Having wedding cakes and bridemaids at wedding

QUESTION:

Assalamu Alaikum,

Can you please explain why having wedding cakes at a wedding is haram and if there is any other way to incorporate the cake into the wedding ceremony that will be permissible?

Also will it be permissible to have cupcakes on display instead of the cake and can the bride and groom share in eating one as part of the ceremony?

Is it also permissible to have bridesmaids as part of the wedding ceremony where they walk in front of the bride and throw flowers to show that the bride is making her entrance?

Jazak’ Allah Khair

 

ANSWER

Wa Alaikum Assalaam.

الجواب و بالله التوفيق

The wedding cake is basically a cake that is made on the occasion of a person’s wedding which will be eaten by the bride and groom and others. This being the case, there is nothing haram with having a wedding cake for one’s wedding. However, it should not be done to follow the customs of the Christians and non-Muslims.

As for that which is prohibited in regards to the ‘Customary Wedding Cake’ is the manner in which the ceremony takes place. It is often seen that after the wedding, the bride and groom walk towards the cake (or it is brought to them) and then they partake of it in front of the entire gathering. This is not permitted in Islam. If a cake was made for them and they wish to partake from it, then they should do so in a private manner (probably inside the home) and not in front of the public as is normally done by others. It should also be noted that at the wedding, the Muslim bride must not make a display of herself to the non-Mahram males that attend the wedding. She must sit in front of the females, and not the males.

With respect to the bridesmaid as part of the wedding ceremony, this is a fashion/custom of non-Muslims which must not be followed.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

5/5/16.