Franklin Dean
Somali weddings are a significant moment in Somali culture, with religious rituals, make-up, hair, and attire all playing a crucial role in the lead-up to the wedding. Before the wedding, there is the engagement, or 'soo doonis', which is cultural and not tied to religious obligations. This is an official proposal with witnesses and an agreement with both sides of the family. The wedding attire varies depending on family and personal preferences, but traditionally, women wear a 'guntino' or 'dirac' and men wear suits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Proposal | The man must ask the father of his future bride or the head of the household for permission to marry his future bride. The engagement or "soo doonis" is cultural, not religious, and involves an official proposal with witnesses and an agreement with both sides of the family. |
| Demands | The bride's parents make demands, including how much the groom must pay to marry their daughter. The groom and his family pay the woman's parents, aunts, and uncles, as well as the bride herself. |
| Wedding expenses | The groom covers the wedding expenses and the cost of numerous gatherings at different homes leading up to the wedding. |
| Wedding attire | The wedding attire varies according to family and personal preferences. Traditionally, women wear a "guntino" or "dirac" and men wear suits. Nowadays, the bride typically wears at least two dresses: a dirac or guntino, and a white dress. The bride also wears gold jewellery and henna designs. |
| Reception | The wedding reception is always held in the evening. The bride makes an extravagant entrance into the reception, walking in slowly accompanied by her bridal party. The groom follows a few hours later, either with his own groomsmen or in between the bride's outfit change, and walks in with her. |
What You'll Learn
Engagement traditions
In Somali culture, a man must have parental permission to date a woman. If the woman's parents approve, the couple may date, but visits are chaperoned. The couple is never alone together until after the wedding. Once both sets of families agree, the bride's parents make demands, including how much the groom must pay to marry their daughter. The groom and his family pay the woman's parents, her aunts and uncles, and the bride herself. The groom also covers wedding expenses and numerous gatherings at different homes leading up to the wedding.
The engagement or 'mehr' usually takes place a few days before the wedding, and sometimes on the same day. The wedding arrangements and agreements are all settled on that day. Traditionally, the man should ask the father of his future bride or the head of the household for their future bride's hand in marriage. When the "soo doonis" occurs, it is cultural and not tied to religious obligations. It is an official proposal with witnesses and an agreement with both sides of the family.
Once the engagement "mehr" is confirmed, a traditional Muslim ceremony called a "nikah" will occur. This ceremony is typically held in the home a few days before the wedding reception or the afternoon of the wedding reception. During the Nikah, the groom's side asks again for the bride. The bride's side agrees and gives her away symbolically. The real giving away is done between the Imam and the Maxram. It's attended only by family members and close friends.
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Wedding attire
Additional must-haves for the bride are gold jewellery and henna designs. The bride will make an extravagant entrance into the reception, walking in slowly accompanied by her bridal party. The groom follows a few hours later with his own groomsmen or in between the bride's outfit change, and will then walk in with her.
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Religious rituals
In Somali culture, a man must have parental permission to date a woman. If the woman’s parents approve, the couple may date, but visits are chaperoned. The couple is never alone together until after the wedding. Once both sets of families agree, the bride’s parents make demands, including how much the groom must pay to marry their daughter. The groom and his family pay the woman’s parents, her aunts and uncles, and the bride herself. The groom also covers wedding expenses and numerous gatherings at different homes leading up to the wedding.
The engagement or "mehr" usually takes place a few days before the wedding, and sometimes on the same day. The wedding arrangements and agreements are all settled on that day to prepare for the big day. When the “soo doonis” occurs, it is cultural and not tied to religious obligations. It is an official proposal with witnesses and an agreement with both sides of the family.
Once the engagement “mehr” is confirmed, a traditional Muslim ceremony called a “nikah” will occur. This ceremony is typically held in the home a few days before the wedding reception or the afternoon of the wedding reception. During the Nikah, the groom’s side asks again for the bride. The bride’s side agrees and gives her away symbolically. The real giving away is done between the Imam and the Maxram. It’s attended only by family members and close friends.
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Wedding expenses
The groom's family also pays for the bride's wedding attire, which traditionally includes a "guntino" or "dirac", as well as a white dress. The bride is also expected to wear gold jewellery and henna designs, which are additional expenses for the groom's family.
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The bride's entrance
In Somali culture, the wedding is a significant moment that denotes the union of two souls, two families, and two tribes. The bride's entrance is an important part of the wedding reception.
The bride will make an extravagant entrance when most of the guests have arrived. She will walk in slowly, accompanied by her bridal party. The groom will follow a few hours later, either with his own groomsmen or in between the bride's outfit change, and will then walk in with her.
Traditionally, Somali wedding attire includes a "guntino" or "dirac" for women and a suit for men. Nowadays, the bride will typically wear at least two dresses: a dirac or guntino, and a white dress. Gold jewellery and henna designs are also must-haves for the bride.
Before the wedding, the man must ask the father of his future bride or the head of the household for his future bride's hand in marriage. This is called "soo doonis" and is cultural rather than religious. It is an official proposal with witnesses and an agreement with both sides of the family. Once both sets of families agree, the bride's parents will make demands, including how much the groom must pay to marry their daughter. The groom and his family then pay the woman's parents, aunts, and uncles, as well as a general amount to the bride. The groom also covers the wedding expenses and the cost of numerous gatherings at different homes leading up to the wedding.
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Frequently asked questions
A Somali wedding involves the union of two families and two tribes. The wedding is a significant moment in Somali culture, with religious rituals, make-up and hair all being important details. The bride traditionally wears a "guntino" or "dirac" and gold jewellery, while the groom wears a suit.
The man must ask the father of his future bride or the head of the household for their future bride's hand in marriage. This is called "soo doonis" and is cultural, rather than religious. The engagement or "mehr" is then confirmed a few days before the wedding, or on the same day.
The groom covers the wedding expenses, as well as the expenses for numerous gatherings at different homes leading up to the wedding. The groom and his family also pay the bride's parents, aunts and uncles, and the bride herself.
