AZE.US
Marriage in Azerbaijan is becoming increasingly expensive, with lavish ceremonies, family expectations and social media pressure pushing some couples into debt before their life together has even begun.
The total cost of a mid-range wedding can reach 30,000 to 60,000 manats ($17,650 to $35,300), according to estimates cited by Metbuat.az.
That figure may include the restaurant, gold jewelry, dowry, wedding clothes, car rentals, photography, video services and several ceremonies held before the main celebration.
The largest share of the spending often falls on the groom’s family. A restaurant reception alone can cost close to 10,000 manats ($5,880). Families may also have to pay for jewelry, furniture, appliances, rent or renovations.
Some take out bank loans. Others spend savings accumulated over several years in a single day.
For many couples, marriage is no longer one ceremony. It has become a chain of events that may include a family introduction, formal matchmaking, an engagement, civil registration, a henna night, separate celebrations for the bride and groom, professional photo shoots and a honeymoon.
A henna ceremony alone may cost 3,000 to 5,000 manats ($1,765 to $2,940).
Seven restaurant gatherings for one marriage
Baku resident Jeyhun Valiyev said he married about a year ago with 6,000 to 7,000 manats ($3,530 to $4,120) in cash.
It was not enough.
“I had to borrow 10,000 manats ($5,880) from a bank,” he said. “I have been paying the loan for two years. If I do not miss any payments, I will finish next April.”
Valiyev said the couple paid 500 manats ($294) for a photo session and spent about 2,500 manats ($1,470) on a dinner for 40 guests after their civil marriage ceremony.
Their families met at restaurants seven times: for the initial family introduction, matchmaking, engagement, civil marriage, henna night, the bride’s wedding and the groom’s wedding.
“Young people who want to marry probably do not face this many obligations anywhere else,” he said.
Social media turns weddings into a competition
Psychologist Vusala Rustam said Azerbaijan’s tradition of large weddings has deep cultural roots, including folk tales describing celebrations lasting “seven days and seven nights.”
But today’s wedding culture is also driven by commercial interests, she said.
Restaurants, bridal shops, event decorators, car rental companies, photographers and jewelry sellers all benefit from a system that encourages families to hold multiple events.
Social media has added another layer of pressure. Photos and videos of luxury weddings can create the feeling that every family must match or exceed what others have done.
The phrase “it only happens once” is often used to justify expenses that families cannot afford, Rustam said.
The financial burden may then shift from one family to the other. After the groom’s side pays for the wedding, the bride’s family may be expected to furnish an apartment. If they lack the money, they may also turn to credit.
A celebration that can take years to repay
Rising prices, housing costs and wedding expectations are prompting some young Azerbaijanis to delay marriage.
Economists say spending tens of thousands of manats on a one-day celebration can pose a serious risk even for middle-income households. The debt may remain long after the wedding photos are forgotten.
Rustam said simpler ceremonies could allow parents and relatives to direct their financial support toward housing, furniture or the couple’s future needs.
“Families should be built on love and understanding between two people,” she said. “Because young people are afraid of falling into debt, marriage has become a frightening process in Azerbaijan.”
AZE.US