The Hoax Wedding

Every year a group student nurses come from Canada, with their professor to expand their studies, volunteer and get a taste of Morocco. They stay in Midelt, which is just a couple hours from me, for two weeks. This year the group consisted of four young women and every year as part of the experience, a Moroccan wedding takes place. Seeing as there were no male prospects for the role of the groom this year, Bill the Peace Corps volunteer in Midelt was asked to be the groom.

I was on FaceBook when he was asked and so I was the first person to know that he would be taking part in this staged wedding. When he told me he was getting married, I typed a message to another volunteer, Jo, who was also on Facebook at the time. I started by saying, "Bill is getting married" and had full intentions of expanding and explaining the situation, but when she assumed it was a real wedding, I let the fun begin.

Bill knew that Jo thought is was going to be a real wedding and together we decided that we would see just how far the rumor would fly. It was shortly before April Fools Day and I thought we would hold it up until then, but Bill suggested we that we wait until Marche Maroc in Fes at the end of the month, to tell everyone the truth.

I attended the "wedding" which took place at the new weaving school in Boumia, which Bill helped to set up. All the students at the school came to the "wedding" along with a few of Bill's friends from Midelt.   It was pretty entertaining watching the whole thing and a real effort was made to show the Canadians every aspect of a Moroccan wedding.

Bill and the Bride emerged from one of the classrooms in full costume. Bill in a jellaba and cape, the bride in a fancy kaftan (fancy jellaba). As they emerged, the drums and singing began and for about an hour they were stood in the center of a crowd as we all sang, clapped and danced around them. When they were finally seated a plate covered in henna leaves topped with four dates and three candles appeared. The dates were a representation of how many sons they would have and the candles, girls.

Next a platter of dates and warm milk arrived and they linked arms to feed each other the dates and to take sips of the warm milk. We were all served lots of tea and cookies and henna was put on the hands of any ladies who wanted it.

Once word got out to other volunteers that I had attended Bill's wedding to his Canadian sweetheart, I received many calls and messages from inquiring minds who were surprised to hear that Bill had been wed...and did Peace Corps know about it.

The truth came out in Fes that the wedding was a hoax...I guess I got them pretty good!

Miriam x

Me and the Bride & Groom

Wedding Guests

Henna Hands

World's Cutest Baby. Ever.

Rabha, Me, Hayat, Bill and the Canadians