Invited to an Asian wedding???

elisebutt65

I met one of my old mates from Uni yesterday and she told me that I will be getting an invite to her wedding next year as soon as she and her BF have set the date.

I asked her what sort of wedding and it's going to be a full Asian ceremony - she's Moslem, so I'm presuming it will be in a mosque. But she's also Indian so I'm not too sure

Has anyone been to an Asian wedding and what will it entail - I know she said that it goes over a 5 week period and I'm likely to be invited to the women's party as well as the ceremony and reception.

I know not to wear red, white or black and I have to cover my arms and legs so I'll probably wear a nice trouser suit with a matching scarf

Will me and my bf be segregated? And do we have to take shoes off??

What happens about pressies - I never thought to ask her all this plus she has enough on her plate to worry about with both of them starting new jobs AND wedding planning AND buying a house

Thanks for any help

jd87

I've never been to an Asian wedding but as it's late and nobody else has replied I'll tell you what I know.

Traditionally men and women would be segregated but it's not always the case nowadays in the west. If you're going into the mosque you would have to take your shoes off but it might not even be in a mosque. As for clothes, I've never heard the thing about red, white and black. The most important thing is that you are dressed modestly. This means you must not only be covered up appropriately, but clothes mustn't be tight fitting. As for things like presents, I would just follow western culture - so take a present. Even if other people haven't it's not going to offend anyone.

One tiny little note is that the preferred spelling these days is Muslim.

puffinmuffin

I did go to an Indian wedding once, they were Sikh so i don't know about the religious aspects. I think the colours are a general Indian tradition, the bride generally wears red. I think money is usually given as a gift. The one thing i will say is that you won't possibly be overdressed, i have never seen so many bright colours, sequins and yellow gold!

magicgirl

i am asian. even if teh wedding goes on over a period of time, you are not expected to be at each and every bit of it. i pick and choose my fave bits for family and go. you may need a few outfits if you go to different bits though.
money or clothes are usually given in my family (although it mostly hindu on my side.. my mother has a smaller family and is muslim but my father has a massiv family)

women and children are usually toegther and teh men are often seprate but a lot will not allow them to stay together. not all of it would take part in mosque.. its often at teh family homes for thigs like mendhi (henna) whic is the equivalent of the european hen night. can't think of anything else right now but if i do, i will let you know. Oh - you would not normally be allowed to wear shoes either in homes or mosque so things that are easy to slip on and off are best. x

Horace

Guests have to be dressed modestly and revealing clothes are not appropriate.

These days asian weddings tend to take place in hotels, at cricket grounds or in a mosque.

Brides can wear red or white depending on whether they are indian or arab (arab muslims wear white).

Coins are showered over the couple and they are given gifts of money.

Men and women tend to be seated separately and eat the banquet separately, it is after the banquet has been eaten that the bride and groom get together and the next part of the wedding begins.

These days due to costs the wedding party takes place over 3 days (I found this out yesterday). In the muslim culture the woman asks the man to marry her and they have to get married within 3 months of being asked otherwise their engagement is nul and void. They must be extremely wealthy if they are having their celebrations over 5 weeks. The wedding planning is done by the mother of the bride.

I don't organise asian weddings but this is what I do know about them which isnt much