Wedding in Morocco
 

Would sincerely appreciate advice on organizing and performing a wedding in Morocco ... our timing is late July or early August, which I understand to be less than ideal ... but is it manageable? Looking at Marrakesh as our best option, simply because more information seems to be available on the city/accomodations/etc and many activities to satisfy friends/family with varying levels of adventurousness. Is Marrakesh truly close enough to the Atlas mountains to offer some relief from the heat? My husband-to-be hates humidity, as do some of our friends. Would it be possible to hold a ceremony in one of the gardens there? Who would be able to perform a non-religious wedding? Is renting out an entire riad for our guests (very small wedding, something with 6-10 rooms would likely do just fine) the most efficient way to go, cost wise? We're a young couple and I've gone back to school recently, so it's all about saving without scrimping if at all possible.
Wondering - should I look in to Casablanca, Rabat, or Agadier as options? Casablanca was my initial idea - it's the cheapest city to fly into from the U.S. - but I have difficulty finding travel tips and information on the city; what I do find seems to present the city as a tourist trap that's best passed over.
Again, your help is invaluable and much appreciated. Thank you!

Congratulations!

I can't advise on the specifics of wedding info, but I can try to help with a coupel of your other points.

It'll be terribly hot in Marrakesh during that time---probably still fun, but HOT. It is indeed very close to the Atlas mountains. If you drive for less than an hour outside of Marrakesh, you'll be in the thick of them. Call some of the kasbahs in the area to see if they can accomodate. Kasbah du Toubkal and Kasbah Tamadot are pretty expensive, but if you try a smaller place like Ouirgane, you'll find more inexpensive kasbahs, such as the new Kasbah d'Ouirgane, or La Residence de la Roserie, or La Bergerie.

I don't think you should look into Casablanca, Rabat or Agadir, as they aren't particularly romantic (especially the first two) and wouldn't have as much for all of your friends to do. Agadir is the tourist trap of the three. I would stick with your idea about Marrakesh and the High Atlas. I would also consider Essaouira, which is really charming and by the seaside. Actually, it might be even more romantic than Marrakesh, as well as slightly less expensive. And there are different activities for different levels of adventurousness. There are definitely riads to rent, and maybe you could even get married on the beach! Maybe call the tourist office and ask them if they've handled this before.

Renting out an entire riad (and even a kasbah in some rural places) is totally doable for lots of different prices.
Do a search and look at different properites online.

And on a last note, Morocco can get really hot, but it isn't really humid. It's more of a dry heat.

Not to burst your bubble, but you can't get married in Morocco. don't take my word for it though:

http://casablanca.usconsulate.gov/ma...uirements.html

You can have a great party here though, with musicians, dancing, etc; but just know that for legal purposes, this country ain't it!

Felly - Thank you! Essaouira sounds like a terrific idea! I will definitely look into it, as well as into something a bit further outside the city center of Marrakesh. That may also be easier for some of the family that are less experienced with foreign cultures; to have the option both of nature and of the city excitement. Great! Do you mind if I come back with more questions?

sebti - Thank you very much for the link to the website. I have looked into the legality of it - I still have yet to find out what if any restrictions on the locale within Morocco for marriage (can it be on the beach, etc) - but the website's statement is, in my understanding, largely regarding who may and may not officiate at the ceremony.

Sunia,
I believe Sebti is correct - you cannot legally marry in Morocco. Marriages in Morocco are governed by Islamic Sharia laws, which means there are no clerics who will marry you...and if you bring a n officiant with you, your home country will most likely not recognise the legality of the wedding because it was not performed within the jurisdiction of that officiant.

As a US citizen resident in Morocco, I had to return to the US for our recent wedding. Australian friends of mine had to go up to Gibraltar (closest Commonwealth country) to marry- and they are Muslims.

I would suggest sending an e-mail to the US consulate if you have questions...but to date, all of the "weddings" I've heard of between non-Moroccans have just been "parties" after the legal ceremony was completed in the couple's country of residence.

jenmaroc -

You always have such great information, especially being on the ground in Morocco.

But I have a question, more curiosity, I guess. I understand, that while Islam is the majority religion in Morocco, there are small Christian and Jewish communities. What happens when someone in these groups wishes to marry? baptise a child? Bar Mitzvah for a young man? Can these minority groups have a minister, priest or rabbi conduct their cultural/religious ceremonies?

Thanks for your input!

The Jewish community in Morocco - particularly in the North where many escaped from the oppressive regime in Spain - used to be much larger and much more active. Now in Fes, the Mellah (Jewish neighborhood) is not longer inhabited by Jewish families. The ancient synagogue and cemetary remain, but the synagogue is not used.

There is a Christian church here in Fes (and there is at least one in Rabat and one in Casablanca...and others I'm sure). These are attended by ex-pats... I have yet to meet a Christian Moroccan...and many Jewish Moroccans left years ago for Israel and other countries.

There isnt really religious freedom here. If you're not a Muslim, you dont really publicise it. Foreigners are assumed to be non-Muslim, and there's no problem there, as long as they dont go around proclaiming Jesus as the son of God. I'm not really any religion, though Moroccans assume I am Christian...and for simplicity, I dont disabuse them of that. A few have tried to convert me to Islam, but never in any persistent or aggressive way.

So to answer your question (or not, as the case may be), I dont know how these communities perform traditional ceremonies. Religious minorities are very quiet here and dont publicise their activities (proselytising is illegal here - so no one wants to risk being accused). I've never heard of a Christian marriage taking place or of a bar/bat mitzfah. Of course, that doesnt mean it doesnt happen, but I would hazard a guess that if it does its very infrequent.

I would imagine that things such as baptisms or bar mitzvahs could take place with no problems- these are religious ceremonies. However marriage also has to be legalised by the state..it's an interesting question, one for which I'm afraid I don't have an answer to. Other than to say that of all the practising Christians I've met in Morocco, they were already married before coming here...and like Jenmaroc, I've never encountered a native Moroccan Christian.

jen -

Thanks for the information. I asked, as I had seen/heard (may have been in the NYTimes wedding section, a few years back) of an American couple, believe they were Christian (they may have been Jewish??) who had married in Morocco with many family members attending. The family was originally from Morocco, so the wedding couple decided on a destination wedding. Somehow they pulled it off.

Is it possible they went to a JoP in the US, but had the "ceremony" and party in Morocco? That's what most people do. They still bring an officiant and all that - but the ceremony that takes place here is not legally binding.

Being originally from Morocco makes a lot of things possible. My friend who was born and spent all his life in LA (but has family in Morocco) is considered 100% Moroccan by the Moroccan authorities - even though he rarely visited the country until recently. This status gives him rights to buy land that foreigners cant buy, etc. Maybe Moroccan ancestry has other benefits as well...