Holy Moroccan Matrimony!

Since writing last, Karim and I have had one of the busiest weeks in our lives but the end is in sight – tomorrow we are getting married!

Getting all the paperwork completed was such a hassle, I think our file was looked at by at least 5 different authorities. But I did have an insight into the process here; our contact with the police actually had a typewriter on his desk. No wonder everything takes so long to get done! Finally the day came when our paperwork should be ready, but of course the entire police force decided to have a meeting that day. A 2 hour wait later and we had our papers and we just needed to go to the court for the final permission. But of course the judge we needed also was in a meeting! Another 2 hour wait and we finally had everything completed! We had our official permission to get married!

But I didn’t want to get married without our wedding rings, and that was another hurdle we’ve had to face this week. I ordered wedding rings from England and they were to be sent to us here in Fes. But last week we got a call that our rings had been stopped in Moroccan customs and we needed to pay duty tax on them. Ok, fine, no problem. But: problem. In order to get them released, Karim and I personally had to go to Casablanca airport (5hours train away), prove to them that we’re getting married, pay lots of money and then maybe we would get our rings. So that’s what we did and after our 5am start, 4 trains, 2 hitch-hikings (we had to get to the freight area of the airport), and more money that I wish to disclose, we finally had our rings back with us in Fes.

Now all that was left to do was to plan the wedding! I have for the most part left this to Karim; he is a proven party planner! But with 24 hours to go, we still have a lot to do. I still don’t have a dress to wear and we have a busy afternoon with a hammam and getting traditional wedding henna! I will be accompanied in all this by my sister who flew in last night for the celebration. 

So that’s it – soon I will be a married woman! And while I am sad that I won’t be able to share this special day with my family and friends (except for Sophie), I am sure that we will make up for it next year with the big wedding!

P.S. sorry about the lack of photos – the day before the wedding and I’m a little bit busy!