Muslim weddings are vibrant, joyous, and meaningful celebrations. Rich with history, they are packed with traditions and customs that incorporate Islamic teachings. While the primary focus is celebrating the couple, Muslim marriage services extend beyond the couple. It’s about celebrating the blend between two families while honoring religion, culture, or heritage specific to them and their families. 

Whether you’re a couple planning a Muslim wedding or a guest attending a Muslim wedding for the first time, understanding the traditions and their significance is crucial. This guide breaks down all the customs typically involved in a traditional Muslim wedding. 

Pre-Wedding Muslim Traditions 

Istikhara

Istikhara is an extremely powerful prayer that seeks guidance on anything. It’s mostly performed before marriage to determine the best possible outcome in a decision or situation. Before considering a proposal or making Muslim marriage arrangements, it’s imperative to seek Allah's blessing and guidance through Istikhara. 

Mangni

Mangni is a beautiful engagement ceremony in which the bride and groom's families formally announce the upcoming marriage. It’s a cherished pre-wedding ritual in which the couple exchanges rings, symbolizing their commitment to one another and marking the start of their wedding journey.

In this intimate and heartwarming ceremony, loved ones gather to celebrate the joyous occasion. Family and friends shower the couple with gifts like sweets, clothing, and jewelry as tokens of their well wishes for their future together. It’s a truly important tradition. 

Manjha or Haldi Ceremony 

The Manjha or Haldi Ceremony is a Muslim wedding tradition that typically takes place the day before the wedding. This celebration involves guests rubbing a paste comprised of turmeric, oil, and water to the couple's face, neck, hands, and feet. It acts as a cleanse to liven the skin before the wedding and is viewed as a blessing to the couple. 

The ceremony often involves singing traditional songs, dancing, and showering the couple with flowers. Overall, it’s a joyous celebration meant to purify the couple, ward off bad spirits, and promote bonding among loved ones. 

Mehndi Ceremony 

Another pre-wedding ceremony is the Mehndi, also known as the henna ceremony. A day or two before the wedding, the bride’s hands and feet are covered with intricate henna designs that are believed to bring good luck. They are associated with positive and protective energy.

This intimate ceremony brings together the bride’s family and closest friends for lively music, dancing, and stunning henna designs for everyone. The Mehndi ceremony is a heartwarming celebration that beautifully sets the tone for all that’s yet to come.  

Wedding Day Muslim Traditions

The Groom’s Baraat 

The Baraat is one of the first traditions that kick off a wedding day. It is an exciting portion of the wedding day, and it refers to the groom’s processional. Often, the groom arrives at the venue in a lavish form of transportation, like a white horse or decorated sports car. Close family and friends then escort the groom to the ceremony space. 

This festive portion of the ceremony is accompanied by loud music, dancing, and cheering from guests. 

Mandap 

A mandap is significant to weddings. While there are many interpretations as to the representation of the four pillars of the structure, regardless of what you believe, it remains the focal point of any Hindu ceremony. As the location of arguably the most important portion of any wedding, mandaps are decorated with stunning decor details like flowers, greenery, and fruits. 

The design of this sacred canopy structure deserves careful attention to cultural symbolism and the couple’s preferences. That’s why your choice of florist is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

Nikah

The core component of a Muslim ceremony is the Nikah. It’s an Islamic marriage ceremony where the couple signs a marriage contract. It begins with a reading from the Quran or a brief sermon, including reminders of the significance of marriage in Islam. When it comes time to sign the contract, the bride's father or male relative, two Muslim witnesses, and an imam or Muslim officiant must be present. When the pen touches the paper, and they both recite “I do” or “Qubool” three times of their own free will, they are officially considered married.

Keep in mind that during the Nikah, it’s not uncommon for Muslim brides and grooms to be separated by translucent cloth or a stunning floral wall. In fact, gender separation will be common throughout the entire wedding day for guests as well. 

Arsi Mushaf 

After the Nikah, the bride and groom will see each other for the first time in a mirror. This mirror ceremony symbolizes the beginning of their marriage. While the Arsi Mushraf will differ from family to family, it’s common for the couple to sit next to one another with a dupatta (long cloth) draped over them. Quran is then placed between them, accompanied by a mirror, so they can see each other for the first time. 

Shaadi

The Shaadi, also known as the reception, often occurs on the same day as the Nikah. Hosted by the bride’s family it’s a celebration full of music, dancing, and whole lot of color. Muslim wedding décor, consists of vibrant and auspicious colors like red, yellow, and gold. These colors will influence the floral design and fashion.  

Rukhsati

Rukhsati marks the couple's consummation and the beginning of their marital relationship. Also known as the “send-off,” this is the portion of the wedding day where the couple makes their grand exit when the bride shares emotional goodbyes with her family—making the transition from childhood into marriage.  

Post-Wedding Muslim Traditions

Walimah

Like a Shaadi, the Walimah is the reception hosted by the groom’s family. Typically, this celebration comes after the wedding. It’s a celebratory feast that marks the first public announcement of the marriage and provides an opportunity for the community and both families to celebrate together on a more intimate level. Expect an endless supply of food and celebration.  

Chauthi

In some cultures, the couple revisits the bride’s childhood home four days after the wedding—this is called the Chauthi. The bride’s family greets the couple with open arms, gifts, and a feast. This allows both families to bond and get to know each other in a more intimate setting. This typically marks the end of the wedding festivities. 

Hire Vendors With Muslim Wedding Traditions and Customs  

If you’re planning a wedding that incorporates Muslim traditions, you’ll want to choose your vendors wisely. You want a team of professionals who value the traditions and have experience bringing cultural weddings to life. For those in search of florists in the San Francisco Bay area who have experience creating Muslim wedding arrangements, meet Flowers Valley. 

This award-winning florist team offers Muslim wedding flowers and decorations that exceed expectations. They understand that every event is unique, so they create personalized wedding proposals tailored specifically to your desired flowers and color palette, ensuring your vision is brought to life. 

Ready to bring your floral dreams to life? Contact Flowers Valley by filling out the form. The team of experts combines your inspiration with years of expertise to create a custom proposal and transparent price breakdown so you know what to expect. With its knowledge paired with your vision, Flower Valley will work magic to make your wedding day truly unforgettable.