Tunisian Weddings

It’s summertime in Tunisia, the season of the sea, beaches, parties, clubs, coffee shops but most importantly weddings.
Yep, there’s certainly a lot of love in the air this time of the year.

As soon as the summer starts, invitations start floating around the country, and wherever you go, whoever you visit, there seems to be an invitation waiting for you for the wedding of the brother of the cousin of your grandmother’s half sister’s distant relative. In short, someone you never knew existed.
And wait, you’re actually expected to show up.

So, what should you expect at a Tunisian wedding?
Oh, a lot really. It’s like there’s this secret competition only people who are organizing weddings know about, in which by the end of the summer people are going to vote which wedding had the most money spent on it, which was the noisiest and loudest one, which had the ultimately worst singer, which served the sweetest sweets and which one featured the most barely dressed girls.
But that’s on the long term, on the short term you should primarily expect a headache, a stomachache and most probably diabetes.

Weddings are also an opportunity to get ready for the next wedding season and fill up it’s schedule, so girls put on all the makeup they have, wear as little clothes as possible, show as much cleavage and thighs as they can and dance until they drop in an attempt to hookup with one of the single (or married but ripe for divorce) perverts at the wedding.

Weddings aren’t all about celebration though, they’re also a war between the two families to prove who is classier and better.
And behind all that loud music, there often are a number of little fights going on because someone got served before the other or because someone sat closer to the bride and groom.

Ah…
There’s nothing quite like a Tunisian wedding.
Beneath all the madness, chaos and noise there lies a bit of the great and unique Tunisian culture that I love so much.
It’s Amazing…

Published by

Mohamed Marwen Meddah

Mohamed Marwen Meddah is a Tunisian-Canadian, web aficionado, software engineering leader, blogger, and amateur photographer.

57 thoughts on “Tunisian Weddings”

  1. hehe, damn that’s a scary wedding :)but I guess it can be said that most Arab weddings are like that, they are in Jordan too atleast. Sad. If you want the truth, I’ll never understand what a wedding is for. I’d much rather spend all the money people spend on their weddings to make other people happy on a prolonged honeymoon. And anyway, I don’t see how a wedding could be fun for the bride and groom, the only thing happening is that they’re being Stared at by people they “never knew existed” as you said.

  2. Minus the women wearing little to nothing and people comparing the best wedding at the end of the summer, Asian weddings are not too different. It’s all very superficial and very much for the parents. I guess parents of many races and cultures love to show off, eh?

  3. Yeah, it’s totally incredible.

    Too much money is spent on weddings just for the sake of showing off. Really if the couple were given that money to enjoy a longer honeymoon or buy stuff they need or whatever, it would be a lot more useful.

  5. Specially this:”an invitation waiting for you for the wedding of the brother of the cousin of your grandmother’s half sister’s distant relative”. LOOOOOL! Funny and so true, lol 😀

  6. LOL i liked the issue..i just remember the day of my wedding :o) it was on july 7th, 2002 (same day u both met MMM and ur dear wife in 1998).
    Both of us (my husband and I) were so worried about the wedding day, thinking of all the people we MUST invite! U just can’t imagine how big my husband’s family, cousins, cousins of cousins, children of cousins etc etc and then thinking of the food, music, drinks all what’s related and finally we had the lovely wedding with like almost 500 ppl half of we have never met before! but thak God they were all happy and we were worn out! LOL LOL

  8. Yeah Ghada exactly, that’s how it is.
    But in Tunisia, 500 is actually considered a small number of invitees, if you’re inviting only 500 here it means you’re some stuck up person who’s only inviting the closest of relatives and ignoring the others, lol.
    It’s incredible how many and who gets invited to weddings here.

    As for Orange, believe me, you haven’t really missed much, it’s better that you two enjoyed yourselves in Malaysia 🙂

  9. i see MMM :o) loool really interesting..and yep, ya orange u didn’t miss much :o) but all is good about it ya MMM is when people bring the gifts lol like you get 100 vases of the same color,50 dinner plate sets lol etc :o) and let us comapre it to lebanon wow 500 people is a big number and still u might have forgotten many others and sure they were upset :o) and then u realize all that when u watch the video of ur wedding :o) lol lol

  10. Yeah, it’s good when you get gifts and all.
    In Tunisia though, people going to weddings don’t take gifts, they go, eat, drink, dance, complain, and go home.

