Pre-Marriage Moroccan Customs

The future bride and groom start formalities for the marriage about a year prior to the celebrations. Sometimes it is a simple agreement signed in the presence of witnesses and Adoul (Moroccan notary), but generally an act of formal marriage commitment is established in the presence of the family members of the couple. The husband is required to give gifts to his bride. Some gifts may be symbolic, such as sugar, which represents a happy life, or milk for purity or basic gifts which could include dates, water, orange flower and henna. They also include the engagement ring and the alliance. Gifts vary depending on the region of Morocco, and could range from jewelry and bolts of fabric, to caftans, shoes, handbags or perfume. These gifts are typically arranged in very large flat silver colored container and covered with a conical lid which is similar to the form of a big Tagine.

Two days before the wedding, customs require the bride to go to traditional Moroccan Hamam, sauna with her girl friends and relatives. It is considered as an act of purification, and accompanied by beautiful traditional songs performed by her friends.

The next ceremony will take place using the famous Moroccan Henna. Henna comes from a plant that can reach up to one meter in height, and its leaves produce yellow or red dyes which are often used for body paint to create different shapes and designs. At the ceremony a "Hennaya" , a professional Moroccan Henna artist, draws symbolic motifs on the hands and feet of the bride as a lucky charm for her new life. The brides friends and relatives who are involved in marriage will also get to have henna.