Maldivian weddings and family celebrations

In Dhivehi, marriage is *kaiveni*. Marriage follows Islamic law as set out in the national Family Act. The legal side is brief; the celebration is where families put their energy, savings and cooking.

The legal marriage

Under the Family Act, a marriage in the Maldives is solemnised by a judicial registrar of marriages (a *mauzun*) in front of the bride’s guardian (*wali*) and two witnesses, with an offer of marriage made and accepted. A few points from the Act:

• The couple apply to the Registrar of Marriages at least seven days before the wedding date.
• No marriage can take place without the Registrar’s approval.
• Both people must be 18 or over; the Act allowed narrow exceptions, which later law has tightened.
• Both people must consent, and the guardian’s consent is also required.
• The marriage is then entered in the Register of Marriages.

The Family Court has said it will not register marriages carried out without its involvement.

The *meher*

The groom gives the bride a *meher* (in Arabic, *mahr*), a marriage gift that is hers to keep. A 2007 article in *Faithoora*, the journal of the National Centre for Linguistic and Historical Research, records that in the past the bride traditionally asked for just one rufiyaa. Today the amount is agreed between the couple and their families.

The same *Faithoora* article gives a clear picture of island weddings in earlier generations:

• A match came about in one of two ways: a young couple fell for each other and asked their families’ permission, or the two sets of parents arranged it together. If either family objected, the marriage did not go ahead.
• The groom chose two witnesses, who went to the bride’s home to hear her request for the *meher*.
• The ceremony took place at the house of the island chief, who gave a short sermon with advice and blessings. The groom attended with his witnesses and a few close relatives. The bride herself did not attend.
• After the sermon, the groom paid the *meher*, gave the bride three dresses, and paid into a fund called the *magifarivalhu*. This paid for *bondibaiy*, sweet rice, to be sent to every household in the bride’s district on the day the community cleaned its streets.
• Couples were expected to have a home of their own and a steady income before marrying.

Sweet rice shared with the neighbours sums it up: a private promise, made public through food.

Modern weddings mix that older pattern with receptions, photographers and, in Malé, rented halls. What has not changed is the role of family, food and the wider community.

The ceremony

The marriage itself is short. In Malé some couples marry at the Family Court building and others elsewhere, with close family present. Some brides wear a *libaas* or another traditional dress for part of the day. Our guide to traditional dress of the Maldives describes the libaas and its embroidered collar.

Popular dates

Maldivian couples love a date that looks good written down. The Family Court in Malé usually registers about ten marriages a day, but on “pretty” dates the numbers jump:

• On 21 December 2021 (21/12/2021), 57 marriages were held in Malé, the busiest day of that year (*The Edition*).
• On 25 May 2025 (25-5-25), the Family Court scheduled 59 ceremonies in Malé, with temporary seating set up outside the court for couples and guests (*Atoll Times*).

If you are in Malé on a date like this, expect a cheerful crowd of families in their best clothes near the court.

The reception

The reception is the big event. In Malé it may be held in a hall or hotel function room; on a local island it is more often at the family home, the island hall, a sports ground or under shade on the beach. Expect:

• Food in quantity. Rice, curries, short eats and sweets, cooked by relatives or caterers. *Bondibaiy*, rice cooked slowly in coconut milk with sugar, is a classic celebration dish. Our bondibaiy recipe shows how it is made.
• Music. On local islands, youth groups and clubs often perform boduberu, the big-drum music, at weddings and other celebrations.
• No alcohol. Weddings on inhabited islands are dry, like everyday life there.

The cost question

Big receptions are expensive, and this is a real topic in the Maldives. In July 2026 Malé City Council began discussing a policy to offer free reception venues for first marriages, to ease costs for young couples; Raajje reported that some couples take out loans to pay for receptions. The proposal was sent to council committees for review, so check local news for any outcome.

Eid

The two Eids are the largest shared celebrations of the year, with family visits and, on many islands, music nights. *Kulhi boakiba*, a spicy baked fish cake, is a well-known Eid breakfast dish; see our kulhi boakiba recipe. Our guide to Eid in the Maldives covers customs, food and what visitors notice.

The old island *maulood*

Many islands once held a large *maulood* (*mawlid*) marking the Prophet’s birthday. According to a 2015 Dhivehi article by Adam Naseer Ibrahim, islanders fetched supplies from Malé, decorated a hall called the *haruge*, cooked a shared feast and held recitals into the night. These island celebrations had stopped by the early 2000s, though older islanders still remember them.

Guesthouse hosts sometimes invite guests to a family event. It is a real privilege, and a few simple points help.

What to wear

Dress modestly and neatly: shoulders and knees covered, nothing see-through. Our guide on what to wear in the Maldives has more detail.

How to behave

• Follow your host’s lead on when to arrive and where to sit.
• Eat what is offered. A little of each dish is polite; mention dietary needs in advance.
• Ask about gifts. Customs vary between families and islands, so ask your host what is usual rather than guessing.

Photos

Ask before photographing guests, especially women and children, and never post pictures of a private family event online without permission. Our guide to photography in the Maldives covers etiquette more widely, and our local island etiquette guide explains everyday customs on a local island such as Dhiffushi.

Not in the legal sense for most visitors. A legal marriage here is an Islamic marriage approved by the Registrar of Marriages under the Family Act. What couples are offered is a symbolic ceremony or renewal of vows: a lovely moment, but not a legal marriage, so complete the legal formalities at home.

Since November 2010, government regulations on symbolic ceremonies for tourists, drawn up by the Ministry of Tourism after a ceremony at which a couple were insulted in Dhivehi, require resort ceremonies to be supervised by senior management, explained in a language the couple understands, and free of anything disrespectful to any religion or to Maldivian culture.

On a local island, couples sometimes mark the occasion more simply: a quiet sunset, a sandbank picnic or a dinner on the beach (within local island rules, so no alcohol). In Dhiffushi, our sandbank celebrations page explains what can be arranged for vow renewals, birthdays and parties, and our honeymoon on a local island guide covers planning a couple’s trip.