AZE.US
For many families in Azerbaijan, wedding season is no longer just a time of celebration. It has become a serious monthly expense that can eat up a large share of household income.
As reported by Vesti Baku, people in Baku and the regions say the cost of attending weddings and giving the traditional cash gift has risen sharply, with monthly spending often reaching 300 to 1,000 manats.
According to those surveyed, the amount depends on how close the relationship is, where the wedding is held and how expensive the event is overall. For acquaintances or more distant relatives, people commonly give 50, 100 or 200 manats. For close family members, the amount can climb much higher, sometimes exceeding 500 manats.
Several respondents said they spend around 500 manats a month just on wedding gifts. Others said that if they are invited to multiple ceremonies in the same month, total spending can rise to 300 to 400 manats, and in especially busy periods it may reach 1,000 manats. Some even said they had to attend two weddings in one day.
Residents say the burden is noticeably heavier in Baku than in the regions. In the capital, giving less than 100 manats is increasingly seen as inappropriate, especially if the celebration is held at a restaurant or a large wedding hall. In rural areas and smaller towns, the sums are generally lower, usually around 50 to 100 manats, though people there also say costs are rising.
Many note that the old custom of simply returning the same amount once given to you no longer works the way it used to. With prices for food, music, video services, decorations and venues climbing, guests increasingly base their gift not on tradition alone, but on the actual cost of the event.
Some respondents said wedding invitations have effectively become a separate budget category for their households. Pensioners and lower-income families, they said, often struggle the most, but still feel pressure to contribute enough to avoid embarrassment in front of relatives or friends.
Economist Zahid Mammadov argues that Azerbaijan’s current wedding model needs to be reconsidered. In his view, high spending on catering, music, filming, decoration and other elements creates financial pressure not only for those hosting the event, but also for the guests attending it.
He says a simpler and more affordable format would benefit everyone. As an example, he points to the Turkish municipal wedding model, where participation costs are far lower and weddings do not turn into a financial burden for either newlyweds or invited guests.
Experts say that in Baku wedding halls, the average cost per guest now ranges from 80 to 150 manats. In the regions, that figure is lower, at around 40 to 70 manats. At the same time, the desire to hold lavish ceremonies still pushes some families into debt.
Against that backdrop, weddings in Azerbaijan are increasingly viewed not only as a celebration and a tradition, but as a major financial obligation for everyone involved – including the guests.