JEDDAH: NADIM AL-HAMID
Published — Monday 18 August 2014
Hundreds of couples are to tie the knot in congregation at the Jeddah Center for Forums & Events on Aug. 21.
Around 1,200 brides and grooms will celebrate with their families that day.
Couples gear up for group wedding
A-folklore-troupe-performs-during-a-mass-wedding-ceremony-in-Jazan-on-Friday.jpg
In this file photo, a folklore troupe performs during a mass wedding ceremony in Jazan. (SPA)
The 16th annual group wedding event is organized by the Charitable Society for Marriage and Family Guidance in Jeddah under the auspices of Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah.
“The society helps youth who cannot afford marriage expenses,” Abdulaziz Al-Harthi, PR director at the society, told Arab News.
“We have a range of programs and projects that help candidates achieve a stable family life. In short, we aim to minimize celibacy through spreading awareness among youth about the importance of marriage and rationalizing expenses.”
The center also plans to introduce marital counseling in a bid to reduce divorce rates, he said.
The society offers financial aid and gift donations, such as electrical appliances and furniture, and helps match singles, organizes support groups and arranges for mass weddings.
Candidates should reside in Jeddah and have a permanent job earning a maximum monthly salary of SR6,000 in order to be eligible to receive financial support.
In addition, candidates must present proof of a marriage contract from an Islamic court that is less than a year old.
Candidates must also have been married for first time unless the first wife suffered from an incurable disease.
Bridal dowries should not exceed SR40,000 in gold and cash.
Young teams at media and promotional departments are working to make the event one-of-its-kind for the newly weds.
The society is the first wedding institution in the Kingdom and has helped 68,000 men and women get hitched over a span of 26 years.
SOURCE: ARABNEWS.COM
Categories: Asia, Saudi Arabia