Undeterred by the coronavirus, couples across the Middle East are pressing ahead with scaled-back weddings. Some countries are adapting. In the United Arab Emirates, hurried couples can now obtain wedding licenses online. In Kuwait, marriage courts offer services by special appointment. In Saudi Arabia, some couples have skipped the once-ironclad tradition of holding a wedding celebration before moving in together, even if they are already legally wed. Lebanon, in particular, is famed for its razzle-dazzle weddings.
What is happening?
Postponement
Couples are reportedly choosing to postpone says Micheline Diab from Giritaly Wedding & Events, Lebanon. “Giritaly organizes destination weddings in Europe and the Middle East. 70 to 80 percent of our 2020 weddings have been postponed to 2021 with the remaining canceled. We are receiving many requests for 2021, but they are hesitant to move on signing and committing with a downpayment.
Strict Rules
It seems couples do not want to compromise as it kills the excitement if there are more rules. “For the wedding, the permission is given by the authorities as of 01st of July with some restrictions such as it should be done at open-air, not very crowded and some standards. In one round table 5-6 people instead of 10 pax. And the distance between the tables should be 1.5-2mt. No dance floor, no dance other than the bride and groom. And the mask is compulsory for everyone. Under these circumstances, no one would like to do their wedding this year. Nearly all weddings either canceled or postponed to next year.” Adds Zuhal Gundoz from Dream Event & Design, Turkey
What can be done?
Government Support
As stated by other professionals, Mireille Nader from Kristielab, Lebanon points out that the government has to support at this crucial moment. “Take into consideration that our industry is falling apart and we need support from the government to survive.”
“Government authorities and the tourist board should raise the voice more on our hit industry. While night clubs, pubs are opening and dancing in clubs is returning. What is preventing weddings from returning? The set of strict rules is being applied to the wedding industry, while other industries are loosening up more and more.” Says Micheline Diab from Giritaly Wedding & Events, Lebanon. Similar sentiments were shared by Norma Habib from Ali Bakhtiar Designs, UAE
“People should feel safe, to travel to other countries so that we can do our destination weddings. Each country has to take its high protection and present to show and give the impression to us. Tourism authorities should be more active to do a campaign to increase awareness.” Adds Zuhal Gundoz from Dream Event & Design, Turkey
COVID-19 Tests before arrival
We can certainly reduce the level of risks by pre-checking people arriving at the country as pointed out by Batya Heller from Batya Heller Event Planning in Israel ” I am a destination planner at the destination (families from around the world who come to celebrate in Israel) so as long as borders are closed, as long as a tourist need to be in quarantine for two weeks, as long as the number of guests will keep on changing on weekly bases and as long as a guest have to wear masks I won’t be working. This could all be solved with COVID test to all the guest in the country they live and if the result is negative they stay in quarantine at home for two weeks before they travel to the destination and a doctor is in charge on the whole thing from far and is in touch with all of them and signs on it that they are all healthy and could be together as a group. We could even add a COVID test when they arrive at the destination. Life has to go on, we cannot let this continue.”
Feature Image Credit: @thomsonreuters
