A Nikah in Everett, Washington.

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a couple’s Nikah. A Nikah is “when the marriage contract is signed in which the groom or his representative proposes to the bride in front of at least two witnesses, stating the details of the Meher, or “payment”. 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.” The official wedding will happen in one year for this couple. This just makes it legal. Here are some of the photos from their day.