party "white dress", the groom takes his bath "Hammam" in the afternoon in his house or somebody's else " usually friends invite the groom" and sit in the living room waiting people "men" to come and congrats him and give him money which is my favorite part " sometime, he gets most of the money that he spended in the wedding back". after people congrats him, they go for lunch. Here some families after the lunch do something different which is "Zafah" Old Palestinian tradition. The groom ride a hours while friends and families dancing and singing in the groom's neighborhood which awesome. In the same time the bride has her own party in her house with her friends and family waiting the groom to come, but I do not know that much about it because I have never attended women party except mine, and it was different. After the groom finishes, he goes with his friends and family by 10s of cars to bring the bride and go to the main party together where they can exchange rings, cake, first dance and music. And some families when they finish from the this, they do men party include dinner for the guests at the evening in their neighborhood and bring singer and dance until late night.It is crazy right! But, not all families do everything because of the money issue and the situation here. It is crazy right!! May be I forgot or confused in many things.

We just did the main party in one day because we could not afford to do everything. Congrats again and enjoy your wedding and try to not worry about small little details.

Edited June 28, 2009 by Rami-Becky