Meet Nazret Asfaw: Event Planning Intern

Photography: TimeStop Photography

Behind every successful event, there is a hardworking Event Planner.

Meet the newest addition to our team, Nazret Asfaw!

Nazret really wanted more experience in the event planning world so joining Her Big Day was a match made in wedding planning heaven. Nazret has been closely involved in our quarterly mixers, bridal brunch, one year anniversary party and our wedding show that is around the corner. Learn more about her below! P.s. If you're reading this on July 20th, it's her birthday so be sure to wish her a happy birthday!

Name: Nazret Asfaw

School or Trade School You Attended: University of Washington 2011

Major:  Media and Communication with a Minor in Human Rights

Instagram: @nazretasfaw

Where are you from? I am Ethiopian and have lived in Seattle,Washington for over twenty-four years.

What is the most fun event you have planned? I enjoyed planning my brother’s Melse (part two of the Wedding). Everything from the decorations, dresses, food, and photographs turned out better than I expected. It brought joy to see family and friends enjoying themselves.

If you could get married today, where would be your dream wedding? I have always said it didn’t matter where I got married. I only care about having those close to me take part in the celebration. 

What would be your wedding colors and/or theme? I would like to keep day one of my wedding simple and classic with gold, white, ivory and blush. I then would have day two (Melse) be filled with bright colors such as yellow, fuchsia and blue. 

What are wedding traditions in your culture?

On the couple’s wedding day, relatives and guests will assemble at the bride’s and groom’s houses. The groom dresses for the wedding then picks up the bride from her family’s house. The bride and the bridal party meet the groom at the entrance of her home with music and bar him from entering until he makes his way through. On day two, the families of the bride and groom wear traditional clothing as a way to signify unity. Women get traditional braids and wear lots of jewelry. The groom and bride wear these beautiful embroidered crown and cape. 

Your favorite drink to order at Starbucks: 

I’m not a fan of coffee or tea so I usually get a Passion Tea Lemonade.

What’s in your purse? I don’t carry much in my purse just my phone, wallet, and chap stick.

Your favorite quote:

 “There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning” Jiddu Krishnamurti

What do you hope to get out of interning with Her Big Day?

I am doing this internship in hopes of gaining experience. I hope to learn how to effectively network, engage with establishment owners and local businesses/sponsors, and practice professional etiquette.

We are thrilled to have Nazret on our team! 

Her Big Day Bridal Brunch Vendor Spotlight: The Bloom Room

ONE more day until our Bridal Brunch fit for the cultural bride! What's an event without an awesome photo backdrop?! We are thrilled to share that The Bloom Room will be displaying her beautiful floral backdrop for all of our lovely brides and bridesmaids to snap photos against. Owner, Sana Ahmed is new to the bridal world and is excited to bring this element of the bridal decor to life for any bride and groom that she meets. Learn more about Sana and her business below!

Her Big Day (HBD): Tell us about your business and what you specialize in. What makes your business stand out from the rest?

The Bloom Room (Sana): I make handmade giant paper flowers and paper flower backdrops for all types of events. My paper flowers can be customized for each event according to what my client desires.

HBD: What do you find clients say they love the most about working with you?
Sana: My clients love the intricate details of my paper flowers and designs. They are often shocked of the time I've spent in creating the paper flowers and paper flower boards, and love how they bring their events and photo shoots to life.

HBD: What was your favorite wedding floral design that you have done?

Sana: Since I am a fairly new business, I'd have to say my favorite floral designs were one I did for a bridal magazine photo shoot. It was a tough design but came out absolutely beautiful. I was very proud of my work and so were my clients.

The second is one I did in 2016 for a summer styled photo shoot with Musee Photography. It was really fun to work with new people!

Get excited to meet Sana and take pictures against her gorgeous The Bloom Room photo backdrop for the event! Get your tickets here: bit.ly/herbigdaybridalbrunch

To reach The Bloom Room you can find her via:
Email : Thebloomroom.seattle@gmail.com
Phone : 425-586-0076
Instagram: TheBloomRoom.Seattle
Facebook: The Bloom Room.Seattle

Her Big Day Bridal Brunch Spotlight: Nuciano

We are picking our jaws up from off the ground at how fab this next prize giveaway at our Bridal Brunch on Sunday is! Think bling, bling and LOTS OF BLING! One lucky bride will win the "Diane Clutch" from Nuciano. Nuciano was started by handbag designer, Joy Egbejimba; a savvy fashion professional. Joy studied Industrial Chemistry at Enugu State University and later obtained a degree in Accounting from Central Washington University. While attending college Joy worked as a model and quickly realized she had a passion for the fashion industry. Joy now resides in Renton, Washington and is ecstatic to immerse herself in the wedding industry with her one of a kind handbags.

