Traditions

Preparation of bride and groom

On the day of the wedding, the tradition is for the bride to dress up at her house and for the groom to dress up at his. It is considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. In each house there are traditional musicians playing traditional music using the violin and the 'laouto' (a long-neck fretted instrument of the lute family) while the relatives and friends sing traditional songs.

The bride comes out in front of her family wearing her dress but not her shoes. The Maids of Honour help her to wear her jewelry and also her makeup. They then dance around the bride (three rounds) holding her shoes. Any relative or friend can dance around the bride before the Maids of honour help the bride to wear her shoes. It is a tradition for the bride to write the names of all single female friends on the sole of her shoe. At the end of the night, after the celebration, the shoe is checked. Women whose names have been worn off will be married soon.

The groom goes through a preparation process as well. The groom prepares by getting dressed by the best men. The groom also seats in a chair and the best men proceeds to shave his face in what is referred to as "the last shave." Once the bride / groom are dressed and ready, the musicians play the traditional wedding song, and the parents, siblings and other close family members, wrap a red scarf around the waist of the bride / groom three times. This symbolises the bride's virginity, and the groom's fertility.

The groom arrives at the church first and waits for the bride for a few minutes (or more!)