Egyptian wedding.. next steps?

[NY_BX 397]

Because of the whole "white wedding" thing. The only thing that makes it a "white wedding" is the dress color and that's pretty standard attire. I suppose you could have the same experience without the white dress, no?

Anyone who has been to a wedding will have seen all this stuff before.

well, except for ours, LOL!

Beach, margaritas/ piña coladas/ and other daiquiris, hookas full of other enjoyable smoking materials, reggae band and salsa orchestra, and lots of sea food.

I believe every single human should has the right to be as original and creative as s/he wants. That includes, creating our own traditions.

[Mithra 1,185]

Well naturally not all weddings are the same. I'm talking about your standard - white dress, flowers, hair, makeup, pictures, reception, gifts, etc. Most people have been to at least one traditional wedding - Egyptian or otherwise. My first wedding was your standard, traditional wedding. Pretty much exactly as described by Dr. A only minus the tamborines plus a reception at a banquet hall. My second was far more simple and non traditional. Both were nice in their own way.

well, except for ours, LOL!

Beach, margaritas/ piña coladas/ and other daiquiris, hookas full of other enjoyable smoking materials, reggae band and salsa orchestra, and lots of sea food.

I believe every single human should has the right to be as original and creative as s/he wants. That includes, creating our own traditions.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Because of the whole "white wedding" thing. The only thing that makes it a "white wedding" is the dress color and that's pretty standard attire. I suppose you could have the same experience without the white dress, no?

Anyone who has been to a wedding will have seen all this stuff before.

Ah I see. Yes white wedding religious ceremony. When I say white wedding I think of the 80's song that refers to the traditional wedding with the white wedding dress.

I've been to some uncommon weddings in Egypt between Egyptians and foreigners. One was a berber style wedding in the desert with tents and the whole wedding party around a campfire and exotic belly dancers. It was very different but still a wedding. I've read on here about weddings in Alexandria being very elaborate in hotel conference rooms with glass windows over looking the Sea and lots of lavish crystal lighting and decor but they still had the traditional white wedding and the traditional Egyptian wedding with the blaring local music and the couple sitting in the chairs on the podium being gawked at while while their many guest criticize the location, or their choice of colors, or their pick in music, or the food.

There was something else I thought was important to mention for someone marrying in Egypt. The marriage contract that you sign is all in Arabic. So if it's not your native language I suggest getting an attorney for negotiations and an official translation, or a person who can translate it for you that you trust, before you sign it and put your thumb print on five duplicate documents. Even if it's in good faith you should probably know what you're signing. I wasn't prepared for that. Also you can add an official addendum to the marriage contract if there is something you're not comfortable with. For foreigners the only place you can sign the marriage contract is at the Ministry of Justice otherwise known as the place you can marry. So you won't have the experience of going through the Islamic wedding and then signing the paperwork in front of friends and family and exchanging rings like the locals. You can have everything else though you just have to get the paperwork done before hand. I have read some people successfully turning their Orfi marriage into the official recognition paper work through an attorney when they married outside of Cairo, after all was said and done. They just needed the lawyer to process the paperwork and two witnesses to say they were present at the signing. It's happened a couple of times on here in the past five years.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Dr. A ♥ O

[NY_BX 397]

Well naturally not all weddings are the same. I'm talking about your standard - white dress, flowers, hair, makeup, pictures, reception, gifts, etc. Most people have been to at least one traditional wedding - Egyptian or otherwise. My first wedding was your standard, traditional wedding. Pretty much exactly as described by Dr. A only minus the tamborines plus a reception at a banquet hall. My second was far more simple and non traditional. Both were nice in their own way.

I must say, I've NEVER been to a wedding with tamborines I assume it'll feel like Carmina Burana, right?

I'm sure both weddings were super awesome in their own way.

My colleague went to a family wedding in Iowa like a month ago. He brings me a souvenier (clearly because my collection wouldn't be complete without a shot glass from Iowa). He tells me "this was a great wedding! People got arrested and everything!" And of course I looked at him "that sounds like a lot of fun... bailing people out of jail is a MUST for all wedding experiences!"

[Mithra 1,185]

I'm not talking about dresses and whatnot I'm talking about the term - "white wedding religious ceremony". What about the religious part of the ceremony, specifically, deems it as a white ceremony? That's the part that I'm unsure of.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I'm not talking about dresses and whatnot I'm talking about the term - "white wedding religious ceremony". What about the religious part of the ceremony, specifically, deems it as a white ceremony? That's the part that I'm unsure of.