    The only gifts a couple get in Tunisia are the ones family take to them when they visit them at their new home.
    And that’s when you get the vases and stuff, lol.

    Btw, We had to go through the whole thing twice. We had our wedding party in Jordan and then had another party in Tunisia.

  11. thanks you lot,i am getting married to my tunisian fiance in march next year and now im looking forward to meeting the 500 or so relatives he has,im sure my 15 or 20 will be well out numbered!it will be all part of the experience i hope and i cant belive there will be no presents!!?never mind,its a good job i love him isnt it,letting myself in for this :0)

  12. Hi all,

    I think that what was said was all exagerated and that if you feel that you don’t like the tunisian weddings, you better not go there at all and thus not complain. Why are the weedings in Tunisia so big, only because you get maried once and you would like people to remember that day and make a bit special in your own way.

    It is not all about dancing, drinking and eating. It is also about being there happy for your friend or relative in his special weeding day.

  13. What you said about the Tunisian wedding is all true. I had the privilege of going to one. In fact, I was so fascinated by the whole ritual that I’m trying to find someone to describe to me the meaning of the ritual before the wedding and after. I happened to attend celebrations of the groom and by the time I attended that of the bride I had too much of a headache with the loud music. during one of the celebrations the bride changes 7 times!!! I want to know why and what the costumes mean.

  14. IM PLANNING ON MARRYING A TUNISIAN GIRL NEXT YEAR BUT UNSURE OF MANY STEPS I NEED TO TAKE,IM GOING TO THE TUNISIAN EMBASSY IN LONDON NEXT MONTH,HOPEFULLY THEY CAN PUT ME STRAIGHT,BUT COULD YOU GIVE ME ADVICE ON THIS WEBSITE? MANY THANKS PAUL

  15. Hello Paul,

    I am getting married to my Tunisian fiancee next summer (engagement party is next week). You have to jump through a lot of hoops.

    Right firstly ask her father and her brothers (as this it is insulting if you don’t). Also these are the thing you will need to do. Think Victorian england and you will be fine.

    1) Become Muslim learn if you can do this as this is a very important decision (it is illegal for a non muslim to marry a muslim girl in Tunisia).

    2) Once you have made your descision speak to the Tunisian embassy in your country and ask for forms for a meeting with the Gran Mufti (religious leader of Tunisia).
    Once you have filled in the forms (one in arabic so ask your fiance for help). This will take about a month and then you will get a number in the response. Then get your fiancee to call the office of the mufti (ministry of religion) and book an appointment usually then can fit you in with 2 days notice (not fridays or the weekend). once you see the moufti and undertaken the required you will be Muslim. IMPORTANT I took Shaddah in UK and became Muslim before I came to tunisia but this is not good enough for the legal system there you have to undertake the conversion cerimony there!!!!

    3) Congratulations you are now a muslim! Now as a muslim her father should not say no to you unless you are bad/poor however I assume that you may have crossed this point and the family onside.
    This would be a good time to sit down and plan the cerimony and the previous celebrations. Tunisians have larger families (I assume your from the uk/usa) than us so make the effort to see everyone you may take flack but be proud and diplomatic. However Tunisians are lovely and apprciate respect
    my fiancee brother wouldn’t talk to me but once I was muslim and he knew I loved his sister (in that order) all is ok now.

    4) Once you have planned the wedding 2 months before go to the registry office in the uk and ask for a “certificate of no impediment to marriage” . They will ask a load of questions and then put a note in the window for 21 days and then give you the certificate pick up a new birth certificate whilst you are there.

    5) Once you have the above go to the British Embassy in Tunis and get them to translate these documents.

    6) Now one month before the wedding you need to get a certifcate from a doctor in tunisia that you don’t have any desease the results can be got in 24 hours if needed but plan it out.

    7) Right now you have

    Conversion certificate
    Certificate of no impediment to marriage (in french)
    Birth Certificate (in french)
    Blood test certificate

    You can then get married in the town hall (or place with notories)

    Once married inform the embassy in Tunis and then get the papers together for the visa section.

