Wedding Day Itinerary

Schedule of Events

11:30 am

Guest Arrival Guests are requested to start arriving by 11:30 am. Festivities will begin at 12 pm Insha'Allah (God Willing).

12:00 PM–12:15 pm

"Gate Dhorah": Hold The Door! This is a playful, age-old Bangladeshi custom known as "Gate Dhora". Upon arriving at the venue, the Groom and his party are stopped by the Bride’s younger siblings, cousins, & friends. They block the entrance with a ribbon or rope & demand an entrance fee/ransom, leading to a hilarious session of joyful bargaining.

12:30 PM–1:00 pm

Nikaah Ceremony This is the formal binding marriage contract & ceremony in Islam. The "Nikaah" is very simple & must include mutual consent between the couple, mahr [a mandatory agreed-upon gift from the groom for his bride], witnesses, & a public announcement of the marriage. All guests in attendance will witness the union of the two souls & participate in a special dua (supplication) for the Bride & Groom's happiness and success, Insha'Allah. In addition, this will include Bengali customs such as "first peek" [through the mirror], and sweet milk/ring/floral garland exchanges between the couple. Traditionally, couples did not meet before their wedding day, as dating is not part of Islamic culture, and most marriages were arranged by the families. The "first peek" became a very significant moment when the Groom saw his new Bride for the first time, in front of the whole wedding party. This concept is similar to the "First Look" and still holds a place in current-day festivities.

1:00 PM–2:00 pm

Appetizer & Cocktail Hour Guests can enjoy apps & mocktails while the Bride & Groom step away to take pictures with their close family and friends.

1:10 pm

Islamic Dhuhr Prayer On this day, the Dhuhr prayer is set to begin at 1:02 PM. Accommodations will be available for those wishing to perform Dhuhr salah.

2:00 PM–3:00 pm

Grand Entrance Preceded by family members, the Bride & Groom will make their grand entrance as "Husband & Wife". This will be followed by Quran recitation/collective dua (supplication/prayer), cake cutting, speeches, games, & performances.

3:00 PM–4:00 pm

Lunch Shortly after "The Grand Entrance", guests are invited to enjoy a delicious buffet lunch featuring a variety of flavorful entrées, fresh salads, seasonal sides, and decadent desserts. With options to suit a range of tastes, we look forward to sharing a wonderful meal as we celebrate together. All of the food served will be halal and will be a combination of South-Asian and West Indian dishes.

4:00 PM–5:00 pm

Party Time! Guests can mingle, take pictures with the couple, at the photobooth, outdoors, continue to enjoy delicious food and drinks, and have a grand 'ole time!

5:00 pm

Bidai (Farewell) This is the Bride's official farewell (bidai) from her maternal home/life as she begins a new journey with her husband. This is a rather bittersweet and quite emotional moment. Culturally, there are a lot of waterworks, so please make sure your handkerchiefs are ready to go, as we bid adieu to Naseha (& Wazir) !