Muslim wedding.

[thesmallbear]

I have been invited to a Muslim wedding on bank holiday Monday which I'm really looking forward to. I have only ever been to Christian/secular weddings before though, so am not sure what 'the done thing' is at a Muslim wedding.

The invite states that the 'guest arrival and drinks reception' is from 5.30pm. I would usually turn up to a wedding reception must later than this, but is that the done thing in this case or will it look rude to turn up much later? Also will any dress do to wear as long as it's not too short?

I suppose if it says 'from' then you can turn up later. I would prefer to go early and leave early myself!

As for the dress, how short is not too short? I suppose it depends on how religious the family are. I'm sure some wouldn't be bothered if you turned up in a mini skirt and some would.

I would ask your friend who invited you for advice about what time is appropriate to show up. Muslim weddings tend to always start later then planned but I wouldn't leave it too late if I was you. As for dress it depends on how religious the family is and whether it is segregated or mixed. If itit's mixed I would say keep it slightly modest so not too short or low cut and if it's segregated you should be able to get away with something more risqué but again clarify with your friend. If in doubt about length just wear tights.

Thanks for your help. By 'not too short' I meant to the knee. I wouldn't wear a mini skirt but I don't have a long skirt (although I suppose I could buy one if necessary). I'm not the sort of person to show off any cleavage so all fine on that front. I text'd my friend and asked for some tips on what is appropriate to wear and she replied 'most people wear dresses but as long as you're comfortable that's the main thing.' As the length wasn't mentioned I'm guessing to the knee will be fine.

Most weddings I've been to go on till about midnight. Is it about the same sort of time for a Muslim wedding? Thanks

Is this an Indian Muslim wedding or another culture? If an Indian wedding, there may well be a Western occasion (e.g. In a civil venue) and an Indian one another day, which may well not be the legal bit - it might just be in a hired hall (our church hall is ironically in demand for the Indian bit of local Indian Muslim weddings. It's cheap I think). If there are 2 parties, people may well wear Western clothes to one and Indian to the other.

If another culture, some have a separate area for men and women (giving the women a chance to wear all the things that are too risqué for mixed company, and make bawdy jokes, and dance), but that's also quite culture dependent.

drspouse Oh blimey, I have absolutely no idea. I know she has about four different dresses so I'm guessing more than one ceremony? The invitation states 'walima invitation' on it if that helps? There are a couple of quotes from the Quran on the invite.

What culture is she from, and what's the venue? Town hall, registry office, local hired hall, someone's house?

I have googled the venue and it is described as a 'premier venue for events, weddings, conferences and meetings.'

She is a relatively new friend/work colleague and I haven't interrogated her too much on her culture I'm afraid. She is British (of Asian descent - I don't know where exactly), a muslim, dresses in western clothes and doesn't drink.

After reading your update I would say a knee length dress sounds fine. I would bring a matching shawl just in case. I went to an Asian wedding years ago and because it was segregated thought yes I can wear what I like. I wore a knee length dress but had some cleavage showing. The looks I got from some of the older Pakistan ladies
My friend was do horrified she offered her own headscarf to me to wrap round my shoulders and cover my chest . Just wanted to show you that muslims can get it wrong too. I've been to other Asian weddings where no one has blinked an eye at that much skin on show it really depends on how traditional the family are but if your friend hasn't expressly warned you I would take it that they are pretty laid back. Miniskirts are not unheard of at Muslim weddings by the way. If you ever get invited to an Arab wedding that is segregated assume that anything goes. With a knee length skirt you might be considered the most modest person in the room.

We arrived on time to s similar do, family greeted us and sat us down but no-one else turned up for ages Inc bride and groom. There were no set tables, it was sit where you like.

Ours was Walima too.

If she's South Asian (as opposed to, say, Malaysian) it will be an "Indian" wedding even if she's originally from Pakistan, say (but don't call it that if they are Pakistani!).

This will be the Western wedding given the venue though it sounds like either they aren't doing the legal bit in this venue, or they are doing it earlier - Walima is the reception part, roughly (my British Muslim friends tend to call this part the "party" or "reception" though so I hope I have that right, if not you'll get a ceremony too!).

In the culture where most of the Muslim weddings I've been to have been set, cleavage is not an issue generally (and at the time I didn't own any low cut dresses anyway). It's legs that are the issue so skirt length has been more important, but if she's South Asian then the PP is probably right about dress style.

So its the party after the wedding. I have no idea what to suggest about the skirt length. I think if it was going to be an issue to wear short things she would have said so. I wonder how many other people are going that aren't Muslim. I mean, I wonder how many others are likely to turn up in short skirts/sleeveless dresses or if you will be the only one in the room with legs on show. Would you be ok with that? I have no idea what to suggest... trousers??? I wouldn't bother going out and buying a new skirt for the occasion so in that case just stick to knee length skirt.