Pakistan
Wedding Culture and Traditions
A Pakistani wedding is broken down into a 4-day event.
The tradition of a Pakistani wedding is the longevity of the party
not just the ceremony of the Pakistani wedding ceremony:
First Day of the Celebration
On the first day, the bride and groom's families
each dress in yellow, and celebrate the upcoming nuptials separately.
The betrothed couple will not see each other from this day until
the ceremony.
Second Day of the Celebration
The second day is reserved for a big celebration
called Mendi that includes dancing and singing ancient songs. On
this day, the groom's family delivers the wedding dress to the bride's
family, and then her family takes the groom's wedding attire to
his family. The bride's family string hundreds of colored lights
over and around their home, creating an ostentatious announcement
of their daughter's forthcoming marriage. Here, the bride-to-be
receives a traditional henna staining of her hands and feet. This
traditional Muslim art form invokes intricately designs to create
beautiful symbolic patterns. The bride-to-be is waited on by her
family while the henna stain dries overnight.
Third Day is the Marriage Ceremony
The wedding rites and ceremony in Pakistan take places
on the third day. The Pakistani bride and groom who continue their
traditions wear garments of red. The bride's gown is very elaborate,
as are her veil and jewelry. Men wear a distinctive traditional
turban . After wedding vows are exchanged, the Holy Koran is held
over the new bride's head as she joins her husband's family. The
official paperwork is signed in the presence of an Islamic priest
and the guests.
Fourth and Final Day of Wedding Program in
Pakistan
On the fourth day, the couple hosts their first
dinner as husband and wife. The groom's family invites all of the
guests to their home for a feast.
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