[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="The wedding business" ids="75980,75977,75979,75978"] By Faisal Mijreshi WEDDING parties in Saudi Arabia have grown into a large business in the Kingdom with expenses becoming too much for many newlywed couples to bear, according to experts. Nasrah Al-Harbe, a correspondent for MBC channel, said Saudi celebrations and weddings are extravagant and do not take into account the limited financial conditions of newlyweds and young people in general. He said: "Weddings have become a competition involving extravagance. Newlyweds often go too far to realize their dream wedding and splurge on the hall, dress and food. But they forget their life after that one day and begin their journey as a couple already in debt." She added society needs someone to remind them of the simplicity and modesty of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on such occasions. "In the past, weddings happened on the streets and everyone from the neighborhood was able to join in the celebration. There were no long hours at the salon before the wedding or lots of dinner leftovers that get thrown away." Areej Jalal said familial upbringing is an important factor in instilling modesty. "What we see today in terms of designer dresses and sparkling runways is not from our traditions and values. It is not even from our religion. "Modesty is an important trait that we must encourage and young people must be more aware of their financial status." Rose Al-Mohsen said weddings are no longer about the happy moments the bride and the groom came to share but a competition to flaunt riches and affluence. "The competition is not just among friends but also among families and siblings. The one that pays for this is the groom and he finds himself in a pit of debts that he will spend years to repay." Alaa Al-Jahdali said wedding ceremonies were now representative of a large commercial industry that is valued at billions of riyals. "We are mere consumers in the chain of commerce. We look at weddings from a social perspective and say we are competing against one another and showing off, when in reality we are just feeding an insatiable industry," Al-Jahdali said. Afnan Mandourah said extravagance in weddings has become a social phenomenon that must be addressed. "We need to raise awareness among engaged couples. Extravagance does not positively correlate with happiness. You don't need to go too far only to suffer emotional and psychological distress before, during and after the wedding day," she said.
