Throughout the wedding celebration, the bride and groom basically sit under their canopy and almost like Santa Clause in the mall at Christmas time, sit there and smile as everyone takes turns coming and sitting with them to snap photos and say “mabrook” (congratulations) and tell them how wonderful they look.
We were served fresh juices and small tarts and cookies at this time. In preperation for a Moroccan wedding, the family will make literally thousands of different types of cookies to serve through out the festivities. I had a chance to get in on some cookie-making action with the groom's mom, and believe me it is very hard work. These are not your average roll-out-the-dough-and-cut-out-a-shape kind of cookies, but intricate designs that may take hours at a time for just one style.
After the henna was completed, the married ones exited, again to the chanting of the ngafa, to change into their second ensemble of the evening. The groom actually had more freedom than the bride since he wasn't changing this time around, and was out among the guests dancing and socializing. Some friends were the first ones up and dancing. Slowly more people trickled onto the lawn and got into the groove of the Marrakeshi
music. The groom and friends were especially entertaining with their shoulder shimmying, hip shaking, loud clapping, Middle Eastern style dancing that really got everyone up and dancing with them. The grooms's dad was out there with us, busting out the Lebanese dance moves. Then again the groom's friends from high school created a big circle where one person, or sometimes two girls, who be in the middle dancing and everyone else clapping and swaying around them. I don't know what it is, but Moroccan women ALL know how to dance superbly. I tried to dance too, but it was extremely difficult due to the yards of fabric of the traditional kuftan I was wearing and my heels sinking into the grass. It didn't matter though, because it was so much fun.
Then the couple made their second grand entry, again with music and the chatting of the ngafa.Bride 's second dress was a beautiful white gown with silver embroidery in the sheer top layer. After posing under the canaopy for a while, they came and joined our table to eat their wedding feast with us. I was so thrilled that
they came to sit with us; it felt too special and intimate to be able to share their wedding meal with them. The first course was chicken with apricots, and was served in a large dish in the center of the table, where we all ate from with bread. After the chicken dish, the hired waiter brought out another equally large dish with meat in an onion sauce topped with plums and almonds. Both were incredible delicious, as all Moroccan cuisine has been. Finally, they cleared away all out plates and even changed the table cloth, only to serve us a generous platter or fruit to cleanse our palettes.
We were served fresh juices and small tarts and cookies at this time. In preperation for a Moroccan wedding, the family will make literally thousands of different types of cookies to serve through out the festivities. I had a chance to get in on some cookie-making action with the groom's mom, and believe me it is very hard work. These are not your average roll-out-the-dough-and-cut-out-a-shape kind of cookies, but intricate designs that may take hours at a time for just one style.
After the henna was completed, the married ones exited, again to the chanting of the ngafa, to change into their second ensemble of the evening. The groom actually had more freedom than the bride since he wasn't changing this time around, and was out among the guests dancing and socializing. Some friends were the first ones up and dancing. Slowly more people trickled onto the lawn and got into the groove of the Marrakeshi
music. The groom and friends were especially entertaining with their shoulder shimmying, hip shaking, loud clapping, Middle Eastern style dancing that really got everyone up and dancing with them. The grooms's dad was out there with us, busting out the Lebanese dance moves. Then again the groom's friends from high school created a big circle where one person, or sometimes two girls, who be in the middle dancing and everyone else clapping and swaying around them. I don't know what it is, but Moroccan women ALL know how to dance superbly. I tried to dance too, but it was extremely difficult due to the yards of fabric of the traditional kuftan I was wearing and my heels sinking into the grass. It didn't matter though, because it was so much fun.Then the couple made their second grand entry, again with music and the chatting of the ngafa.Bride 's second dress was a beautiful white gown with silver embroidery in the sheer top layer. After posing under the canaopy for a while, they came and joined our table to eat their wedding feast with us. I was so thrilled that
they came to sit with us; it felt too special and intimate to be able to share their wedding meal with them. The first course was chicken with apricots, and was served in a large dish in the center of the table, where we all ate from with bread. After the chicken dish, the hired waiter brought out another equally large dish with meat in an onion sauce topped with plums and almonds. Both were incredible delicious, as all Moroccan cuisine has been. Finally, they cleared away all out plates and even changed the table cloth, only to serve us a generous platter or fruit to cleanse our palettes. 
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