6:00pm - Baraat

6:30pm - Nikah Ceremony

7:00pm - Cocktail Hour

8:15pm - Reception/Dinner

12:45am - Rukhsati

The baraat is a wedding procession that escorts the groom. The groom’s family and friends (collectively called the baraatis) accompany him in his epic journey, (in this case, from a hotel in downtown Orlando to Bella Collina, fighting weather conditions and rush hour traffic) to claim his bride.  The baraat is a joyous, celebratory group, singing and dancing all the way to their destination, where the bride’s family and friends await ready with garlands and smiles to extend a warm welcome to their daughter’s new family. The arrival of the baraat marks the start of the festivities to follow.

The nikah is the Islamic marriage ceremony, officiated by an Imam, whereby a couple is married before God and a minimum of two witnesses. Acceptance is sought from the bride and the groom to make sure the union is acceptable to them. The ‘I dos’ are repeated three times for emphasis and clarity. Prayers are offered for blessings from God and for the couple's long and happy life together.  The solemnity of the occasion is then broken with congratulatory hugs and distribution of sweets.

Rukhsati literally means 'to bid farewell'. This marks the culmination of the festivities when the bride’s family says their goodbyes and ‘sends off’ their daughter with prayers and wishes for her happiness as she begins the next chapter of her life.