PhotoMUMBAI, India — A modern Indian wedding might include a dayslong celebration, ornate invitations, elephants covered in finery and a bride adorned in gold. But in an effort to curb such extravagant spending, lawmakers in one Indian state have imposed new regulations to limit wedding celebrations to an intimate 400 or 500 guests. “For the bride’s family, there is the expectation that if they don’t pay for a really lavish wedding, their daughter will not be treated well in their marital homes,” she said. Jammu and Kashmir’s action was not the first official effort to rein in wedding spending. “There is undue pressure from society to have a lavish wedding, even when you can’t afford it,” Ms. Ranjan said.

Source: New York Times February 22, 2017 21:22 UTC