Wedding traditions of Mecca
The holiest city of Islam, where weddings are held in the shadow of the pilgrimage and honeymoons often include umrah.
Mecca is open to Muslims only and is the centre of the hajj. Meccan families marry in the same way as other Hijazi families, with a contract, a mahr and a gathering of relatives. Many newly married couples from across the world make the umrah pilgrimage as part of their honeymoon.
A wedding here
The nikah may be recited in a home or in a hall by a cleric. Brides are decorated with henna and gold, and the groom's family hosts a large meal. The food includes rice with lamb and sweets such as dates stuffed with almonds.
The season and the calendar
Weddings are avoided during the hajj season for logistical reasons, and are frequent in the weeks after, when many families return. The months after Ramadan are also popular.
Wedding customs of Mecca
Also part of it, and being written: Umrah (The lesser pilgrimage.), Nikah (The contract.), Mahr (The bridal gift.), Hajj (The annual pilgrimage.).
A wedding trail idea for Mecca
- Masjid al-Haram The Great Mosque and Kaaba, for Muslims.
- Abraj Al-Bait The clock tower complex with hotels.
- Gold souk near Ajyad Gold and bridal jewellery near the Haram.
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.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Sa'yee: Aiman titi, CC BY-SA 3.0, source