I have a question for you BabyP, are you also Muslim? Because a woman of the Muslim faith just told me that a woman is not allowed in the Mosque for weddings... That the Mosque is only used to worship Allah and nothing else. I apologize for my ignorance, but that what what I was told...
Anyhow, another woman who is Muslim said they had separate areas in the Mosque--the wedding was in SoCal--and that she was covered from head to toe. She said she would let me come to the religious event, but since there was some hesitation on her part, I chose not to go so that I would not offend her and her family since I am not part of her family and not Muslim... But what she described to me I thought it was kind of cool.
In some parts of America, some ethnic groups do believe in full on family involvement. It may vary from culture to culture on the roles. But there is huge family involvement and who pays for the wedding.
I have attended many an African American weddings and seen many things... There are comments on that at the NPHC organizational boards.
I have attended a Vietnamese wedding that was truly interesting...
A partial South Indian wedding--it was a biracial--or bi-ethnic wedding... But most of the the activities were South Indian heritage--like the Thali... Beautifully clothed wedding... Just beautiful...
I have attended a Catholic Mass wedding...
I have attenede a Vegas wedding... No Elvis though...
I have attended the American Wedding that you see all on TV and in the magazines
Never attended at Jewish wedding, an full on African wedding, a Middle Easterner wedding, a Russian wedding and a Native American wedding... And I have never done the Chicken Dance!!!
But, overtime, I will get to do all these things...