are the only types of weddings I’m truly familiar with, the only traditional style of wedding I’ve been to and the cultural wedding I will eventually have once or if I get married. Every wedding I’ve been to, whether in the Middle East or the U.S., stay true to their roots in Beit Sahour (the village in the West Bank where my family is from). These weddings boast a specific process and the actual wedding lasts days, with lavish party after party for guests to attend. Many people are usually in attendance and they always dress in formal attire. I have outlined the long process below, starting from the families agreeing on the couple to wed all the way to the wedding day itself.

The “tulba” is essentially a formal asking of the hand. This event is more private, limited to the close relatives of the bride and groom. It occurs after both families have approved the couple’s decision to wed. At the “tulba,” the groom, alongside with his family members, ask the bride, with her family by her side, for her hand in marriage. The families then officially acknowledge that the two shall marry.

Soon after the “tulba,” the couple becomes engaged. They become officially engaged once they have a small ceremony conducted by a priest. Following this, they have a reception type party with food, music, and dancing accompanied by all of their family, relatives, and friends!

This event occurs usually a day or two before the wedding day. It is a small gathering between the close male relatives on both the groom and bride’s sides and it usually takes place at the bride’s family’s house. At this exchange, the men on the groom’s side make sure that the family of the bride are satisfied with the party. The male family members on the groom’s side also make sure to resolve any last minute issues before the wedding. After all of this, the eldest male on the groom’s side congratulates all of the male relatives on both sides.

This is a gathering between women on both sides of the family and it is held at the same time as the “radwa.” The party is traditionally put on by women on the groom’s side and takes place at the bride’s family’s house. First, the women on the groom’s side gather at the groom’s family’s house to set everything up. They knead dough in bowls to create henna. These bowls are decorated with flowers that adorn the henna which adds some color to the thick green substance. After this, the women fill small bags with candy, and then place the bags on trays, like party favors. Coin skirts and/or fans are also possible items that are passed out at the henna party.

Once these preparations are complete, the female members of the groom’s family make their way to the bride’s family’s house. Only the women on the groom’s side wear the traditional “thobe” dress along with the bride. It’s to signify their status as relatives of the groom. Dressed in their traditional clothes, the women on the groom’s side of the family dance with the bowls and chant, with the female members of the bride’s family joining along. The bags of candy, coin skirts, and fans are passed out. The coin skirts are usually worn or used as a kind of handkerchief. After the singing and dancing, the bowls of henna are presented to the bride. Towards the end, the mother of the groom and the sisters and/or female first cousins of the groom present the bride with a gift, usually jewelry. They tend to dress the bride with the jewelry that they present to her.

Following these two events, the genders mix and have a party which is similar to, but less extravagant than an engagement or wedding reception.

A day or two later, the “big day” finally arrives! For an Arab wedding, preparations begin at the crack of dawn. The bridal party has a lot of work to do, along with the close members of the family on both sides. The bride, along with her family are separate from the groom and most of his family prior to the wedding. They are usually at each other’s family houses. Once everyone is finished getting ready for the wedding, the groom’s side of the family (without the groom) go to the bride’s house to pick her up. They sing, clap, and escort her and her bridesmaids (or just maid of honor in most cases) into the car/limousine to be driven to the church.

A little bit later on the groom and his family tag along closer to the ceremony. The groom is taken into the church while the bride and the bridal party wait in another part of the church. The guests file in, and then the ceremony begins. The bridesmaids (or usually solely the maid of honor) walk down the aisle with the groomsmen (or the best man). After that, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father or uncle. The religious ceremony begins. My family is Orthodox Christian, and so are most Palestinian Christians