When a young man decides to take the step of marriage and starting a family, he often encounters a wall of exorbitant costs that turn his legitimate dream into a financial nightmare. It's no longer just about the dowry and furnishing the marital home; it now includes a long list of social requirements that translate into thousands of riyals, from booking luxurious wedding halls and lavish banquets to the elaborate and expensive details of the wedding night and honeymoon.
The gap between economic reality and social appearances
In light of global and local economic changes and fluctuating prices, marriage has become a project requiring years of financial planning. Despite numerous religious edicts and societal calls urging simplification and lower dowries, social customs and ostentation still dominate the scene. What began as a simple expression of happiness at the public announcement of marriage has transformed into a frantic race toward extravagance, where the cost of a single night can equal a young man's income for several years, often forcing him into debt and a cycle of bank loans at the very beginning of his married life.
The impact of social media
The role of social media in exacerbating this crisis cannot be ignored. Platforms like Instagram and Snapchat have contributed to creating new and unrealistic standards for weddings. "Trends" and social comparisons have become major drivers of unjustified spending, as some seek to document extravagant moments to impress their followers. This has increased the psychological and financial pressure on couples and their families, turning luxuries into indispensable necessities.
Consequences of delayed marriage
The continued rise in marriage costs has profound negative repercussions on the demographic structure of society. Social studies indicate that financial obstacles are a major reason for the delayed age of marriage for both sexes, a phenomenon known as spinsterhood and young people's reluctance to marry. This delay not only affects the individual but also extends to lower fertility rates and long-term changes in the population pyramid, necessitating a serious re-evaluation of the consumer habits associated with this sacred occasion.
A field investigation monitors the crisis
In this context, the Al-Youm newspaper team highlighted this growing phenomenon in an extensive report. Editors (Hudhaifa Al-Qurashi, Mohammed Al-Sulaiman, Mohammed Al-Oweis, Ahmed Al-Masri, Raed Al-Suwailim, and Abdulaziz Al-Omari) engaged in in-depth discussions with various segments of society to understand the root causes of the problem and potential solutions, accompanied by photographer Murtada Boukhamsin to document the situation. The discussions concluded with the necessity of concerted community efforts to promote a culture of moderation and a return to the essence of marriage, which is based on love and compassion, not on appearances and material possessions.