Now I don't understand where you're coming from because I don't see how you got that out of what I said, but I can understand why you're confused because your thinking even has me confused on what you mean.

As far as the color white having to do with ceremony purposes I believe it traditionally represents purity in many cultures. For those who have had second weddings they will wear an off white color because they are no longer considered pure. Though now days with the advancement of women's rights and liberation pretty much anything goes for a wedding.

While the white wedding dress has been a traditional choice it wasn't always the traditional choice for the martial garment however. It didn't start trending until Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress for her marriage ceremony.

I googled it and here is an old poem I found on the colors of wedding dress.

There is an old poem about how the color of your wedding dress will influence your future: "Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey , you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you'll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you'll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen, Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you'll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink."

[Jenn! 918]

I must say, I've NEVER been to a wedding with tamborines I assume it'll feel like Carmina Burana, right?

I think you mean Hava Nagila? Trying to imagine Carmina Burana at a wedding reception (worst wedding ever??):

[NY_BX 397]

Now I don't understand where you're coming from because I don't see how you got that out of what I said, but I can understand why you're confused because your thinking even has me confused on what you mean.

As far as the color white having to do with ceremony purposes I believe it traditionally represents purity in many cultures. For those who have had second weddings they will wear an off white color because they are no longer considered pure. Though now days with the advancement of women's rights and liberation pretty much anything goes for a wedding.

While the white wedding dress has been a traditional choice it wasn't always the traditional choice for the martial garment however. It didn't start trending until Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress for her marriage ceremony.

I googled it and here is an old poem I found on the colors of wedding dress.

Pretty much anything goes for a wedding, because well, anything goes for a wedding. Women's rights and liberation, yes, may have influenced it... however, I think it has more to do with creativity and budget deficits.......... and your guests.

I have to say, the fanciest most lavishing incredibly weddings I've seen have been gay weddings. And yes, they wear white.

I think you mean Hava Nagila? Trying to imagine Carmina Burana at a wedding reception (worst wedding ever??):

OMG! You understood me! No, I meant Carmina Burana- the whole piece, not just O Fortuna.... yes, worst wedding ever.

Edited August 28, 2012 by NY_BX

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Pretty much anything goes for a wedding, because well, anything goes for a wedding. Women's rights and liberation, yes, may have influenced it... however, I think it has more to do with creativity and budget deficits.......... and your guests.

I have to say, the fanciest most lavishing incredibly weddings I've seen have been gay weddings. And yes, they wear white.

Is that in New York, because I think Egypt has a long way to go before they formally recognize same gender unions. I do love weddings and to each their own however they want to hold it.

This is the actual guy playing the tambourine outside the wedding preparation shops. There were two of them. When we saw them my husband whispered into my ears that it's not their actual job. They're just street guys trying to make a little money somewhere. Kind of like the hawkers all over Egypt trying to sell their wares.

Did you mention once you were part Egyptian?

[Ihavequestions 419]

Is that in New York, because I think Egypt has a long way to go before they formally recognize same gender unions. I do love weddings and to each their own however they want to hold it.

This is the actual guy playing the tambourine outside the wedding preparation shops. There were two of them. When we saw them my husband whispered into my ears that it's not their actual job. They're just street guys trying to make a little money somewhere. Kind of like the hawkers all over Egypt trying to sell their wares.

Did you mention once you were part Egyptian?

The guys with the tambourine-ish things - a large group of them - will also do a little show in the street outside of the couple's new home, sort of synchronized dancing while playing, and they'll play until the newly weds have arrived and gone inside.

[eachubb 0]

Hi eachubb welcome to VJ - MENA. About getting married formally in Egypt and recognized by the United States I suggest reading the US Embassy in Cairo's website on marriage in Egypt. Here is the link. It has all the Steps you'll need to know. We completed them in about two days. It's like doing it at the justice of the peace in the States. It's not very glamourous. You can still hold the Islamic wedding ceremony but you'll need a certificate of religion from your Christian church back home if it is truely to be an Islamic wedding. I recommend doing the white wedding religious ceremony with friends and family there and taking tons of pictures. You'll cherish that memory for a long time. There are some Imam's like at El Nour Mosque that will provide a wedding without a religious certificate if they know the family you're marrying into. This is what we did in our case since I don't really attend a Christian church anymore. I guess you'll have to check with your fiance on that one since they'll be make the arraingments with the religious person officiating the ceremony.