"I have always loved fashion and more structured fashion pieces. There remains a gap between quality and affordability, and the Nuciano brand is my effort to help women feel and look their best!"

When Joy is designing, she is inspired by shape, architecture, and color. Every design focuses on flattering a real woman's body. Egbejimba’s technical knowledge of a handbag’s proper fit and design, combined with her innate creative abilities, results in an effortless and wearable line that reflect the kind of woman she is herself; strong, sexy, fun, and fearless.

The Diane Clutch is valued at $385! Here are more details on this gorgeous clutch:

• Completely covered with 100% authentic Crystals
• Style Number: NUC-362-Dia
• Silver, Gold (24K gold plated)
• Titanium compact metal frame and chain
• 20” detachable strap with chain-detailing
• Entirely lined in Genuine Leather
• Plaque with Nuciano Logo inside the purse
• High Quality Closure
• Spare Crystals included
• Packaging: PVC Bag+Fabric Bag+Gift Box
• Size: 9.8”x3.5”x2”
• 25x9x5(cm)

Win your chance at this fabulous prize by securing your ticket to our Bridal Brunch for the cultural bride set for Sunday, June 26th, 2016 from 11AM-3PM at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge! Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite here: bit.ly/herbigdaybridalbrunch!

Her Big Day Bridal Brunch Vendor Spotlight: A Tailored Affair

A Tailored Affair is live and ready to give you the wedding look of your dreams. We are so excited to have A Tailored Affair as the EXCLUSIVE wedding decor vendor for our Bridal Brunch, this Sunday, June 26th, 2016 at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge from 11AM-3PM.

Up until recently, with no official website but just a photo gallery, Barbara from A Tailored Affair has managed to create longevity through simple "word of mouth". You name it, she's decorated it. From cultural Indian weddings to cultural Nigerian weddings and everything in between, Barbara and her team executes a flawless finish that provides the canvas for a picture perfect scene on your BIG DAY!

The list of decorative items she carries include:

• Chuppah & Mandaps
• Backdrop Standard
• Backdrop Designed
• Backdrop Twinkle
• Ceiling Fabric
• Columns / Pedestals
• Grand Entrance
• Linens & Napkins
• Chair Covers
• Vases & Candle Holders & Votives
• Misc Decor
• Lighting
• Furniture
• Chairs & Tables
• Catering Equipment
• China & Glassware & Silverware

Lucky for you, you will get to see tons of Barbara's work at our brunch as she will transform the space to get you inspired for your multicultural wedding.

To see her past work, view her gallery here!

Don't miss out! Buy your tickets via bit.ly/herbigdaybridalbrunch!

Her Big Day Bridal Brunch Vendor Spotlight: MyCakes

Our Bridal Brunch is 4 days away and it will be jam packed with useful tips and resources for brides looking to infuse culture into their wedding. Regardless of what culture you represent, a wedding cake is the norm which is why we are excited to have MyCakes as our EXCLUSIVE wedding cake vendor during the brunch. Learn more about Cynch, the Owner of MyCakes, and don't forget to purchase your tickets for just $35 to this one of a kind event. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/herbigdaybridalbrunch.

Her Big Day (HBD): Tell us about your business and what you specialize in. What makes your business stand out from the rest?

 

MyCakes (Cynch): MyCakes LLC was started in 2008 where MyCakes was originally operating under the trade name "Cakes by Cynch". However, since 2010 the trade name was changed to "MyCakes". I have extensive experience in the baking industry, and my family has possessed large wholesale / retail bakery operations based in the Philippines for over 35 years. I have served as a professional baking consultant for WinRock International and Land-O-Lakes, and have a USA Presidential Volunteerism Award for my work with confectionary shops worldwide through USAID agriculutral exchange programs.

