Milly

Asian weddings are brilliant, not just one event but loads of events for everyone, the whole family.

My sister got married and we spent months preparing everything which was so much fun. We had to buy new clothes for all the events, the magni (engagement), the myo (bride pampering day), the mehendi (hen night), the nikah (wedding), the walima (boy's return party after the wedding). The engagement is lovely, its the immediate family and friends collecting together and giving money and gifts opening to the bride and groom, the guests queue up to give the bride money. My sister's outfit came from the groom's side and its a surprise on the day, then the bride gets dressed and comes down making her grand entrance, my sister looked great, the audience was in awe! There is a respectful silence as the bride enters and then the groom asks her to marry him. Dinner follows.

The myo, is when the bride has no makeup on, and is in simple clothes and she is pampered with skin treatments by the ladies of her family while the young girls do dances which have been synchronized and they have been prepared in advance. Its my job as the sister to get the girls to get together and practice the dances, it took ages, but we got their in the end.

The mehndi is when lot and lots of women from the families and the community get together, it was summer and we got everyone into a large marquee, there is music, dancing, food and henna being put on the hands of all the girls for the wedding which is usually the next day.

The wedding is amazing, its in a large venue full of lights and people are sat around round tables decorated with flowers and expensive shining cutlery. Guests are given silver service at their tables and the bride makes her entrance into the hall and on to a stage where the groom awaits her. Then the marriage ceremony takes place, the nikah and some people cry as it is confirmed that the bride and groom have entered into a life-long partnership. The bride leaves and the girls family is usually quite upset as they know she won't be living with them anymore and they're going to miss her...i was balling it so much my mascara was running everywhere!! urgh!!

Finally, the walima is really nice, the bride and groom have come back from the honeymoon tanned and looking happy in their new life. The bride and groom are sitting on a stage as everyone comes to congratulate them and they share in a huge feast with all the family and friends who participated in the wedding..speeches are a great end to a very long and enjoyable month of fun-filled wedding events.