Marriage in Islam: How to perform an Islamic wedding

Marriage in Islam is viewed as a religious obligation, a contract between the couple and Allah. Most marriages are performed by an Imam but any adult Muslim who understands the Islamic traditions can officiate a wedding. 

The marriage contract includes a meher -- a formal statement specifying the monetary amount the groom will give the bride. 

There are two parts to the meher: a prompt due before the marriage is consummated and a deferred amount given to the bride throughout her life. Today, many couples use the ring as the prompt because the groom presents it during the ceremony. The deferred amount can be a small sum -- a formality -- or an actual gift of money, land, jewelry, or even an education. The gift belongs to the bride to use as she pleases, unless the marriage breaks up before consummation. The meher is considered the bride's security and guarantee of freedom within the marriage.

The 5 components of an Islamic Wedding are:

1. The Consent of Groom and Bride.

2. The Marriage Contract.

3. The Officiant who perform the wedding.

4. The Sermon (Khutba-tun-Nikah).

5. Two adult sane witnesses.

Nikah (The wedding ceremony)

The marriage contract is signed in a nikah ceremony, in which the groom proposes to the bride in front of at least two witnesses, stating the details of the meher. The bride and groom demonstrate their free will by repeating the word qabul ("I accept," in Arabic) three times. Then the couple and two male witnesses sign the contract, making the marriage legal according to civil and religious law. Following traditional Islamic customs, the bride and groom may share a piece of sweet fruit, such as a date. If men and women are separated for the ceremony, a male representative called a wali acts in the bride's behalf during the nikah.

The Imam or Officiant start the Wedding Ceremony with reciting the  Sermon (Khutba-tun-Nikah) as follows;

After Reciting the above Verses from the Holy Quran, the Officiant says:

"Today, we are gathered here to witness the union of (Groom's Name) and (Bride's Name) in holy matrimony".  

Then the Officiant ask the Bride 3 times:

To Bride: (Bride's Name) do you Accept ( (Groom's Name) as your lawful wedded husband to love, comfort, honor and cherish him and be faithful to him from this day forward,  forsaking all others, keeping only unto him for as long as you both shall live?

The Bride answer: Yes, I do.

Then the Officiant ask the Groom 3 times:

To Groom: (Groom's Name) do you Accept (Bride's Name) as your lawful wedded wife to love, comfort, honor and cherish her and be faithful to her from this day forward,  forsaking all others, keeping only unto her for as long as you both shall live?

The Groom answer: Yes, I do.

Then he ask both of them to give each other a gift (usually jewelry, like a wedding ring) of their everlasting love and commitment. 

After that, the Officiant announce them as husband and wife in front the witnesses by saying:

"With the permission of Allah (swt), the creater and sustainer of all the Worlds, I announce both of you as Husband and Wife. May Allah bless you both and keep you both together forever. (Ameen)". 

Then he recite the Surah Fatihah to end the Ceremony.

After the Nikah the groom and brides sign the Marriage Contract, followed by the signature of officiant and the two witnesses. 

Then the newly wed couple are congratulated by friends and family members. The Nikah is usually followed by the traditional (optional) Walima or grand dinner.