A Muslim Wedding
On September 17, our team had the privilege of witnessing the wedding of the youngest daughter of our contact in Bucana. It was such an exciting event! It was also the first time that Mang and I witnessed a Muslim wedding. It was truly a cultural experience. We’d like to share with you a bit of it through these photos….
The guests were ushered to the reception tables and were served food before the ceremony began. After the meal, the groom arrived with his consort. He entered the bride’s home and after a while, the wedding ritual started.
The men gathered at the living room. The religious leaders presided over the ceremony. Prayers were said. Then a special ritual wherein the Imam placed his foot and the groom’s foot under a red handkerchief and pronounced certain things in a language I didn’t understand (must be Arabic or their local language).
The bride waits for her groom inside the room, sitting on a veiled bed. After the ceremony with the men, the groom went in the room to present gifts to his bride. Before entering he had to present “guard money” as “payment” so he could be allowed to go in. Once in the room, the groom presented to the bride gold rings, a gold bracelet and a gold watch.
Then they came out of the room to be presented to the waiting crowd.
Outside, they had a money dance to the tune of a traditional Tausug song. During the money dance, the guests pin money to the couple’s clothes as wedding gifts.
After the ceremony in the bride’s home, the whole entourage, the bride’s family and neighbors drove to the groom’s hometown for the couple to be presented there. Another wedding ceremony (minus the handkerchief and gift-giving rituals) and reception was held there.
While everyone was enjoying the celebration, we took the chance to have a photo taken with the couple. Notice the modern bridal gown!
The guests were ushered to the reception tables and were served food before the ceremony began. After the meal, the groom arrived with his consort. He entered the bride’s home and after a while, the wedding ritual started.
The men gathered at the living room. The religious leaders presided over the ceremony. Prayers were said. Then a special ritual wherein the Imam placed his foot and the groom’s foot under a red handkerchief and pronounced certain things in a language I didn’t understand (must be Arabic or their local language).
The bride waits for her groom inside the room, sitting on a veiled bed. After the ceremony with the men, the groom went in the room to present gifts to his bride. Before entering he had to present “guard money” as “payment” so he could be allowed to go in. Once in the room, the groom presented to the bride gold rings, a gold bracelet and a gold watch.
Then they came out of the room to be presented to the waiting crowd.
Outside, they had a money dance to the tune of a traditional Tausug song. During the money dance, the guests pin money to the couple’s clothes as wedding gifts.
After the ceremony in the bride’s home, the whole entourage, the bride’s family and neighbors drove to the groom’s hometown for the couple to be presented there. Another wedding ceremony (minus the handkerchief and gift-giving rituals) and reception was held there.
While everyone was enjoying the celebration, we took the chance to have a photo taken with the couple. Notice the modern bridal gown!
posted by grace gaston-dousel | 12:31 AM
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