Wedding Parties

Bridal Showers and Bachelor Parties are a huge part of the wedding in Bahrain. These parties are done separately on either the same night or separate nights within days of the wedding. These parties are segragated and it's wild how women will wear an Abai (long, black, robe looking dress) over an evening gown. As soon as the women get inside the party, the abai comes off revealing the evening gown.

Usually if a woman is wearing an Abai, they are also wearing a hijab that matches the abai. Abai's are traditionally all black, but in recent years, they have become embeleshed with bead work, embroydery, and accents of color around the sleeves mostly. Abai's can also be taylored to fit anyone. I'm considering getting one because they look comfortable as well as very proper in this culture. When wearing one, you do look very presentable in the eyes of conservative and liberal Muslims alike.