 

We work hard to make MyCakes the Seattle Eastside go-to for specialty cakes, cupcakes, and all-occasion baked sweet goods. Our mission is to achieve recognized success in the Pacific NW specialty cake market, and deliver world-renowned custom-decorated cakes.

HBD: What do you find clients say they love the most about working with you? 

 

Cynch: Our clients absolutely love the taste of our cakes/desserts. They are also pleased with how we display them. You can find all of my customer reviews from my website, Facebook page and

on Wedding Wire.

HBD: What was your favorite wedding cake design that you have done?

 

Cynch: There are several that it is so hard to pinpoint just one! Each one is a unique design /creation of its own.  You always tend to fall in love with it after the final product is done.  But I am always biased towards bling. See all of my work here!

HBD: Do you have any specials or giveaway items you'll be doing at the brunch?

 

Cynch: I'll be raffling off the following items:

(2) $50 off towards  $500 wedding cake 

(2) $75 off towards $750 wedding cake 

(2) $100 off towards $1000 wedding cake 

(2) $175 off towards $1500 wedding cake

(2) $250 off towards $2000 wedding cake 

To learn more about MyCakes, visit her website here and look forward to mingling with her during the taste testing she will be providing at the brunch!

Bridal Brunch Spotlight: Antonio Salon

Our bridal brunch is around the corner on Sunday, June 26th at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge and each bride (and her amazing friends) are in for an awesome treat with one of our amazing prize giveaways.

Aside from having access to our expert panel of past cultural brides, witnessing a live makeup tutorial from Sofia of Makeup by Diva Doll, having a front row seat at the fashion show put on by Bellevue's Best New Designer 2015, Dream Dresses by P.M.N. and enjoying a delicious brunch and mimosa bar, brides have access to a couple of prize giveaways. Our grand prize giveaway comes from an amazing local salon here in Seattle, WA: Antonio Salon 

Antonio Salon was founded with a mission to not only deliver the most exquisite cuts and color, but challenge the archetype of a traditional salon.

They share that it's the perfect union of luxury and comfort. Antonio Salon offers a luminous, modern space for clients to unwind in and relax.  Authenticity and warmth permeate both the space and the staff, whose magnetic personalities are rivaled only by their skill.

Antonio salon prides themselves on providing the finest services, tailored to suit the client. Individual face shape, personal style, and lifestyle are all taken into account before every cut or color. They work closely with their clients to develop a style that is both highly flattering and realistic to maintain.

"Hair is an opportunity to set forward your best self- a high quality cut and color offers an instant solution to illuminate your eyes, compliment your skin, and redefine your style."-Antonio Salon

Check out more of their services here!

So what's the awesome prize giveaway?!

Antonio Salon is giving away a Girl's Night at Antonio Salon package valued at $800! The winner, along with 3 friends, will have an evening at the salon receiving glamorous blowouts. After their services they will head over to Tavolata for a delicious meal and enjoy a $200 dollar gift card to put towards their dinner and drinks for the evening!

Talk about an AMAZING prize giveaway! Earn your chance to win this prize by securing your ticket to our bridal brunch taking place THIS SUNDAY, June 26th, 2016 at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge from 11AM-3PM. Get your tickets here: bit.ly/herbigdaybridalbrunch

P.s. Remember, if you're a bride and you bring THREE friends to the brunch your ticket is FREE!

#AskWendy

We asked all of you lovely brides out there to submit your burning wedding questions for our expert Wedding Coordinator, Weddings With Wendy, to answer. Wendy has been serving the wedding industry for decades here in the Seattle area and knows a thing or two about planning for a wedding.
Find the answers to your burning questions from her below!

Question #1: Are there ways to get loans or free money to offset the cost of weddings?

I am sure there are however the question you want to ask yourself is do you really want to begin your marriage with debt? A wedding can be super fun with almost any budget and I highly recommend putting a budget together before you start your planning and doing whatever you need to in order to stay within it.

Question #2: When it comes to your bridal party, is there an unwritten rule about whether or not the bride should pay for the bridesmaids’ hair and makeup and/or bridesmaid dresses?

Traditionally the bride will pay for hair and makeup so on her special day all your bridesmaid will feel equally pampered and equally special and pretty. When it comes to the dress choice it is typical for each member of the bridal party to pay for her own dress. When a bride is picking out her bridesmaid’s dress she should keep in mind the affordability of it. You don’t want one of them to have to back out just because she can’t afford the dress and there may be times the bride should offer to pay for it. You’ll just want to be very sensitive to the way you handle it.

