Swahili weddings are a blast and they are a multi-day affair. You can expect lots of singing, dancing and general merriment. On certain days, there are certain dress expectations for the bride and groom. For instance, it's traditional for the bride to wear green on the nikah day.
The henna night is similar to a bridal shower--but with henna! It's a night of fun in anticipation of the marriage ceremony. Friends of the bride usually dance and apply henna on the bride's hands. Nowadays, most if not all of the bridal henna is professionally done prior to the henna night festivities. Nevertheless, even when the bride's henna has been completely applied, girls still symbolically apply henna to the bride's hands. Bridal henna is intricate and extensive, taking hours to apply. Bridal henna typically extends from the fingertips to the forearms and from the feet to the knees.
This is the actual marriage ceremony. In Swahili tradition, the groom, usually dressed in traditional attire, goes to the mosque to enter the marriage contract along with the bride's father on her behalf. After the "I do's," congratulations are exchanged and halwa is served to all in attendance.
Kutoa mkono literally means "taking the hand" of the bride. Immediately after the nikah (the marriage at the mosque), the groom and his immediate family go to the bride's home in an entourage. Once there, the groom must go to the bride who is seated in an inner room of the home. Typically, a mock fight is enacted between the bride's closest male relatives and the groom's entourage. Upon receiving a monetary gift to the satisfaction of the bride's male relatives, the groom is allowed to pass the threshold and enter the room. The groom then recites verses from the Quran and makes a supplication and unveils his bride and presents her with a gift. Photos are then taken of the bride and groom together with family. After that, the bride and groom leave to begin their honeymoon.
The kupamba is a Swahili tradition and a form of wedding reception. It usually takes place on the day following the nikah and kutoa mkono. It's when the bride makes her debut as a married woman. It also tends to resemble an American wedding in that the bride is expected to wear a white wedding gown and walk down the aisle. This event is primarily for women.
Kirumbizi is a traditional stick dance performed during weddings and major festivals. At weddings, usually members of each side of the family will take turns competing with one another.
Vugo is traditional singing and drumming. Oftentimes, it is done to serenade the bride and to give advice through poems. The singing is accompanied by the beating of cow horns and drums. The musicians and participants of vugo are women.