If you’ve ever attended a Middle Eastern wedding, you know how extravagant they can be. But it’s precisely this extravagance that’s been putting off many youngsters from tying the knot for at least the past two decades. Because attending one of those larger-than-life receptions is one thing, having to plan them is totally another.

The problem lies in the outdated traditions that many parents insist on their children following when getting engaged and married. Not only do those customs make no sense today, but they also pose great psychological and financial pressure on today’s millennials, who would rather kick them to the curb and instead, stick to more modern and practical approaches.

Traditions are beautiful and we should be proud of them, however, when they become a burden as well as a potential risk on the future happiness of a relationship, giving them up is the right step on the path of “Happily Ever After.”

Rules of Engagement

Entourage

When a couple decides to make it official, getting down on one knee does not suffice because, in many parts of the Arab world, the groom-to-be is required to take a large entourage of his nearest and “dearest” men to the bride-to-be’s house to ask for her hand in marriage. This tradition needs to be ditched, pronto! How about going to the parents’ house alone and asking for their blessing - minus the large crowd, minus the dozens of dessert plates and minus the theatrics.

Gold Standard

A woman receives gold from her fiancé as part of her dowry. In some cases, a family requests many grams’ worth - more than the man can afford - and even threatens to break off the engagement if their demands aren’t met. Showing one’s love should be symbolic and within their budget; at the end of the day, a heart of gold weighs more in value than any amount of gold jewellery.

Engagement Do and Pre-wedding Parties

Why? Why must the groom-to-be spend hundreds (or thousands) on an engagement do and pre-wedding parties and lunches when he’s already planning a huge celebration a mere few months/days later? Save your dance moves for the Big Day or risk sucking the fun out of the happy occasion and leaving the main man high and dry.

Go Dutch

In today’s modern society, both men and women are the breadwinners. Wedding costs seem to skyrocket with each passing year and shouldn’t really be left to one person to pick up the bill. You’re about to share your life with this individual, so why not start by sharing your wedding costs? The Big Day is for both parties, after all!

Untie the Knot

You're Not On The Guestlist

Parents, you need to stop emotionally blackmailing your children into inviting every Tom, Dick and Harry to their wedding. This is THEIR Big Day, not yours. The people who are supposed to attend are the people who actually mean something to the bride and groom, and who actually know more about them than just their names! In other words, hands off the guestlist.

Bigger Isn’t Better

Whoever said “bigger is better” got it wrong. You don’t have to have a huge bash for it to classify as a wedding. Intimate parties are just as fun as their larger counterparts, except you get to stay on budget and spend quality time with all your guests.

Beep, Beep

You know a driver is on their way to a wedding party when a convoy of 20+ cars beeps their way to the venue, all the while creating chaos on the roads leading up to it. We do want to keep this tradition because it creates joyous vibes for other drivers, however, we want them to practice it without blocking the road or beeping while driving under a tunnel (that’s an echo effect no one wants to hear).

All Made Up

You want to look beautiful on your special day but must that involve caking on large amounts of makeup? Wedding makeup should pack it in because the only looks those salons seem to be going for are either the “white powder face” look or the much worse “Joker” style. Our recommendation: go for something simpler and more natural.

In Plain Sight

Deciding on seating arrangements for your wedding guests is one hectic task, but when it comes to your own seats, why would you want to be centre stage on a bridal sofa, isolated from your family and friends? Wouldn’t you rather sit amongst your loved ones and join in the conversation instead of awkwardly sitting under the spotlight with all eyes on you?

All Eyes On Me

No one likes a show-off, even if it IS their special day. There’s absolutely no need for your husband or mother-in-law to bring out the gold and dress you in it, piece by piece, just to prove that thousands were spent on your dowry. We know your husband loves and values you, that’s why he’s marrying you; those endless gold bracelets and necklaces play no part in that equation.

Food For Thought

Food is a key ingredient to a successful wedding bash, however, wasting it is a recipe for disaster. Why not opt for a more intimate and elegant vibe with a seated dinner instead? You will waste far less food that way too. If you insist on going the buffet route, at least consider reducing the amount of catering recommended by the venue, seeing as they get it wrong every single time.

Put Down Your Weapon

Stop firing guns at weddings. If you want to fire a gun, go to a shooting range. Dozens of people have died from stray bullets fired at weddings and no couple should have their wedding turn into a funeral. End of story.

*Thumbnail photo credit: Pinterest