 

Question #3: With cultural weddings, it’s hard to accommodate and please everyone involved due to direct involvement of family members. Do you have any useful tips or great advise on how to plan a large wedding with family involvement without hurting anyone’s feelings or sacrificing things that matter most to you?

It will be difficult to keep everyone happy 100% of the time and if that is your goal you’ll probably find yourself being frustrated most of the time. I would recommend that you ask your immediate family (mostly the mom’s and dad’s) what is most important to them. Even ask them to write it down and then go through the list letting them know that you will do what you can to accommodate as many of their wishes as possible. If there are things on the list the bride and or groom won’t be able to do they should let the family know ahead of time so there are no surprises. The main thing is to just listen. Your family mostly wants to be heard and to know their wishes are being considered.

Question #4: Real flowers are pretty for weddings, but so expensive. Is there any way to save on Flowers while still getting a full effect of flowers for your wedding décor? Are there places where I can hold off on real floral? Can you suggest pretty flowers that won’t break the bank, but will make a wow factor at my wedding?

You would be surprised on how much you can save and how pretty potted flowers or potted plants are. I myself use these kinds of flower at my home on a regular basis and often take them to my wedding shows and events with spectacular results. Often I’m asked about silk flowers and in general find there to be a significant price range on these and the nice ones often will end up costing more than real flowers. The only advantage is that you can take the silk flowers home and use them again and again however you can also do this with the potted plants and flowers as well and probably at a lower cost. Your other choice is to go to Pike’s Place Market and buy your own seasonal fresh cut flowers however you will have to do your own arrangements and provide your own containers if you choose to do it this way.

TV Show Opportunity: Arranged

TV SHOW CASTING OPPORTUNITY!

We are currently searching for young, engaged couples to feature on FYI's hit

docu-series, "Arranged". “Arranged” shines a light on the culture of arranged marriages in modern America and captures the exciting transitions and transformations that engaged couples undergo as they begin their lives as newlyweds. Not only is this series about marriage between spouses, it’s also about marrying into each other’s families. We are looking to find couples (as well as their parents) who want to share their lives as they embrace traditional cultural marriage practices in modern America.

Click HERE for past episodes!

For more info, please email us, including two photos of you and your fiancé, at INFO@HERBIGDAY.INFO with the Subject title "Arranged TV Casting".

Shout out a bride and/or groom in the comment's section below who you think would be perfect for this show!

A Same Day Surprise Proposal & Wedding

"I didn't want to say 'I love you' without being able to back it up with every fiber of my being." .... Meet Ryan Leak- 27 year old young man who pulled off the most amazing proposal of all time! A proposal followed by the actual wedding! Yes! The actual wedding! After 5 years of dating, Ryan told his girlfriend Amanda Roman he loved her for the first time, proposed to her and married her...all in one day!!

Just exactly how did he pull this off? Pinterest! Yes, Ryan found his girlfriend's wedding board, where he found the ultimate pot of Gold....more than 200 pictures of wedding ideas and inspiration that would become his guide to planning her dream wedding!

So over a period of one year, as his girlfriend updated her wedding board, Ryan stayed on top of her latest wedding inspirations and paid extra close attention to the details that she had desired.

In accordance with Ryan's plans, 100 guests flew out to Miami for the surprise wedding. In addition, Ryan flew out Amanda's favorite hair and makeup artist (simply amazing!) to get his bride ready for their special day!

So when Ryan finally got on one knee, the big question wasn't will you marry me, but will you marry me today!

Watch this amazing documentary and be prepared to bawl your eyes out! Grab your box of kleenex and enjoy! xo

One Day Habesha Weddings - A New Trend?

On July 27th, 2014 Bethlehem & Esrom tied the knot at the beautiful TPC Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Club while 200 of their family and friends witnessed a breathtaking ceremony as the couple became a part of the scenic masterpiece that comprised the beautiful Cascade Mountains of the Northwest!

As every wedding is unique and special in its own way, almost all Habesha weddings tend to follow the tradition of having a two day wedding affair; asserting the Eritrean or Ethiopian traditions and culture.

