An open-air wedding party on the Corniche in Jeddah took place for Abdullah Abdul Azim and his bride.

“Wedding costs often exceed SR 50,000,” said Azim. “I wondered why I should pay all this money when it is way more than I can afford. The Corniche is beautiful and simple and I can get married without having to drown myself in debt I won’t be able to repay later.”

The women’s party was held at a restaurant, with friends and relatives covering its costs. “The money I saved will help my bride and I start a new life without the burden of debt.”

He said his friends encouraged and supported him when he came up with the idea. “I posted the invitation on social networking sites,” he added. Many young men responded favorably, saying they would do the same when they got married.

“At first, my bride’s parents and even my mother rejected the idea, but I persisted,” he said.

The bride was very supportive, he added, even though her father was not present when the ceremony began.

Osama Fakeh, an invitee, said the idea is very unconventional to Saudi society. “It needs a lot of guts and support from both families,” he added.