Yes, the ever vibrant wedding season is upon us and you know what that means: at least one wedding you need to dress up for every weekend. Lately, Egyptian weddings have been modernized, shedding a few of their somethings old- pun intended- and adding some new features here and there.
Here are some of the most striking trends we’ve come across in many recent weddings:
Morning Weddings Are The New Thing:
Who remembers back in the day when all Egyptian weddings used to start at 9 pm and end at the break of dawn? Nowadays, a lot more weddings are taking place in the morning or early afternoon, making for much better lighting for prettier photos, a lot simpler and less flashy attires and guests who are livelier and less sleepy. What’s not to love about morning weddings?
You May Never Spot a “Kosha”:
Yes, those two flamboyant chairs with large flowery arches and glittery decorations in the background are becoming very rare in today’s Egyptian weddings. Where do the bride and groom sit then? Well, they mostly don’t, as they spend the entire event wandering from table to table, thanking their guests as well as hitting the dance floor like it’s nobody’s business.
More Exquisite Cuisines Highlight the Buffet:
Whereas traditionally, Egyptian weddings would display a set buffet featuring a humongous turkey alongside very standard dishes, nowadays, they showcase more eclectic options. From sushi to fried noodles to a shawerma stand to even some Indian food options, Egyptian wedding buffets are literally all over the place.
Dessert Options Always Include a Wow Factor:
From a drizzling chocolate fountain to imported candies to a huge macaroon stand to gourmet cupcakes, the dessert tables I’ve seen in recent weddings are definitely show-stoppers that dare to stray away from the traditional gateaux soiree and oriental desserts.
Themed Weddings Are Totally In:
A lot more Egyptian weddings are beginning to boast certain themes with matching decorations and props. From “The Great Gatsby” to a “Traditional British Wedding”, weddings are encompassing certain themes to set the tone of the whole event.
Brides Are Embracing Their Own Fashion Style More:
Wedding gowns are no longer a set design of either long strapless A-line dresses or the traditional heart-shaped neckline ones, but are rather a representation of what the bride actually feels like wearing. From high-low dresses, to ones featuring detachable skirts, the shapes of wedding gowns are clearly evolving. Colour-wise, I’ve seen brides choose to wear baby pink, off-white and gold-trimmed gowns, like the Yasmine Yeya number shown above, instead of the traditional ivory white ones.
The Whole “Putting On the Shabka” Show is a Thing of the Past:
You know that awkward pause in the middle of the wedding when the groom has the ‘shabka’ handed to him by a close family member before he continues to awkwardly fondle with the jewellery pieces as he attempts to put them on his bride’s fingers- yeah, it is a rare occurrence nowadays. The bride, however, appears at the wedding already sporting the ‘shabka.’
All in all, I feel really optimistic about where Egyptian weddings are heading. Surely, they’re evolving and changing, yet somehow, still retaining that infectiously traditional vibe found in the timeless ‘zaffa.’ Other than that, may we all have fun during this year’s wedding season. We sure do hope you don’t get 156 “3o’balak/3o’balek’’s in all the weddings you end up attending, our fabulously and fiercely single readers.
