Holding wedding parties in traditional tents or open areas is out of fashion with the modern Saudi generation which prefers upscale wedding halls and hotels because they are romantic and stylish and, most importantly, safe. “Most Saudi couples prefer to hold their wedding parties at modern locations with a romantic atmosphere. Weddings in traditional tents are considered old fashioned, and no one is doing that now,” said Samira Niazi, a Saudi designer of wedding decorations. According to Niazi, another important factor is the lack of safety in wedding parties held in open, insecure locations. “Most brides now hold their parties in hotels and wedding halls, which can ensure almost 100 percent safety,” she added. “Some families prefer to hold wedding functions in their houses, villas, or in different locations around the city, but the number of such families is very small.” A secure location in which women can be separated from men, listen to very loud music, and wear clothes of latest fashions are the main elements that encourage Saudi women to hold their wedding parties inside fashionable halls and hotels. “The traditions of Saudi society require that women and men be separated in different sections, so holding a function in a hotel or wedding hall is really the best choice for Saudi families,” Niazi explained. Holding a wedding party in an open location, such as a garden, a villa, or a tent in the desert raises the question of the safety of the wedding guests. “We, as wedding decoration organizers, are also interested in security and safety procedures. In fact, we feel that 50 percent of the safety procedures is our responsibility and the other 50 percent is the responsibility of the family and other organizers of the wedding, Niazi said. “When a bride first meets with me, I advice her to choose a design for her wedding party that suits her budget, style, and character. If she chooses a location for the party or a particular type of decoration that I consider dangerous, I refuse to do it, since ultimately I would be the one responsible for risking the safety of the wedding guests,” she added. “If the bride asks me to design special decorations for the party, reception, or the hosts' table, I try my best to take all the safety procedures into consideration,” she explained. Niazi said the hotel or wedding hall has the responsibility of ensuring that all safety procedures are in place in case of the outbreak of fire. “When I prepare wedding decorations inside a hotel or wedding hall, I can work freely knowing that the safety procedures are the staff's responsibility,” said Niazi. “I give my advice and they are free to accept it or not,” she added. Saudi Gazette spoke with Umsiaty wedding hall and asked about safety procedures that they employ and their cooperation with Civil Defense. “We are responsible for safety procedures, not only for the party in the wedding hall, but when preparations are being made before the wedding, as well as in the kitchen, and the bride's room,” said Khaled Ma'loul, a member of the wedding hall's management. “We engage the services of a safety company which will come to our assistance in case of any accident or fire. The company provides us with specialized staff, rescue teams, and equipment,” he added. “A Civil Defense team visits us every three months to review our safety procedures and check our safety equipment and tools,” Ma'loul said, adding that using a large number of candles and lighting fires is banned in most wedding halls, but is sometimes allowed in hotels.
