DAMMAM, 17 July 2003 — Last week, more than 500 bridegrooms gathered in a massive tent in Al-Ahsa to celebrate their wedding. The idea of group weddings is catching the imaginations of many who believe that it is the best way to avoid spending thousands of riyals on extravagant ceremonies.
The function was organized under the auspices of the Al-Ahsa Marriage Society, which propagates modesty and austerity in such events. This week a similar function was organized in Qatif, where again more than 200 couples were married.
According to Ali Al-Ahmad, a spokesman of the Safwa Marriage Society, all such organizations are non-profit institutions whose basic aim is to fight social evils.
Religious leaders and others have been calling for an end to extravagant weddings. Traditionally, a marriage is a costly affair, and middle-class families normally spend in excess of SR200,000. That includes the dowry, the wedding celebration, and decoration and furnishing of a new home. According to Fahd Bagoumi, an Arab journalist, SR200,000 would in no way be seen as an extravagant figure.
Ali Al-Ahmad said that in the Eastern Province the phenomenon of group weddings and austerity is spreading fast. More than 2,000 group weddings have taken place so far this year, compared to a total of 1,200 marriages last year. Several wedding organizations expect this year’s figure to cross the 3,000 mark.
“It’s not a question of saving money alone,” said Ali, who was one of the grooms at the group wedding in Qatif. “It’s our way of saying no to these traditions. Moreover, it’s exhilarating to see so many people joining us in our moment of happiness,” he said. Normally a bridegroom or the family of the bride pays between SR6,000 and SR8,000 to the society for their wedding, and they can invite as many people as they wish. “It’s like a feast for the whole town,” said Jafar Al-Mohsin, an office bearer of Sihat Marriage Society. Once the fee is paid, the entire arrangement — food, tent, decoration and soft drinks — are taken care of by the organizers.
Group weddings have become so popular that many companies are now coming forward to sponsor such events. Organizers even say that in coming years individual marriage celebrations will become a thing of the past.