    Yey,

    All the best for you wedding
    Inshallah

  16. I am marrying my Tunisian fiancee in April in Tunisia and am really looking forward to it. I’m a bit worried about getting a visa for him to come and live with me in the UK as i have heard some people have waited years to get this!!! Anyone had any better results or does anyone have any good advice?

    Thanks Cath

  18. Hi there
    I am English and have a Tunisian boyfriend. We are both living in Paris and thinking about the long term. I would love to hear from other people who have also married a Tunisian particularly as I am interested in hearing about the differences in culture, religion, upbringing etc and the positive/negative impacts it has on the relationship.

    TJ

  19. Hi TJ

    Please email me as I know of a few people in the same situation as you and I can refer you to a few member sites.

    Cheers.
    J

  21. hi there can any1 give ne any decent advice, i am wanting to marry with my tunisian partner in tunisia, is it true you have to be in the country 21days before marriage its just i am heavily pregnant waiting for his fiance visa but trying to rush his visa by getting married in tunisia and then the uk.I have rang the tunisian embassy but to be honest i have got nowhere
    love to hear from any1 who knows more than me

  22. Hi Natalie

    You have to file a certificate of no impediment for 21 days at the registrar, normally your local registrar, however if you were in Tunisia you could do this there. I’m not sure whether your fiance can do this? To get married in Tunisia you will also need to provide a recent copy of your full birth certificate. Also you and your fiance will need to get a medical done – a blood test – these documents are then translated into Arabic – once this has been done then you can go ahead with the marriage.

    Pls email me at Bigbrother2004@hotmail.co.uk and we can chat more about it.

    I’m due to get married towards the end of this year in Tunisia.

    Kind regards.

  23. hi jane, ive tried emailing you but keeps cumin back as unsuccessfull, i would be gratefull for all advice possible, are you with a tunisian, how are you going on with your wedding, do u live in tunisia, i spoke to the embassy today they said i need to contact town halls in tunisia to register that me and my fiancee want to marry do you know where these are or the names, try email me we can talk more Babyboo_974@hotmail.com

  24. hi jane thank you for email but still having problems with this email address can you get contact on natalie@nataliebrian.wanadoo.co.uk your info helpfull but cant find these web pages you advised, how r u going on with your wedding who is arranging it, is it you from this end do you have to put your vows up in the town hall over there
    reply please

  26. Salem Alikoum, Hello everyone.
    I have a French- Tunisian fiancee(she is a French citizen), although this is not totally official, we want to make it that way but i am a non-muslim. Her family know of me and i know that her Mother and sisters are truly happy for her and i, but i must be converted.
    I am a non- religious person so doing so seems so disrespectful, as i have my own opinions and beliefs. Still i am willing to do so.
    My fiancee knows my feelings and she loves me all the same, has anybody had to deal with this issue or similar ones? It would be great to hear from you if you have. Best wishes to all.

  27. Hi The,
    If your g/f wants you to truly convert and you truly don’t beleive, then it’s a problem. If it’s just a formality..then do it! it’s like 5 words or something.
    Cheers

  28. Is it that simple?, she wants me to go to a mosque and do it, seems like i have to convince people and this is what i don’t like the sound of. I know no muslims in this country so could do with a helping hand thats all…thankyou IK best wishes.

  29. It’s great to hear that Im not the only one in a relationship with a Tunisian abroad. My Tunisian boyfriend proposed to me on Saturday (I said yes!), im very excited, but a little apprehensive about all the planning. we live together in germany, and we hope to marry in england. Any help and advice is always welcome, thanks, H

  30. My fiance is an American working in Tunisia and we’re getting married there next year. We’re both American. We are looking for good ideas for the reception and beautiful ideas for the ceremony. We don’t have to deal with the legal issues as we will be getting legally married in the States. Any and all creative suggestions would be appreciated!!!!

  31. WOW! This is all so true. I went to Tunisia in August of 2006 to visit some friends and three days into it I had been invited to four weddings – though I did not attend those – one night outside of Jendouba, I ended up going into a wedding, friend of a friend, of a friend, etc and it was so beautiful!! But I saw much of what you were describing. And then before I came back to the states, I was painted, covered head to toe, in harkous and had been dressed and photographed as a Tunisian bride – I have pictures to prove! LOL Wonderful country and such warm generous people!

