Marriage is meant to be a bond of companionship and mercy, not a test of financial endurance. Yet in Pakistan, weddings have increasingly turned into extravagant spectacles where happiness is measured by spending and social approval rather than sincerity and simplicity. At a time when inflation, unemployment and poverty dominate everyday life, the culture of lavish weddings exposes a disturbing contradiction—joy for a few, lifelong anxiety for many.
In Pakistan, the word "wedding" conjures up images of colorful celebrations, dazzling costumes and sky-high expenses.
This is an event that should be the center of happiness for families, but unfortunately, it has become the height of show and display. On one hand, the people are forced by poverty and destitution, where the worry of earning a living has made their lives miserable, while on the other hand, weddings are being celebrated at a cost of crores of rupees. This contradiction not only reveals social injustice but is also causing the daughters of the poor and middle class to be imprisoned in their homes. Luxurious weddings held for pride, show and exhibition are causing sorrow instead of happiness. Wedding functions continue for several days, which have become a model of wealth display instead of simplicity. The traditional dholki and band baja are now outdated; they have been replaced by dances, Qawwali parties and DJ music concerts at various functions before the wedding. Talking about jewelry and wedding dresses, their prices have reached millions of rupees. In the weddings of the rich, special designer wedding dresses are made in India and sent to Dubai, from where they are imported to Pakistan. Millions are spent in beauty parlors on the bride's makeup and hair styling. Event management, which includes the renovation and decoration of the wedding hall or wedding venue and stage, is also skyrocketing.
Movie photos, ideo shoots and signature bridal shoots are separately priced in millions, where professional wedding photographers, along with their team, cover all the wedding functions and special photos and video shoots of the bride and groom.
Some renowned photographers are also called abroad for signature shoots at wedding functions at a high fee. A variety of food is served in wedding ceremonies such as Dholki Night, Qawwali or Music Night, Mehndi, Baraat and Walima, which include local and foreign dishes. There is a shower of salamis and gifts; millions of rupees and dollars are poured into qawwali and music. There is no restriction on dancing and other accessories in farmhouses; there is no limit on food. However, a one-dish policy is enforced to some extent in hotels and wedding halls. Seeing all this, it seems that marriage has become a field for displaying wealth rather than a celebration of happiness.
Those Who come to Pakistan from foreign countries and get married spend dollars, pounds, dirhams and rials like water, just so that their relatives and the region can be impressed. These people forget that this display of wealth actually increases social discrimination. On the one hand, marriages of crores are taking place; on the other hand, the vast majority of the people are grinding in the mill of inflation and unemployment. This contradiction is not only dividing the society but also eroding moral values. People from middle- and poor families who cannot arrange all this—their daughters are left sitting at home. The conditions of marriage demand high-class food, dowry and gold ornaments. Public display of dowry is the ultimate in shamelessness and showiness. Poor fathers take bribes for their daughters' marriages, take loans from banks, become indebted to people, or sell their property. Seeing all this, it makes one cry tears of blood to see how a happy event becomes a cause of sorrow. The social pressure is such that people spend more than their means; as a result, homes break up and families are destroyed. This is not just an economic problem but also a psychological one, where daughters become inferior and start considering themselves the cause of their parents' troubles.
If we compare it to developed countries, most marriages there are a symbol of simplicity. Except for a few very rich and famous people, there is no sign of unnecessary expenses and showiness in marriages.
There is no waste of money in hotels and wedding halls. No extra expenses are made except for food and drink. There is no dowry, no display of jewelry; the bride usually buys the wedding dress with her own money, and the bride and groom put rings on each other. Relatives and guests give gifts according to their status and the needs of the bride and groom. This simplicity not only reduces the financial burden but also makes the wedding an occasion of true happiness. In Western countries, weddings are often small and simple, where the focus is on relationships and not on the display of wealth. In contrast, in our country, weddings have become a battle of social status. On one hand, there is a wave of poverty that is pushing millions of people towards hunger and disease; on the other hand, there are weddings that are being celebrated at a cost of crores of rupees.
The case of overseas Pakistanis is even stranger, as they come to Pakistan after earning money from foreign countries and, impressed by the splendor and splendor of weddings here, shower wealth.
People associated with catering, tailoring and other related business sectors make a profit from the money spent on their weddings. This show-off is, however, a waste of their own wealth, which encourages others to follow the same path. The government should completely eliminate unnecessary events, set an appropriate number of guests, strictly enforce the one-dish policy on private homes and farmhouses, and legislate on the display of dowry. Every special and common person should perform marriage rituals with simplicity. If we adopt simplicity like developed countries, not only will the economic burden be reduced, but also the marriages of daughters will become easier, and most families will become happy. Marriage is an occasion for happiness; it should not be a cause of sorrow. Real happiness is not in the display of wealth but in the strengthening of relationships and taking care of others.
Marriage should bring peace, not pressure; dignity, not debt. Real happiness lies in meaningful relationships, not in glittering stages or viral wedding videos. Unless society collectively chooses simplicity over show, weddings will continue to widen social divisions and turn blessings into burdens. As the saying goes, “True celebration is not in what is spent, but in what is shared.” It is time to reclaim marriage as an occasion of compassion, balance and humanity—not a battlefield of wealth.
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