AZE.US
An Azerbaijani lawmaker has criticized the country’s expensive wedding traditions, arguing that couples who consider lavish ceremonies, gold jewelry and a bridal trousseau essential may not be ready for marriage.
Javanshir Feyziyev, a member of Azerbaijan’s parliament, said starting a family should be based on the personal decision of two people to build a life together, rather than on their ability to finance an elaborate celebration.
“If someone considers wedding expenses, gold jewelry, a trousseau and similar things necessary conditions for starting a family, it would be better for them not to marry,” Feyziyev told Median.Az.
He argued that couples who genuinely want to build a family can marry without taking on unnecessary expenses and still live happily.
High wedding costs are frequently cited as one of the obstacles facing young Azerbaijanis. Engagement ceremonies, jewelry, household goods, housing and large receptions can place a substantial financial burden on couples and their families.
Feyziyev, however, said the trend toward later marriages should not be blamed entirely on financial pressures.
He noted that young people now have more time to complete their education, establish careers and prepare both financially and psychologically for family life.
“Criticizing or blaming them for not marrying early is absurd,” the lawmaker said, adding that marrying later could reflect a more responsible attitude toward family obligations.
Feyziyev also called for outdated wedding customs to be reconsidered. He questioned the practice of inviting hundreds of people, including distant acquaintances, and spending thousands of manats on entertainers and other nonessential services.
A wedding should be a family event attended by people who genuinely know and care about the couple, he said.
The lawmaker also criticized families motivated by a desire to demonstrate their wealth or “keep up with the neighbors.” Such behavior, he argued, turns voluntary expenses into social expectations that other families then feel pressured to follow.
Feyziyev said these practices cannot realistically be regulated by law because wedding arrangements remain a private matter. Instead, he called for traditions to evolve through individual judgment and changing social attitudes.
“Every custom and tradition should be consciously adapted to the demands of the time,” he said.
AZE.US