The Egyptian Bridal Trousseau (Gehaz): A Complete List

In Egypt the gehaz, the bride's trousseau, is more than a shopping list. It is a custom handed from mother to daughter, a point of family pride, and sometimes a heavy financial burden. The list passed around between households grows longer every year, to the point where some brides begin married life with four china dinner sets still sealed in their boxes. This guide sets out the full list and separates what you will really use from what can wait.

First: who buys what?

How furnishing is split between groom and bride differs from one governorate to another, between town and countryside, and from family to family. In many households the groom provides the flat and the wooden furniture while the bride provides the kitchen, the linens and some of the appliances. In others, the two sides share everything. No single arrangement is the correct one.

Three things matter:

• Write the agreement down, item by item, between the two families from the start, so nothing is bought twice and nothing is forgotten.
• Keep the receipts. Many families record the contents of the marital home in the customary list of movables (qaimet el-manqulat). How it is drawn up and what follows from it depends on what the families agree, so if you need legal detail, ask a specialist.
• Fit the trousseau to the flat. Measure the rooms and the kitchen before buying anything. A three-metre display cabinet swallows a small living room.

Appliances

Needed from the first day

• Fridge
• Cooker, or a built-in hob and oven, depending on the kitchen
• Washing machine
• Water heater
• Cooker hood
• Iron
• Vacuum cleaner
• Fans or air conditioning, depending on governorate and budget
• Kettle and blender

Can wait

• Chest freezer
• Dishwasher
• Microwave
• Air fryer, food processor and stand mixer
• Tumble dryer
• A second television

A practical tip: ask about the warranty and the nearest service centre in your governorate before you ask about a discount, and compare electricity consumption. An appliance lives with you for years after its price is forgotten.

Kitchen

• Cookware: a set of pots in graded sizes, frying pans, a pressure cooker, oven trays and a small coffee pot (kanaka).
• Everyday dishes: one good set for six to twelve people. You will use it daily, so choose something sturdy.
• A set for guests: one china dinner set for entertaining. The second and third sets are a custom that can be calmly reconsidered.
• Glassware: water glasses, juice glasses, tea and coffee cups, mugs.
• Cutlery, kitchen knives and a chopping board.
• Prep tools: colander, grater, whisk, ladles, wooden spoons, kitchen scales.
• Storage: plastic and glass containers, jars for spices and pulses, freezer boxes.
• Serving: trays, platters, bowls, a vacuum flask.
• Cleaning: bin, dish rack, tea towels.

Bedroom and linens

• Mattress and pillows. The most important item in the room and the least visible. Try it yourself. Do not buy it on someone's description.
• Bed sheets: three or four sets are enough to begin with. One on the bed, one in the wash, one or two in the cupboard.
• Covers: a winter duvet, one or two blankets, a light summer coverlet and a bedspread.
• Towels: face and bath towels, bathrobes, and a set kept for guests.
• Hangers and organisers for wardrobe and drawers.

The old habit was to count in dozens: twelve sets of sheets, twelve blankets. In reality, stored fabric yellows, tastes change, and wardrobes in modern flats are not that large. Buy enough for two years, then renew.

Bathroom

• Bathroom accessory set, and a shower curtain if needed
• Laundry basket
• Bath mats
• Drying rack, wash basin and pegs
• Shelves or a small storage unit

Living and dining room

• Rugs and carpets to suit the rooms
• Curtains for every window, measured after you take possession of the flat
• Everyday tablecloths and one for entertaining
• Cushions
• Lighting: ceiling fittings or lamps
• A wall clock and a mirror for the entrance

Ornaments and small decorative pieces are best bought after you move in. The home itself will tell you what is missing.

The bride's wardrobe

• Loungewear and nightwear
• Outdoor clothes for the first season after the wedding
• Prayer clothes
• Shoes and bags
• Honeymoon clothes to suit the destination
• Perfume and personal care

This is where over-buying is worst. Sizes change and fashion moves on. Buy for one season, not for five years.

Buying in stages

From the engagement: start with things that do not depend on the flat's measurements and do not spoil in storage, such as kitchenware, dishes, sheets and towels.

After taking possession and measuring: large appliances, rugs and curtains. Buying appliances far too early means part of the warranty runs out while the machine sits in its carton.

In the final month: clothes, cleaning supplies, and whatever you find missing while setting up.

And for the buying itself:

• Follow sale seasons and trade fairs, but with a written list. A discount on something you do not need is not a saving.
• Compare showrooms, the wholesale markets your governorate is known for, and online shops, and remember to count delivery.
• Open every carton on delivery, test every appliance, and keep the receipt and warranty card in one folder.
• Prices move fast. Do not rely on a figure from a relative who bought last year. Ask sellers directly and compare.

Common mistakes

1. Buying to keep up with others. The trousseau is not a competition, and what is bought for show stays in its box.
2. Buying before measuring the flat.
3. Quantity over quality. One excellent pot outlives five mediocre ones.
4. Neglecting the mattress while spending on the display cabinet.
5. Borrowing beyond your means. Heavy instalments on a brand-new household are a daily worry. A simpler trousseau and a debt-free start are easier on both families.
6. Poor storage. Damp ruins linens and appliances. Store everything somewhere dry and off the floor.

How Gawazy helps

Gawazy is a directory of wedding and event services: you browse vendors, compare them and contact them directly, and any agreement is between you and the vendor. While you are furnishing the home, you can take care of your own look and your guests' gifts in one place:

• Wedding dresses
• Bridal accessories
• Giveaways

Read this alongside our wedding budget guide. In the end, the trousseau and the party are paid for from the same pocket.