Relatives and friends of Fatme Robova's family prepare and arrange her wedding dowry in front of her parents' house in Ribnovo, Bulgaria. Ribnovo is home to a few thousand Pomaks, or Bulgarian-speaking Muslims.
Relatives and friends of Fatme Robova's family prepare and arrange her wedding dowry in front of her parents' house in Ribnovo, Bulgaria. Ribnovo is home to a few thousand Pomaks, or Bulgarian-speaking Muslims.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
Ribnovo is high in the Rhodope Mountains, about 130 miles south of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.
Ribnovo is high in the Rhodope Mountains, about 130 miles south of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
People carry wedding gifts on the first day of the two-day ceremony.
People carry wedding gifts on the first day of the two-day ceremony.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
This donkey was part of the wedding dowry.
This donkey was part of the wedding dowry.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
Ribnovo residents look through a window on the first day of the wedding ceremony.
Ribnovo residents look through a window on the first day of the wedding ceremony.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
The dowry includes items curated throughout the bride's lifetime to place in the couple's new home. Blankets, dishes and other items are put on display outside the bride's home as a symbol of the family's worth.
The dowry includes items curated throughout the bride's lifetime to place in the couple's new home. Blankets, dishes and other items are put on display outside the bride's home as a symbol of the family's worth.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
The families gather for eating and dancing the "horo," a Balkan folk dance performed in a circle.
The families gather for eating and dancing the "horo," a Balkan folk dance performed in a circle.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
Relatives are seen in front of the house of Robova's fiance, Refat Atipov. They are holding some of the gifts prepared from his family for his future wife and her family.
Relatives are seen in front of the house of Robova's fiance, Refat Atipov. They are holding some of the gifts prepared from his family for his future wife and her family.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
Robova, left, and Atipov dance on the second day of their wedding ceremony.
Robova, left, and Atipov dance on the second day of their wedding ceremony.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
A relative of the bride has her makeup applied on the second wedding day.
A relative of the bride has her makeup applied on the second wedding day.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
One of Robova's relatives is seen in a mirror while the bride's traditional makeup is applied.
One of Robova's relatives is seen in a mirror while the bride's traditional makeup is applied.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
Robova is dressed in traditional garments and elaborate face paint called "gelina." The face-painting process, a symbol of the bride's purity, can take up to two hours. It is considered a specialized art.
Robova is dressed in traditional garments and elaborate face paint called "gelina." The face-painting process, a symbol of the bride's purity, can take up to two hours. It is considered a specialized art.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos
A portrait of Robova after her makeup was finished.
A portrait of Robova after her makeup was finished.
Boryana Katsarova/Comsos