Dream - Wedding - Dear

Henna nights, bold fashion and zero family drama: Pakistan's fake weddings give young people the excuse to have stylish, stress-free parties devoid of social pressure.

The wedding stage looks inconspicuous at first glance: marigold-laden, with bright, cheery yellow tones adorning where the bride and groom sit.

It seems like a typical Pakistani mehndi — part of the country's traditional three-day wedding festivities — yet a closer look reveals something unusual: the groom is a woman. This isn't a same-sex marriage but a "fake wedding," an organized event giving people the chance to get together and enjoy a spectacular night out free from social pressure.

Pakistan's fake wedding trend, which has been gaining traction since 2023, replicates the aesthetics and festivities of a "real" wedding, but without the lifelong commitment or family pressures that usually define Pakistani marriages.

This type of event increased in popularity after a fake wedding organized by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in 2023 gained considerable national and global attention on traditional and social media.

Author: Mavra Bari, DW

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