I believe there has been a turning point in how we celebrate Habesha weddings, especially with our generation, and the two day weddings just may be the first to be shelved. With creativity and a vision (and superb planning, of course!), I believe it is very much possible to successfully execute a one day Habesha wedding, incorporating the meaningful details of the culture into the day.

I believe Bethlehem & Esrom's wedding will be the wedding that is talked about for years to come! The simplicity, elegance and charm was just timeless! More importantly, not only did they make a sound financial decision, but they managed to step outside of the traditional norm (and stringent expectations) to appease their desires and thoughts for a dream wedding!

Hear from the bride herself about their decision to have a one day wedding, the difficulties it posed and how they managed to execute. Also, Bethlehem tells us her top Pros & Cons as well as whether or not she would do it all over again.

Find out what she said HERE!

Meet Suzanna: Her Big Day Marketing Intern

We are so excited to announce that Suzanna is our new Marketing Intern. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Her Big Day Team and she will be keeping busy providing you with special information surrounding our huge event: Her Big Day: A Cultural Wedding Affair. Before you get to know Suzanna, we wanted to first take the time to wish her a Happy birthday! Learn some fun facts about Suzanna below and be sure to check the blog throughout the month to meet our other interns!

Name: Suzanna Weldedawit

College: Seattle Pacific University

Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Nursing

Instagram: @susan_tsegai

Where are you from? I am of Eritrean descent and was raised in Seattle, WA.

What is your favorite thing that you’re involved in at school? Early Connections (program that helps incoming freshman from diverse backgrounds transition from high school to college).

What is the most fun event you have helped market? Early Connections, recruiting students to sign up for the program.

If you could get married today, where would be your dream wedding? Hawaii!

What would be your wedding colors and/or theme? White, pink, and maybe gold too

What are wedding traditions in your culture? For Eritreans, weddings take course over two days. There is an American white-dress ceremony and then the next day we have what we call a "Melsi." One of the traditions is that we wear a "kabah" (traditional wedding cape/gown).

Your favorite drink to order at Starbucks: Hot chocolate and iced chai tea latte

What’s in your purse?: The basics: my wallet, chapstick, and keys

Your favorite quote: “The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans are suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.” -Rita Mae Brown

The Melsi Tradition

[photography: Victor Zerga]

Day two of an Eritrean and Ethiopian wedding, referred to as 'Melsi' or 'Melse,' mimics a traditional wedding that may take place in the country of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Everything, from the bride’s hair, gold accessories, traditional attire and the adornment of henna is drastically different from Day 1, the white wedding. The white wedding is the traditional western wedding where the bride wears a white dress. Melsi usually starts early in the morning for the girls in the wedding party, as each girl usually embarks on a beautifying ritual of hair braiding and henna decoration. In some cases, the Bride might opt out of this daunting task and spare her bridesmaids as well! Co Founder, Beri, personally wanted to experience the entirety of the culture, so for her bridesmaids and her, it was the very long process of hair braiding and henna, which took 3 hours solely for the henna design and processing (henna is usually reserved for the bride alone as it symbolizes the woman's beauty and joy as a bride). It was very much exhausting (keep in mind that Day 1 was an 18 our day for them) but fun, and the results were well worth it!

Overall, Melse is a sequel to Day 1 of the wedding with more emphasis on the culture and unique wedding traditions. It is a great way to preserve our heritage! The different attire worn by the wedding party and family members, the changes in wedding décor and the additions of traditional wedding games and songs is what makes Melsi so special and unique!

Welcoming The Bride & Groom
In alignment with the traditions of Melsi, the women at the wedding greet the bride and groom with various assortments of Mes (wine) bottles, Kitcha (homemade flat bread), Corn, Mesob (handwoven baskets) and much more. These are considered to be gifts to the bride and groom on their wedding day. Because weddings are typically celebrated as a community, all of the women in the village and neighboring villages and cities will bring a gift and sing and dance with it to show what they have brought.

All of this excitement is usually celebrated with close friends and family members, so the wedding guest list is usually not as massive as Day 1. It really is an intimate night of fun and games and a great time to reunite and catch up with visiting friends and family while enjoying the traditional boon ceremony (Yes! Boon is served at Melsi!) :)

Arkitay Betsi'hatiney
The traditional dancing game with the bridal party, called T'hambele, was followed by the traditional vow made to the bride by a few of the groomsmen. During this moment, Arkitay Betsi'hatiney, is repeated by the chosen groomsmen while standing behind the seated and covered bride.

