My sister married a Saudi man she met here in the UK about 10 years ago. He was attending an English course and she was a student. When she graduated they married and she moved to Saudi Arabia and has only been back once or twice since then. She is fluent in Arabic and her husband's English is quite limited...it's OK when it comes to exchanging niceties but that's about it. He is also rather 'reserved' and shy about communicating in English. They are coming to visit for my wedding and I have asked her to be my maid of honour. She's my only sister and I feel it's the right thing to do, even though we're not really close (we speak on Skype once or twice a year).
My top table was going to consist of me, my maid of honour (my sister), bridesmaid, my husband,his best man my parents and husband's parents. I was going to seat my sister's husband at a table together some members of my family. My mum (no doubt at the behest of my sister) has 'suggested' that he should be on the top table due to the language issues and it would be awkward for him/family members he was sat with. That being said, I think my granny and good friends would be put out to say the least if some random Saudi guy who none of them know was on the top table... not to mention that the bridesmaids' fiancee and best man's wife will not be at the top table.
In addition, my sister, who converted to Islam when she got married, always wears a face covering when in the UK "because it's not a Muslim country". Yet in Saudi Arabia she only covers her hair. She has told my mum that she will wear the full black regalia including face covering for the wedding and will leave the reception and go up to her hotel room after the meal because she is offended by alcohol consumption. I'm not racist but I can't help thinking that it will look ridiculous, ruin the wedding photos and if I know my sister, she's never even remotely been spiritual and just seems to enjoy the shock value of returning to the UK every five years and prancing round in a black burqa like she's the big I am.
What to do with the seating arrangements and am I being unable re the face covering???? No doubt she'll be offended anyway.
