Music, dance and procession
The band, the drum, the first dance, the baraat and the dance that ends the night.
A wedding without music is rare. The band at the gate, the drum on the road, the first dance, the choir in the church and the dance that goes on past midnight are all part of how a community says that this is a joyful day. Music also tells guests what to do: stand, walk, clap, throw money or join the circle.
Procession and call
North Indian weddings are led by the baraat band with dhol drummers and a brass ensemble, and the groom may arrive on a mare. In Ghana and Nigeria, drummers and singers precede the groom's family. In Greece the daouli and zurna lead the groom's party, and in Turkey the davul and zurna play through the streets. In Egypt and the Levant a zaffe, a theatrical entrance of drummers, dancers and sometimes a sword bearer, brings the couple into the hall.
Dances with meaning
The Jewish hora lifts the couple on chairs. The Greek kalamatianos and the Georgian kartuli are circle dances where family join hands. In Poland the oczepiny, the capping of the bride, is followed by dancing and games. In the Philippines the money dance, and in Poland and the Polish diaspora the dollar dance, bring cash to the couple. In Scotland the ceilidh is danced by all ages, and in Ireland the reel and the jig do the same.
What is changing
Playlists have replaced many live bands, though live music is still prized. Couples choose a first-dance song, and some arrange choreographed routines that go viral. Devout communities sometimes restrict music or use only voices and drums, and these choices are respected as part of the tradition.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on Music, dance and procession (kind of custom). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
🇲🇦 Imilchil, MoroccoImilchil Marriage FestivalAgdoud N'Oulmghenni
A Berber marriage festival in Morocco where tribes gather to arrange unions and celebrate with music and dance.Betrothal · Finding a match
🇪🇬 Cairo, EgyptTahtibتحطيب (taḥṭīb)
A traditional Egyptian stick-fighting martial art that evolved into a folk dance performed at weddings and celebrations.Performance · The weeks before
🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreMizmarمزمار (mizmār)
A loud double reed instrument played at weddings and festivals across Egypt and the Levant.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇪🇬 Egypt and 3 moreZaffaزفّة
A lively musical procession that marks the start of wedding festivities in Arab culture.Performance · The weeks before
🇲🇦 MoroccoAhidusⴰⵃⵉⴷⵓⵙ (aḥidous)
A collective Berber dance from Morocco performed in circles or lines to celebrate unity and victory.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇪🇬 Egypt and 1 moreWedding music
The songs and instruments that mark the arrival of the couple and set the mood for the celebration.Performance · The weeks before
🇲🇷 MauritaniaT'heydinnالتهيدين (al-T'haydīn)
A Mauritanian Moorish epic performance of poetry and music kept by griot families.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇩🇿 Algeria and 3 moreSebibaسبيبة (Arabic), ⵙⴱⵉⴱⴰ (Tifinagh)
The Tuareg New Year dance and festival held in Djanet to mark the end of a chaotic transition period.Performance · The weeks before
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Imilchil Marriage Festival: Zakaria ElQotbi, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ahidus: Fotograaf / photographer: Drs. F.M. (Frits) Cowan (1931 - 2010), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sebiba: Abderrahmane boudjenane, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tahtib: Yasser Elrasoul, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mizmar: dalbera, CC BY 2.0, source