Wedding Season: What To Expect at Arab Weddings

posted on: May 26, 2021

By: Sara Tawfik /Arab America Contributing Writer

Arab weddings are a beautiful symbolic representation of oneness and community. Most Arabs have attended at least one wedding in their lifetime. These celebrations have the power to emit an emotional response, whether through music, words, people, or imagery. As wedding season approaches, if you’re ever lucky enough to be invited to an Arab wedding, there are a few aspects that you should take note of before attending, such as the large guest list, music, and food. 

Arab Weddings: The Crazy Guest List

All engaged couples tend to pay close attention to the guest list and who they want to share such an incredible day with. Usually the guest list will include very close family and friends, which can grow to hundreds in attendance. In fact, the guest list is always crucial at Arab weddings. This typically involves both parties’ parents, as they normally decide who will be attending the couple’s wedding.

It is quite a comical concept that everyone needs to be invited simply out of respect and to keep up appearances. You will also hear the words “3akbalik” hundreds of times throughout the wedding from aunts and uncles you don’t know. This term alludes to the idea that you are getting older and should be getting married as well.  Due to these exhaustive invitation lists, Arab weddings are large, loud, and lively. Although the guest list can make these weddings pricey and require extensive attention to detail, Arab weddings are some of the most beautiful and entertaining weddings to ever attend simply because of the large community. 

Arab Weddings: The Amazing Music

Who doesn’t love a good DJ or live band at a wedding? Music is definitely one of the key components in a wedding and could break or make how energetic guests will be. Arab weddings are known to have exaggerated dance parties, whether it’s the Dabke, belly dancing, or the Al Ayala (stick dance,) it always adds flavor and extravagance to the event. The music is always loud with the constant sounds of tabla playing (drumming) and zaghareet coming from numerous women all at once. You can expect to lose your hearing by the end of the night, but I promise you, it is the best feeling to experience.

The crowd particularly goes crazy when “Hatgawez”(I’m getting married,) by Saad El Soghayer comes on the speaker, and is probably the most popular wedding song for many. It is also tradition for the bride and groom to be held up on chairs by friends and family in the middle of the dance floor while music is playing. If you aren’t enthusiastically dancing at an Arab wedding, then you’re missing out on the action.

Arab Weddings: The Delicious Food

Onto one of my personal favorite aspects of Arab weddings – the food. Arab food is so unbelievably mouthwatering, and I genuinely feel terrible for anyone who hasn’t had the chance to try it. A few famous dishes you can expect to have at an Arab wedding are Baklava, Baba Ghannouj, Tabouleh, Fattoush, Fatayer Sabaneg, and so many more. It’s my opinion that Arabs pay very close attention to how much food is served at their weddings because they believe that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.

Most Arab weddings have numerous appetizers even before even bringing out the main dish. The eating seems to never end – but the host will ensure calories burned through the dancing during the celebration (followed by more food.) The host will offer you food, and your accepting it is a sign of respect in the culture. So, if the grandmother attempts to add more food to your plate, don’t ask questions, just nod and smile while taking bites in front of her. Food provides a chance in the Arab community for people to bond as they sit and have a meal together with a cup of shay (tea) and celebrate the beautiful couple’s symbol of unity. 

Arab weddings are probably the most memorable weddings you will ever attend. They offer such a beautiful expression of art, religion, culture, and diversity. You will always find a welcoming and loving atmosphere at Arab weddings because, even if you aren’t related, Arabs treat each other, as well as their guests, like family. They will let you in with an embrace and a feeling of inclusion. They will take you by the hand to make you dance, and add an abnormal amount of food to your plate, all out of love and kindness. These aspects mentioned do not even scratch the surface of how divine Arab weddings truly are. Although I have listed a few of them, I hope that you will explore further all the elements that make Arab weddings pleasing to the eye and soul.

To learn more about Arab culture and traditions, please visit our blog.