1. How the Lebanese wedding unfolds
- The engagement (khitbe): a formal gathering of the two families with an exchange of rings, followed by a celebratory dinner. In France, it is often held in a restaurant and can bring together several dozen people.
- The religious ceremony: depending on the community - Mass at the Maronite or Greek Catholic church for Christians (often very solemn and sung), nikah at the mosque for Sunnis and Shias, or a secular civil ceremony for mixed couples.
- The Zaffe: the iconic and spectacular moment of the Lebanese wedding. A procession of musicians (darbouka, mijwiz, zorna, oud) and professional dancers accompanies the couple during their entrance into the hall. Youyous ring out, petals fly, candles are held high. The zaffe can last 5 to 15 minutes - a show in its own right that electrifies the whole room.
- The feast and the Dabke: the Lebanese national dance performed in a line, where guests hold each other by the shoulders and stamp the floor in rhythm. The dabke is an essential moment of collective communion.
2. Traditions by community
Since Lebanon is multi-faith (18 official communities), traditions vary:
- Maronite or Greek Catholic wedding: Mass at the church, often long (1h30) and richly sung. The priest blesses the rings. The ceremony can be held in a very beautiful church before the reception. The white wedding dress is classic and elaborate.
- Sunni Muslim wedding: a nikah led by a sheikh or an imam - simple and quick. The celebration that follows may be fully mixed or not, depending on the family.
- Druze wedding: very intimate and codified, reserved for members of the community. Rarely open to outside guests.
- French-Lebanese civil wedding: the option chosen by mixed couples. The celebration follows Lebanese traditions without a religious ceremony.
3. Lebanese wedding attire
- The wedding dress: Lebanese brides love glamour - dresses with long trains, lace, embroidered bustiers. Lebanese designers (Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, Reem Acra) are world references.
- The groom's suit: a dark, well-tailored suit, often with an elaborate pocket square or bow tie.
- Guests' attire: the Lebanese dress with great care - the women wear long evening gowns or cocktail dresses, the men impeccable suits.
4. The music of the Lebanese wedding
- Fairuz: the voice of Lebanon - her songs are played during the emotional moments, notably at church or during the zaffe. "Li Beirut," "Ya Ana Ya Ana"... eyes fill with tears.
- Modern Lebanese pop: Nancy Ajram, Elissa, Wael Kfoury, Ragheb Alama - to get guests dancing between two dabkes.
- The Dabke: a driving rhythm played by a DJ or an Oriental orchestra - the signal for everyone to join the floor in a line.
- The instruments of the zaffe: darbouka, mijwiz (flute), zorna (oboe), oud and voice - an ensemble that creates a memorable entrance.
5. The cuisine of the Lebanese wedding
Lebanese cuisine is considered among the richest and most varied in the Middle East:
- The Meze: dozens of small dishes served all at once - creamy hummus, moutabbal (smoked eggplant dip), fattoush (bread salad), tabbouleh (parsley and bulgur), warak arish (vine leaves stuffed with rice and lamb), kibbeh nayye, sambousek (fried pastries), fried kibbeh.
- The Grills: kafta (spiced minced-meat skewers), grilled lemon chicken, lamb chops, marinated shish taouk.
- Vermicelli rice: a classic Lebanese side, cooked in clarified butter with golden vermicelli.
- The Desserts: knafeh (a cheese pastry in rosewater syrup - the best in the world), maamoul (small cakes filled with dates or pistachios), Lebanese baklava (ultra-thin, scented with rosewater and mastic), halawet el jibn (sweet cheese rolls).
- Arak: the national anise spirit, served with iced water - the drink of non-halal Lebanese celebrations. It clouds and turns white on contact with water.
6. Estimated budget for a French-Lebanese wedding
- Zaffe group (musicians + dancers): 800€ – 2,500€
- Reception hall: 3,000€ – 10,000€
- Lebanese caterer: 60€ – 120€ per person (12,000€ – 24,000€ for 200 guests)
- DJ / Oriental orchestra: 1,500€ – 4,000€
- Wedding dress: 2,000€ – 8,000€
- Photographer / videographer: 1,500€ – 4,000€
- Decoration: 2,000€ – 6,000€
Estimated total budget: 25,000€ – 65,000€ depending on the standing and the number of guests.
7. Finding your vendors on NUPLY
- Lebanese caterers: a full meze, grills, authentic knafeh and baklava
- Zaffe groups and Oriental DJs
- Photographers: used to the zaffe, the dabke and Maronite ceremonies
Use NUPLY's AI matching to identify the vendors available in France who master Lebanese traditions.
In summary
The French-Lebanese wedding is a spectacle in its own right. The electrifying zaffe, the collective dabke, the generous meze and the sounds of Fairuz make it an event no one forgets. With NUPLY, find the vendors who will make your Lebanese wedding in France a memorable night. مبروك!
Also read: French-Turkish wedding in France · Mixed wedding: the planning guide · Multicultural wedding: blending two traditions