  32. I’m getting married in tunisia in May, i am very excited!!! but the organising is difficult! my boyfriend is working there, and i am scared to leave all the decisions to him! but also looking foward to the arabic celebrations, i wish that in england families were as close as tunisians are, good luck to anybody getting married in this beautiful country.

  33. How long do I have to be in Tunisia to get married to an algerian citizen and get our marriage certificate?

  34. I am planning to get married in Tunisia in the summer.HELP!!!! anyone .Where do I begin .I am Vritish my fiance is Tunisian.We want to get married in Tunisia.Can anyone give me some help thats been there before me .Thanks in advance .

  35. hi, i am currently in the process of getting divorced in uk then planning to marry my tunisian boyfriend this summer. has any one got useful tips because i have contacted the embassy twice with no response. I believe i can get my no impediment certificate from the uk but it states on the embassy web site that you have to be resident in tunisia 21 days prior to applying to be married. it all seems very confusing. thanks sue.

  36. hi please help. i am planning to marry my boyfriend in tunisia this summer. i have contacted the embassy with no help. i understand about the medical and applying in the uk for a cert of no impediment, but very confused about living in tunisia for 21 days prior to arranging the marriage. does anyone know.

  37. Hi there, I am Eastern European and my boyfriend is Tunisian. We are planning to get married this summer but we are not sure where we want to settle. I was just wondering if any women here are non-tunisian, non-muslim married to Tunisian and living in Tunisia. How did you find living in Tunisia? How different is it from the western world. I am a very independent person and I am not very religious. My boyfriend is not that religious either, but the environment in Tunisia seems to be. Is it very conservative? I have spent few weeks there for a vacation and loved it, but we all know that few weeks is vacay is much different than a lifetime.

  38. Hi there, I am Eastern European and my boyfriend is Tunisian. We are planning to get married this summer but we are not sure where we want to settle. I was just wondering if any women here are non-tunisian, non-muslim married to Tunisian and living in Tunisia. How did you find living in Tunisia? How different is it from the western world. I am a very independent person and I am not very religious. My boyfriend is not that religious either, but the environment in Tunisia seems to be. Is it very conservative? I have spent few weeks there for a vacation and loved it, but we all know that few weeks of vacay is much different than a lifetime. I was also wondering what are my chances of getting a job in Tunisia? I was a business major in udergrad and I am about to acquire an MBA. I speak 3 eastern european languages but I don’t speak any French or Arabic.

  39. Hi to all! I enjoyed reading all your post. I am a Filipina, christian, 30 years old, widowed of 2 sons for six years now. I have a Tunisian boyfriend we were living in Dubai, we’re very much in love to each other. He belongs to a conservative family, he wants to marry me in the future but the problem is his family cannot accept me. I am looking for someone to share my situation.
    Thanks

  41. Anyone know if you can get certificates etc translated in England anywhere that will be accepted at the Tunisian Embassy to get married to a Tunisian in Tunisia?

  42. Anyone know if you can get certificates etc translated in England anywhere that will be accepted at the Tunisian Embassy to get married to a Tunisian in Tunisia?

  43. Hi, I am marrying my tunisian boyfriend this august. Does anyone know if i need to get my documents translated into french in the UK or in tunisia? i am going to be in tunisia for 2 weeks when i get married, should i have my medical done when i first get there ( how long does it take to get results?), or can i get it done in march when i go? or is this too early to get medical done if getting married in august?
    Also, do you have to get a recent copy of your birth certificate? I didt realise you could get a recent copy, i just thought your birth certificate was for life!! Where do i get a recent copy?
    If i need to get documents translated in tunisia how long does it take to get them translated?
    Thanks

  44. In answer to your questions:

    You have to get your certificate of no impediment done first, so if you

  45. hello i am from canada and i met someone from tunisia and he wants to marry me but i am currently listed as seperated from my previous partnet here in canada and we were woundering if we can still get married there in tunisia when i am only seperated. we will be living there.
    can someone please help me with this

  47. I need some help please. i just read i have to be in tunisia 21 prior to the marriage taking place is this true? i read it on the visa website

  48. MMM is it true that in Tunisia you cannot marry more than one wife since you are a Muslim country?

  49. MMM is it true that in Tunisia you cannot marry more than one wife since Tunisia is a Muslim country?

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