ME/NA Wedding dress Thread

[Henia 11]

ugh it won't let me link to this website

but

femmesdumaroc.com has AWESOME kaftans!!!!!!!

Wow they are nice!

[Henia 11]

[Ban Hammer 13,583]

That is a very elegant dress, Charles. Great choice.

Meriem

ty meriem, it was one she had in mind a long time ago. was lots of fun finding it. i called every store in kansas and the smallest we could find was a size 10, even the manufacturer was of no help in finding one. nessa started in missouri and found a size 6 out by st louis and then was able to work closer to columbia, so we went to columbia for it. and it was only $350!

[sereia 0]

i actually have a picture of my dream dress i cut out of a bridal magazine years and years ago. and its still my favorite! if i go with a western style dress, i'll get that one custom made somewhere. if a moroccan kaftan then well ....i don't know where i'll get that. i should go look on my next trip.

Edited February 4, 2007 by abdounjen

[melly 0]

The bride is the spectacle, the star of the show, and the focus of all attention. Depending upon the means of the family, the bride may appear in as many as seven different dresses, including her “robe blanche” which is always a traditional Western white wedding gown and usually worn at the end of the evening. The bride is also loaded down with gold and diamond jewelry - forget understated, forget restraint. This is an occasion for her to go all out and display her personal collection, family heirlooms and gifts from the groom.

I still can't quite get my mind around people doing this. A marriage is about two people, not about how much money you have. I don't want to be a spectacle anywhere, least of all in public!!! I hate gold and I don't own any diamonds.

As for me, it will be much the same as Doodle since I'll also be getting married (insha'allah) in a dingy office.

I will have a nice skirt/top to wear for going out to dinner after or something but that's it. If we have a bigger wedding party one day when all of his extended family and friends can come, then I may wear something nicer, but still nothing extremely fancy.

[doodlebug 3]

The bride is the spectacle, the star of the show, and the focus of all attention. Depending upon the means of the family, the bride may appear in as many as seven different dresses, including her “robe blanche” which is always a traditional Western white wedding gown and usually worn at the end of the evening. The bride is also loaded down with gold and diamond jewelry - forget understated, forget restraint. This is an occasion for her to go all out and display her personal collection, family heirlooms and gifts from the groom.

I still can't quite get my mind around people doing this. A marriage is about two people, not about how much money you have. I don't want to be a spectacle anywhere, least of all in public!!! I hate gold and I don't own any diamonds.

As for me, it will be much the same as Doodle since I'll also be getting married (insha'allah) in a dingy office.

I will have a nice skirt/top to wear for going out to dinner after or something but that's it. If we have a bigger wedding party one day when all of his extended family and friends can come, then I may wear something nicer, but still nothing extremely fancy.

Yeah I mean the way I figured it, I did the whole belle of the ball thing the first time around with the long white cathedral train and all that. I actually enjoyed how we got married much more this time, even though it was stressful and dingy. We were all alone right after and got to just be "us" for a whole day before we went out with a few of his friends and his sisters. In my first wedding I don't even remember seeing my husband until we were on the plane to our honeymoon!

[AngelK96 0]

The bride is the spectacle, the star of the show, and the focus of all attention. Depending upon the means of the family, the bride may appear in as many as seven different dresses, including her “robe blanche” which is always a traditional Western white wedding gown and usually worn at the end of the evening. The bride is also loaded down with gold and diamond jewelry - forget understated, forget restraint. This is an occasion for her to go all out and display her personal collection, family heirlooms and gifts from the groom.

I still can't quite get my mind around people doing this. A marriage is about two people, not about how much money you have. I don't want to be a spectacle anywhere, least of all in public!!! I hate gold and I don't own any diamonds.

As for me, it will be much the same as Doodle since I'll also be getting married (insha'allah) in a dingy office.

I will have a nice skirt/top to wear for going out to dinner after or something but that's it. If we have a bigger wedding party one day when all of his extended family and friends can come, then I may wear something nicer, but still nothing extremely fancy.

Yeah I mean the way I figured it, I did the whole belle of the ball thing the first time around with the long white cathedral train and all that. I actually enjoyed how we got married much more this time, even though it was stressful and dingy. We were all alone right after and got to just be "us" for a whole day before we went out with a few of his friends and his sisters. In my first wedding I don't even remember seeing my husband until we were on the plane to our honeymoon!

there is no rule saying you have to have a wedding like the one Henia posted. You can opt to have a small reception with immediate family only or the big wedding party or no party, but if you get married Islamically you still have to announce your marriage somehow to the public.

[Henia 11]

The bride is the spectacle, the star of the show, and the focus of all attention. Depending upon the means of the family, the bride may appear in as many as seven different dresses, including her "robe blanche" which is always a traditional Western white wedding gown and usually worn at the end of the evening. The bride is also loaded down with gold and diamond jewelry - forget understated, forget restraint. This is an occasion for her to go all out and display her personal collection, family heirlooms and gifts from the groom.

I still can't quite get my mind around people doing this. A marriage is about two people, not about how much money you have. I don't want to be a spectacle anywhere, least of all in public!!! I hate gold and I don't own any diamonds.

As for me, it will be much the same as Doodle since I'll also be getting married (insha'allah) in a dingy office.

