Looking back, looking ahead

The final day of Mariyah's wedding week.
Their living-room is full of beautifully wrapped gifts, some for Mariyah and some for her new husband and his family. I found these two boxes for Mariyah, carefully placed on a little table by Samina, deeply moving.
I spent some time chatting with Mariyah while the make-up artist was doing her mum's hair and make-up. M needed help to get into her dress, a two-layer affair so encrusted with beadwork that I think it may weigh more than she does. "Time for me to get into that monster!" she said, cheerily, aware that it would be an impossible task once the make-up was on. We both began to lift the multiple folds of tulle and netting inside the skirt, hunting for a way in. "Here it is!" she said eventually, lifting the vast skirt purposefully and tunnelling her way through to the neck opening.
She knew that hours of sitting still for hair and make-up would follow, and then more hours of being on display in the wedding hall. She has handled all of this perfectly.
The extra shows a glimpse of the make-up process. Watching it all brought home forcefully that the bride is entirely in the hands of others, throughout a process like this. Partly in the hands of her own mother and of the skilled beauticians who help to create the final 'look'; and later in the hands of her new extended family. 
I haven't posted images of the wedding gathering itself, partly because I can't put photos of Mariyah, Samina and the other women on social media. But more to the point, it's the intimate behind-the-scenes experiences that have really held my attention this week.
All good wishes to Mariyah and Sayyam for a wonderful new life together.