Here are some basic things to know when attending a pakistani/indian/muslim wedding... well, mine anyway. I hope you are not offended by the comments...if you are, my parents probably forced me to invite you anyway!
6:30 - Bride's family will receive bride's guests to the wedding
7:00 - Barat - the groom and the family/guests will arrive.
We'll probably start appetizers shortly after this.
7:30 - I will make an entrance with friends and female family members. Apparently according to Pakistani/Indian Culture (and my innate modest and demure personality) I am expected to be quiet and mostly stare at the floor. Which is typical me anyway, right?
As soon as I get there and everyone gets their camera lenses out of my face, the marriage ceremony will begin and the person marrying us will give a short talk afterwards.
Some people may line up to greet us, mostly close family.
At about 8 - it will be time for Maghrib Prayer which will last about 10 minutes.
Dinner will be served shortly afterwards.
During and after dinner, I will be sitting on the stage falling asleep while I stare at the ground and guests will be coming up to the stage to have the photographer take their pictures with the couple. This can get aggressive since some people are camera hogs so don't be shy and make sure you get your turn.
After dinner, we'll cut a cake and dessert will be served.
At the end of the night, at about 10:45, I will get ready to leave and all of my family and many guests will say their heartfelt good byes. The end... (Pun intended).
Also, there are a few customary things that will be interspersed . One thing is where my female friends and young relatives will have the groom take a sip of milk and then demand $. Another one is, they may steal his shoes and demand $ for their return.
For the most part, I just sit there so please feel free to come up to me and try to amuse me!! I'll be like one of them British guards with the big black furry hats!!
Other misc. FAQ and things to know:
I cover my head. You are not expected to do the same. The wedding will be at a banquet hall, not a mosque. If your hair is uncovered, you will not stick out.
You are expected to take off your shoes as you enter the hall. ok i'm lying... but that would be pretty funny to see.
If you are are of the opposite gender, please don't touch. If you're a man, don't touch me. If you are a woman, don't touch the groom. If you and your partner are of the same gender, don't touch. If you and your partner are of different gender...sorry, still can't touch. Just keep your hands in your pockets or straight up in the air..at all times. (I'm mostly kidding about the last part. mostly.)
If it looks like chicken, it's chicken. If it looks like beef and tastes like beef, it's beef. If it kinda looks like beef but doesn't really taste like it...it's goat.
What to wear - traditional attire is pretty bold and happening so really whatever formal western attire you wear, you will be out done. I'd recommend refraining from sleeveless tops and anything above the knee...ok mid calf.. ok the ankles..
If you choose to stay to the end, it should be interesting. There's no happy farewell; it is a sob fest.
Muslims pray 5 times a day. One prayer falls at sunset. Since the sun will be setting towards the start of the evening, guests will line up to the side of the room to pray. You can sit to the side and judgmentally glare at all the Muslims sitting with you instead of praying. Consider chatting with them about the hell fire.
If you do come across anyone not abiding by this list of rules, please feel free to approach them and ask, "Uh, did you not get the memo?!"
When you go to get a drink... please remember it is an open bar...more so an open vending machine because that's what your options will be.
Feel free to approach my parents and tell them how wonderful i am.
If you do have any questions that I did not cover, please post on the blog or email me at haqer11@yahoo.com
All kidding aside, I thank you all for taking out time from your busy schedules to attend my wedding and hope you all will keep us in your prayers.
