The traditional way of arranging marriages in Egypt has always been through agreements made between families, and this is still the case, especially in towns and villages. Following a ceremony involving the bridegroom and the bride’s representative in front of witnesses, the contract and terms of the dowry are ratified and the date fixed for when the bride will move into her new home. There is also a reception, involving musicians and dancers, for family and friends at which the couple sit enthroned receiving guests. Wealthy families usually hire rooms at a prestigious hotel for this celebration.

In traditional weddings special ceremonies are observed. Musicians escort the bride, covered with a shawl and attended by her closest female relatives, from her home to the baths. The women frequently make distinctive high ululations (long, high-pitched cries) of joy on these occasions. Back home the bride’s hands and feet are painted with henna dye.

In the Siwa Oasis near the Libyan border, brides used to be adorned with heavy silver necklaces, bracelets and hair ornaments. The wedding dress was made of strips of coloured silk worn over embroidered baggy trousers. Today many traditional wedding customs are no longer observed and the splendid jewellery often ends up for sale in city shops.