I will have a nice skirt/top to wear for going out to dinner after or something but that's it. If we have a bigger wedding party one day when all of his extended family and friends can come, then I may wear something nicer, but still nothing extremely fancy.

Well traditionally it is the only time for women (I am going to only say Algerie, but probably pertains to other MENA countries as well) time for women to be in the spotlight, wearing any type of dress she wants, be amoung the males and show much of a diva she is...LOL. I personally, found my wedding (in which we did not do all of the Algerien traditions) personally humilating, as i had to endure days of dresses, parties, make-up and gossiping. Maybe if I would have known more people it would have been different, had my side of the family/friends and have a more active role in the wedding planning its self I would have enjoyed it more. But its ok, I am married now...to the man literally of my dreams... and even thou both of us were against doing a traditional gaudy wedding his family came in and just did what they wanted... so least I feel they loved and cared about me enough to do this.

Also like to add, many of the women who attended my wedding were rather disappointed by its scale. We had 200 ppl in attendance and it lasted for days.... I personally would have did a much smaller ceremony, I would have been in the same room when they did the nikah and had a small intimate dinner with the family. I would have left the wedding parade, the men's and women's parties out...LOL

Edited February 4, 2007 by Henia

[melly 0]

there is no rule saying you have to have a wedding like the one Henia posted. You can opt to have a small reception with immediate family only or the big wedding party or no party, but if you get married Islamically you still have to announce your marriage somehow to the public.

I understand that. But telling people that we're married has nothing to do with dresses and "spectacles".

It's just my opinion that it isn't necessary. Obviously some people love it. Good for them.

[Henia 11]

Just another note: I attended 1 wedding, 1 circumcisn and a baby shower while in Algerie. All of which were more gaudy and bling-blingy then any red carpet event in Hollywood Algeriens love their bling.

[Henia 11]

there is no rule saying you have to have a wedding like the one Henia posted. You can opt to have a small reception with immediate family only or the big wedding party or no party, but if you get married Islamically you still have to announce your marriage somehow to the public.

I understand that. But telling people that we're married has nothing to do with dresses and "spectacles".

It's just my opinion that it isn't necessary. Obviously some people love it. Good for them.

Melly: I think it has more to do with culture. As I said, many times it is only time for women living in the MENA to be the center of attention, they are trained from birth for this day. Brides, even before the age of marriage are planning their weddings. On average, in Algerie (I personally oppose this) an engagement lasts for 3 years. The time it takes for the men to save all the money needed for the wedding, his gifts to the wife (not included in the mahr) and her family, her dresses, make-up, hair, the bedroom furinture set and maybe times a house.

[AngelK96 0]

there is no rule saying you have to have a wedding like the one Henia posted. You can opt to have a small reception with immediate family only or the big wedding party or no party, but if you get married Islamically you still have to announce your marriage somehow to the public.

I understand that. But telling people that we're married has nothing to do with dresses and "spectacles".

It's just my opinion that it isn't necessary. Obviously some people love it. Good for them.

Okkkkkkk.

But having a big wedding party or even a small one in the middle east is the way to tell people you are married.

[Henia 11]

Melly: I think it has more to do with culture. Traditionally, the more money spent on a wedding, the prouder the family will be. As I said, many times it is only time for women living in the MENA to be the center of attention, they are trained from birth for this day. Brides, even before the age of marriage are planning their weddings. On average, in Algerie (I personally oppose this) an engagement lasts for 3 years. The time it takes for the men to save all the money needed for the wedding, his gifts to the wife (not included in the mahr) and her family, her dresses, her gown for the first night together, her crown, jewelry, make-up, hair, clothes, kitchen and household needs for the woman, the bedroom furinture set ,wool to make mattresses for the man. and maybe times a house. These items are called a shoura.This is a sign of love and respect for her and her family.

The latitude of choice and multitude of food offered at the wedding are the testimony to the parents’ generosity; otherwise people would consider them stingy, which is shameful.

After the party, the bride leaves her parents’ house in a fancy car followed by other cars, including some which display her shoura. This shows all people how greatly she is loved by her family and husband.

[melly 0]

Sorry, I think I need to get outside and get some fresh air.

I only meant to say that I don't understand the cultural aspect of all that.

To me, a woman should dress up and be prettiest for her husband and no one else.

There's nothing wrong with looking nice or decent on a day to day basis (around other people) but the really nice stuff - I just think it should be saved for the couple only.

Especially confusing is how all this stuff could be considered Islamic. Because aside from announcing that you're married, all this stuff seems like it would be wrong Islamically. I could be wrong about that of course.

[Henia 11]

Sorry, I think I need to get outside and get some fresh air.

I only meant to say that I don't understand the cultural aspect of all that.

To me, a woman should dress up and be prettiest for her husband and no one else.

There's nothing wrong with looking nice or decent on a day to day basis (around other people) but the really nice stuff - I just think it should be saved for the couple only.

Especially confusing is how all this stuff could be considered Islamic. Because aside from announcing that you're married, all this stuff seems like it would be wrong Islamically. I could be wrong about that of course.

YEs, of course I agree with you. A women should be pretty for her husband. That is why I did not particularly like what my husband's family planned for my wedding. But in the end, I took it as a sign that they loved me and wanted me in the family.

ANd on your second point, I agree it is against Islam. Buuuuuut I just wrote what they traditionally do in my husband's country. I agreed the money spent on the wedding could be used for more particular things.