Salma Gets Hitched-Bahraini Style

A whiff of fragrant herbs filled our nostrils as we approached the door to the wedding hall. Each step brought us closer to the booming sounds seeping through the door. Not knowing what to expect at our very first Islamic wedding, we excitedly opened the door into the unknown.

Our senses came alive as we walked through the threshold and into the reception hall, which was elaborately decorated in shades of vibrant colors. The bride’s cousin greeted us with a smile and a kiss on each cheek. As we were issued to our table I couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the ornately dressed women. Men and women celebrate separately for these events so it was fun to see the women free from their abayas.

The bride, who wore the traditional Bahraini wedding dress, looked absolutely stunning. As you can see in the pictures, her dress was woven with intricate embroidery and she displayed the same golden jewelry that her grandmother wore on her wedding day.

Towards the end of the celebration, the groom arrived at the ceremony with his guests, which is called a "baratt." The women scrambled to put on their head coverings as they formed two parallel lines in the center of the room. The groom, with musicians in tow, proceeded towards his beautiful bride as she welcomed him upon the stage. Flutes played and drums beat as we all cheered on the happy couple! 

The wedding was full of color, ceremony, local tradition, and 

plenty of dancing. I left feeling honored to share in such an experience.