List of Wedding Traditions in Maldives – Strict Rules and Devout Religious Rituals

The marriageable age for Maldivian women is 18, although many are married by the age of 15. Marriage can only take place between Maldivian Muslims and a Muslim man can marry up to four times. This is provided that he can support all wives equally; although it is allowed by law, polygamy is uncommon in the islands. Women too can divorce and marry many times over; on a quirky note, the same couple is given permission to marry each other up to four times. In the event that a husband or wife divorce and take other partners they are allowed to re-marry each other up to 4 times should they so wish. In the olden days a man's worth was measured by the number of marriages he has had, and in some instances, up to 40 marriages per individual have been recorded. This was, by the way, one of the main forms of fun distractions on the islands.

White is the chosen colour for wedding attire. Maldivians are not lovers of overly elaborate wedding attire but stick to garments that are in accordance with Muslim laws. The women wear the traditional white dress while males wear sarong or 'Mundu' with a shirt. This is similar to Malay dress. The country is known for its romantic settings and stunning position in the Indian Ocean, hence weddings in Maldives are becoming popular across the world. Many resorts welcome loads of western couples choosing to have a tropical wedding ceremony on the stunning white sand beaches. Resorts now include weddings and honeymoon packages as part of their holiday promotions and similar to Anantara Veli Maldives Resort there are those that give couples the full service including traditional Dhivehi speaking priests to conduct the ceremony.

The Bodu Beru Drums beat in rhythm to signal the arrival of the bride; while the groom together with elders from the tribe wait at the altar. Today many resorts offering Maldivian wedding packages will go the whole nine yards to offer couples a unique experience. The traditional Bodu Beru drums are there to herald the arrival of the bride. Most ceremonies are organised on the beach with couples walking barefoot to the altar, as gentle sea breezes gently waft across the ocean. Many resorts offer a variety of venues to choose from, such as an Ocean Ceremony or Beach Ceremony. You can decide on the time of day and toast your nuptials to a stunning sunset or early morning splendours of the tropics.

As the Maldives is a Muslim nation there are no other wedding ceremonies than those conducted under Islam law. Although the ceremonies are performed according to tradition, they may not be legally binding and couples getting married need to ensure the legal side of the ceremony are taken care of.