Muslim weddings are simple and beautiful. They tie a man and a woman into a virtuous knot that marks a journey of happiness and togetherness in their lives. Here’s how Muslims celebrate their weddings:

Mehndi
Muslim weddings begin with the most beautiful wedding ceremony, called the Mehndi. This ceremony is organised at the bride’s home either on the eve of the wedding ceremony or just a couple of days before it. The friends and sisters of bride smear her with turmeric paste to bring out the glow in her skin. After that, a relative or a mehndiwali applies mehndi on the hands and feet of the bride. The ceremony of Mehndi has a lot of festival feeling to it. According to customs involved with a Muslim wedding, the Muslim bride is not supposed to move out of the house for the next few days till the time her marriage does not take place.

Baraat
The next day or one or two days after the Mehndi ceremony, the wedding takes place. On this occasion, the groom enters the venue along with his Baraat. The entry of the groom is marked with a band of musicians who strike some traditional musical notes. After that, the groom shares a glass of sherbet / sweet drink with the brother of the bride. The sisters and cousins of the bride give the occasion a lighter feeling by playing pranks on the groom and his relatives.

The Wedding or the Nikaah
After that, the official wedding ceremony, called Nikah takes place. The venue of Nikaah is, usually, at the home of the bride or the groom or at any other convenient venue for both the families. The ceremony is commenced by a priest present on the occasion. In traditional Muslim marriages, the bride and the groom are made to sit separately. The ‘Walis’ (the father of the bride and of the bridegroom) play an important role during this ceremony. Then, the priest recites selected verses from the Quran and the Nikaah completes after the Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance of both the bride and the groom). A proposal is send from the groom’s side and the girl’s side conveys her consent. On this day, elder members of the two families, with the consent of each other, decide the amount of Mehar (nuptial gift). This is the amount of money which has to be given by the groom’s family to the bride.

Blessing the groom
After all the formalities, the groom receives blessings from the older women and in return, the groom offers them his salaam. Other guests present in the ceremony, pray for the happiness and togetherness of the bride and groom.

Dinner
In a Muslim matrimony, the women and the men dine separately during the wedding. After that, the newly-weds are made to sit together for the first time. Then, prayers are recited by the priest and Quran is placed between the newly weds and they are allowed to see each other through mirrors.

Rukshat or the farewell of the bride
The wedding slowly takes a sad turn as the bride’s family bids her a tearful farewell before she departs from her parents’ house. The father of the bride gives her hand to her husband and asks him to protect and take good care of her.
Welcome of the bride

The newly wed bride receives a warm welcome by the groom’s mother, who holds the Quran above the head of her new daughter-in-law.

Chauthi of the fourth day
After four days, the bride visits the home of her parents. She receives a cheerful welcome on this day after all the somberness witnessed during the wedding day.

The Reception or Valimah
A lavish reception is organized the family of the groom after the Nikaah. During this occasion, the bride’s and the groom’s families, their relatives and other well-wishers enjoy together.

Courtesy Indianweddingcard.com