Wedding traditions of Erbil
The citadel city of Iraqi Kurdistan, where Kurdish dress and a long line of dancers fill the wedding.
Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Region and has a citadel that is among the oldest inhabited places. Kurdish weddings are lively, with large halls, line dances called chopi, and bright traditional clothing. Families host many guests, and the groom's family usually covers most costs.
A wedding here
The dance, led by a person waving a handkerchief, is joined by hundreds of guests holding hands. The bride and groom may wear Kurdish costume with gold coin jewellery. Henna night and gifts of gold are traditional.
Law and change
The Kurdistan Region has restricted polygamy through its own personal status reforms; forced and underage marriage are crimes. Campaigners continue to work against the practice of pressuring girls.
Wedding customs of Erbil
Also part of it, and being written: Chopi (The Kurdish dance.), Kurdish people (The community.), Mahr (The bridal gift.).
A wedding trail idea for Erbil
- Erbil Citadel A UNESCO-listed hilltop settlement.
- Qaysari Bazaar A covered bazaar near the citadel.
- Sami Abdul Rahman Park A large city park popular for photographs.
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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