The essentials
Three elements form the core of a Muslim wedding. The nikah is the marriage contract, made by the couple’s mutual consent before witnesses. The mahr is the gift the groom gives the bride, which becomes hers alone. The walima is the celebratory feast that publicly announces the marriage.
Everything else — the dress, the music, the number of days, the food — flows from the couple’s own heritage, whether Levantine, South Asian, North African, Gulf or beyond.
The nikah and the mahr
The nikah is usually conducted by an imam or authorised officiant and witnessed by the couple’s families. The mahr is agreed in advance and recorded as part of the contract.
For the full detail of the contract — the offer and acceptance, the witnesses and the role of the wali — see the dedicated guide to the nikah ceremony.
The walima
The walima is the wedding banquet hosted to celebrate the union and share the couple’s joy with their community. It is considered a recommended act of generosity and is often the largest gathering of the celebration — a meal, music and the welcoming of two families into one.
Cultural colour
Around these essentials, couples weave the traditions of their own background: a henna night before the wedding, a zaffe procession to open the party, particular sweets, particular songs. The faith provides the frame; the culture fills it in.
For those Levantine and Arab customs in particular — the henna night, the zaffe and the multi-day feasting — read the Arab wedding traditions guide.