After the wedding you can file for the CR-1/IR-1 family based spouse visa. It will take at least a year for processing so get ready for a wait unless you plan on staying with him in his country.

It is more complicated to answer your question about the mandatory military duty in Egypt. He won't be exempt for marrying a foreign spouse but there are other considerations he may be exempt for.

Is he an only child or only son?

Is he the sole provider for his family?

Does he have any medical conditions. There are only a few that exempt them.

What is his current age?

What month was he born?

What is his education level?

Is he in college?

If so what is he studying in college?

Do you have any red flags in your reltionship?

If you can answer all these questions I can determine if he will have to serve, when he will have to report to serve, and for how long.

Red Flags that may be scrutinized by the CO. (You don't have to answer these. They're just an FYI)

Is he pushing to marry you in order to avoid military service because he believes there is an exemption for marrying a foreign spouse?

What is your age difference?

What is your religions? (You've already told us the answer to this one.)

Do you share a common language?

How many times have you met in person?

For how long was the visit?

How long have you known each other before marriage?

Are you of child bearing age?

Do you have children from a previous marriage?

Have you met his friends and family?

What do they think of your relationship?

Have either of you been married before?

How many times?

Are your prior marriages finalized?

Has he been petitioned before by another USC?

Have you petitioned for an immigrant before?

What is your education level compared to his?

What do you two have in common?

I'm sure others can think of more red flags and some will dismiss some of the red flags mentioned because it didn't apply to their case in their situation.

YMMV.

hi thanks so much for your reply yes.. i dont really attend church that often and i have never really heard or seen a certificate to prove being Christian so i will ask my fiancé to find out if there are any mosques around that could accommodate for that. as far as your questions for military he is not the only son he is the youngest son. he is not a sole provider..no medical conditions..he is currently 20 and born in April he is attending a 2 year college.

Been there done that! If you will start a Spouse Visa you must be married first, and yes you must marry in Egypt,this site

http://egypt.usembassy.gov/consular/acs12.html

will give you all the guidelines for a marriage in Egypt. As far as the Military YES your fiance Military status will have to be cleared before he travels (you must send Military Records with the visa applicant) and also before traveling to USA, your than husband should have a certificate stateing that he is in good stand to leave the country (My husband got exempted however he picked up this certificate from The Mansura base)

What I also sudgest is that you start looking at the requirenments for the Spouse Visa and start putting all your documents together this will save you some time.

what documents can i start to work on ahead of time? thnks for your reply

[Ihavequestions 419]

hi thanks so much for your reply yes.. i dont really attend church that often and i have never really heard or seen a certificate to prove being Christian so i will ask my fiancé to find out if there are any mosques around that could accommodate for that.

No mosque will "accomodate for that". A church would have to. But nobody ever asked me for a document to prove my religion.

[~PalmTreeGurl~ 154]

At the Embassy before we married we went to get my "free to marry paper" It had a place on there to write both our religions on it.

[Mithra 1,185]

Yes, I know about the tradition of white being worn by the bride at her wedding (most women who have been brides do). You keep using white wedding religious ceremony to describe your wedding/suggested wedding for the OP. So I thought this was some sort of different kind of ceremony but now I realize it's just your basic ceremony. It was almost as if you didn't realize that "white weddings" were pretty much standard and that everyone has either been to one or has seen one on TV. I didn't get why you kept reiterating - "white wedding religious ceremony". Why all the qualifiers? Why not suggest to the OP to have a religious ceremony in addition to the Ministry wedding and have people take lots of pics? "White" weddings are not special to Egypt so having one there, specifically, isn't all that important.

Now I don't understand where you're coming from because I don't see how you got that out of what I said, but I can understand why you're confused because your thinking even has me confused on what you mean.

As far as the color white having to do with ceremony purposes I believe it traditionally represents purity in many cultures. For those who have had second weddings they will wear an off white color because they are no longer considered pure. Though now days with the advancement of women's rights and liberation pretty much anything goes for a wedding.

While the white wedding dress has been a traditional choice it wasn't always the traditional choice for the martial garment however. It didn't start trending until Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress for her marriage ceremony.

I googled it and here is an old poem I found on the colors of wedding dress.

[Mithra 1,185]

OP - check out the embassy link that Dr. A posted. All foreigners have to get married at the Ministry. That will make you legally married. I wouldn't necessarily worry about a seperate religious ceremony. When we got married there it was an Islamic ceremony. No pomp and circumstance like a big church wedding but it's legal. If you want to have a reception afterwards that's up to you and your fiance.