Wedding celebrations getting more pricey

Manama : When it comes to saying “I do”, Kuwaiti couples do not shy away from spending money. Huge amounts of it.

According to figures published in August, Kuwaitis spend 235 million dinars (Dh741,230) a year on getting married.

The average cost for a middle-class family is 35,000 dinars while rich families spend up to one million dinars for a single wedding, Kuwaiti daily Al Qabas reported.

The costs often depend on the latest trends and fashions, the reputation of the singers and the standards of equipment and services.

According to the daily, the number of weddings celebrated every year is between 6,000 and 9,000.

Kuwaitis attribute the exorbitant amounts to changes in the mindset of society.

“In the past, things used to be really simple and straightforward,” a Kuwaiti man said. 

“Today, wedding celebrations have become an ostentatious show, an exhibition that the families want everyone to talk about. “Many people are pushed beyond their financial limits in order to meet all demands and fulfil the wishes of the families. The major result is that the bride and the groom start off their married lives with debts and financial burdens.”

Kuwaitis said that a recent trend is to hire a wedding planner to organise the ceremony.

“This is a new concept in the Gulf that we used to see only in movies,” the Kuwaiti said. “Now, it is making its way into the Gulf, and the immediate result is the steep rise in the cost of ceremonies. Of course, not all planners charge the same amount, but the details make the difference.” (Gulfnews)