It turns out that what we went to last night was the wedding dinner. Here's the approximate course of ceremonies it takes to become married in Algeria.
The boy formally asks for the girl's hand from her father. Then there's an engagement party.
The boy and girl go to the courthouse and sign legal papers and then they may go out to a nice dinner together.
The imam comes to the girl's house and there is a religious ceremony and usually a small family party.
There is a wedding dinner at the girl's house to which the groom's family comes and men and women celebrate separately. This is the even we went to. We didn't see the groom. I saw the bride. She spent most of the night in a bedroom with aunts ironing her clothes and cousins, sisters and sisters-in-law applying make-up, including brown circles of henna on her palms.
Next comes from the bride's family party -- this is a reception for her family and friends -- to which the groom's female relations come and he may or may not be invited.
Then is the groom's family party -- same thing for the boy's side -- to which the bride is invited.
After this there is a cortege -- a motorcade of honking, flower-decorated cars through the ville -- and finally the couple are allowed to go off and do it.
Some weddings last longer than the marriage.
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