Whether you are an Arab-American planning a wedding in your hometown, marrying into the Arab culture or from the Middle East - but getting married in the states, Aroos Joon has you covered. We have the top tips on executing a flawless Arab wedding in the United States.
Family First: If you haven’t figured it out yet, your Arab family will have a say in some if not most of what happens at your wedding. Arab families wait a lifetime and treasure the moment their children get married. Don’t think you will get off choosing your entire guest list alone or in which manner the food is served on your special day. Although the wedding is in America, that doesn’t mean the wedding planning and thought process will be western. Word of advice, take the family’s suggestions and talk them out together. Above all else, do not stress about a million people trying to give their input, it’s coming from a place of love and is their way of showing you how much they accept, respect and/or welcome you into the Arabic family fold. At the end of it all, it is your special day – just make sure the family knows their suggestions are valued and being considered and respected.
Arab Traditions & Wedding Vendors: This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is important to choose your wedding vendors wisely. Planning an Arab wedding in the States is not as easy as you might think. Make sure to hire wedding vendors who are experts at Arab wedding traditions. While planning your East meets West wedding, it is important that choose wedding vendors who understand how to pair both traditions into the ultimate wedding. You need wedding vendors who can give you advice on how to incorporate Arab traditions into your modern, western wedding. For a listing of local Arab wedding vendors, check out or Aroos Joon local vendor listings!
Stick to Your Decisions: How traditional do you want your special day? Are you looking to have a completely Arab wedding with a few modern twists or do you want a very modern wedding with a hint of Arab traditions? Either way would totally work these days. Thanks to the term “vintage” you are now entitled to incorporate any traditional aspect into your ultra modern wedding and get away with it in style! It is important you make decisions when it comes to the traditions & events you incorporate early on and stick to those decisions so proper timing can be devoted to acquiring the items / vendors you need. For example, if you are considering hiring a ‘zafeh” group for your wedding, it’s best to give yourself plenty of time to arrange and confirm their booking. This is not a last minute detail as zafeh groups book up quickly in the U.S. and the decision should be made early on to avoid disappointment.
Task Delegations: Make sure to enlist your family and closest friends strategically as your wedding-day entourage. This group will not only be by your side on your wedding day, but will also be there for you along the journey to becoming a Bride. Delegate tasks early on based on whom you would like to participate in certain wedding traditions and allow your loved ones ample time to clear busy schedules so they can assist you with ease. Be selective yet considerate when tasking certain people to certain tasks as you want to seek advice from those who know a thing or two about specific elements. For example, a wedding venue for Arab weddings can be confusing so you might consider bringing your experienced parents or an older relative along to help you make the appropriate choice. For the cake tasting, ask you sister or best friend-they tend to be the cake-tasting pros!
We know these tips will help you plan a7la Arab wedding in the states. Things could get a bit stressful trying to combine two cultures cohesively. It will all be worth it when you’re dancing to Calvin Harris and Fares Karam all on your wedding day. You can then thank Aroos Joon and of course the DJ because of his knowledge on how to tie in Arab wedding traditions to your western thought process or vice versa. Before you know it, your special day will be here and you will be raving and doing the dabke all at once.
CREDITS
Written by: Mia Khalil