Repeating vows over the bride. The vows were repeated in the language of Tigrinya, so there were a few funny moments since English is the first language for the wedding party! 

In the Eritrean culture, the Bride leaves her parent’s village to go and live in her husband’s village. There, she is destined to start a new life with her husband and his family. Because she is essentially alone when she arrives, not knowing anyone in the new village, the groom’s friends come into an 'alliance' with her as they vow to protect her, stand up for her and become mediators in her marriage when needed. I think it’s such a precious gesture made towards the new, young bride and because we wanted to honor our family and mimic the Eritrean culture for Melsi, we thought it would be awesome to include this “ceremony,” if you will. It was totally foreign to the entire wedding party but we had fun with it!

Choosing the Right Veil

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Hi Bellas! We came across a few words of advice from the talented Vera Wang about how to choose the perfect wedding Veil! To Veil or not to Veil...that is the question! And then of course what KIND of veil...is just as important! Take a look at what Miss Wang had to say on choosing this perfect accessory for your big day. xo.

"The bridal veil is steeped in custom and symbolism in many cultures.It ís a transformational element, and carries with it, social and religious meaning. When choosing your veil, consider religious or cultural importance, the location of the ceremony, the length of the aisle, and any possible weather issues (if the ceremony is outdoors). Itís important to also think about your hairstyle, the style of gown, the length of train, as well as your face shape and features. The wedding veil is at once sacred and seductive." - Vera Wang

Check out some of our favorite bridal styles in veils, floral crowns, blushers and headpieces above.

Did you choose to wear a wedding veil, accessorize with a headpiece or floral crown? Share your style with us by submitting your photos to info@herbigday.info. We can't wait to see your different veils!

Kenyan Wedding Traditions: Giving Dowry

Meet Christine (Naila), a Kenyan living here in the states. Christine had a quiet ceremony with her and her husband, but is saving up to have a big wedding with Kenyan traditional touches. We asked Christine just what are the traditions for Kenyans and she was able to touch on the first part of the whole wedding exchange. Much like many other African cultures, dowry is involved when starting the wedding process for many Kenyans. The man has to ask the parents of the bride-to-be if he is allowed to marry her daughter. Next, the woman's parents set a dowry amount (a dowry is a transfer of parental property at the marriage of a daughter). A huge party is thrown and introductions are made and the parents go into a separate room and discuss the dowry. Once an agreement has been made the couple is officially engaged.

Are you Kenyan? What are other traditions in your culture's wedding? Share with us in the comments below!

About Us

Hi! We are Beri and Karen, Founders of Her Big Day! Started in July of 2015, Her Big Day: A Cultural Wedding Affair is a wedding show curated for the cultural bride. We connect brides looking to preserve their heritage and traditions in their wedding with vendors/companies to meet their needs. This blog is designed to inspire your cultural wedding! From time to time we will refer to our readers as "Bellas" meaning beautiful. Every bride and bride-to-be is beautiful inside and out and we intend to show that throughout the various collaborations and features we will showcase. If you want to share your wedding experiences, we want to hear about it. Feel free to email us with high resolution, good quality photos and vendor links for a possible feature. Our blog will be your one-stop cultural bride wedding shop.

We will be hosting wedding shows nationwide with our first show on January 31st, 2016 in Seattle, WA. For more details, visit our event page at www.herbigday.info!

Jertik - A Sudanese Wedding Ceremony

We love the beautiful Sudanese wedding tradition! Silks, red and gold fabrics, henna, an abundance of gold jewelry and a seven day ceremony with different functions and celebrations for the bride and groom! The Jertik is one of the seven ceremonies in a Sudanese wedding.

Our favorite part of the whole thing is the two week prep of beautification treatments that the new bride undergoes in the hands of her family and in-laws before she is presented to her husband! This entails lots of scrubbing and soaking in milk baths and essential oils- Doesn't all of this just sound so lovely!

After the bride and groom are both adorned in henna and the proper attire, beads and gold, the woman in their families sing and dance in their presence, sending blessings to the newlyweds!

The unique honoring and blessing of a bride and groom in every culture is so beautiful and fascinating.

We love it!