Wedding traditions of Amman
The Jordanian capital where Bedouin and urban Palestinian customs share the wedding stage.
Amman has families of Bedouin, Circassian, Palestinian and Syrian descent, each with their own songs and dress. The dabke and a processional zaffe are part of many weddings. The henna night of the bride and the groom's bachelor night are held separately in most families.
A wedding here
Jordanian weddings often start with the jaha, the formal visit to ask for the bride, and the signing of the contract, katb al-kitab. A groom's procession of cars blows horns through the streets. Mansaf, lamb on rice with a dried yoghurt sauce, is the great feast dish at weddings in many families.
Law and change
The legal minimum age is 18, with a judge able to approve marriage at 16 in special cases, which is criticised by child-rights groups. Polygamy is legal within limits set by the law.
Wedding customs of Amman
Also part of it, and being written: Mansaf (The festive dish.), Zaffe (The procession.), Circassians in Jordan (A minority with its own customs.).
Communities and their weddings in Amman
- Bedouin families The jaha and the mansaf feast.
- Circassian families A tradition of the dance and the slow wedding procession.
A wedding trail idea for Amman
- Rainbow Street A street with cafes where many couples celebrate engagements.
- Amman Citadel A hilltop site and photo spot.
- Downtown Amman gold souk The gold market for bridal jewellery.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Dabke: Sarah Canbel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source