A Beduoin Wedding

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Bedouin wedding on Saturday night. What an amazing experience. The NZ teachers from one of the Cognition schools were invited and I was asked to join them – 2 sisters of the school librarian were getting married (to 2 brothers!?) I have no photos to post as photos are strictly forbidden – in fact we had our bags searched on entry and cell phones with cameras had to be left at the door with the security guards!

The wedding party is for women only, no alcohol and lots of dancing to loud singing in Arabic and an all women Bedouin drumming band. The women were all dressed in very colourful, amazingly decorated ball gowns – I’ve never seen anything like them. They looked like they had been at the hairdressers all day and the beauty salon. I have never seen so much make up - like beautiful dolls. Some were still wearing the full abaya – so we didn’t get to see them even when they were up on the cat walk dancing. The food was constantly being brought around – little nibbles and sweet things, as well as endless cups of sweet tea, yellow cardamom coffee and water.

The bride came out from behind a sliding wall up on the stage. She looked beautiful in her white traditional wedding gown, but she didn’t smile, apparently you aren’t supposed to smile. The family showered her with money and she stood there for a long while for all to admire. The dancing started again - this time we were all invited up onto the catwalk for a dance – what a hoot. They all had a good laugh and we got the thumbs up.

At about 11.00 we ate the main meal – which was yummy local food. No men were present for the whole event - they had their own party somewhere. We were home by 12.00 – up again the next day at 5.00 to get ready to be at school by 6.45, on a Sunday! An experience not to be missed.