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India Today
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Move over fake weddings, ticketed shaadis are the next big thing
Imagine this: You're in France, soaking in the charm of cobblestone streets, strolling past quaint cafes, gazing at historical monuments that whisper stories of centuries gone by. Of course, you also see the Eiffel Tower, the most famous symbol of love. It feels like the perfect vacation. But then, something unexpected happens. You end up at a wedding. Not your friend's wedding, not your family's, just a random twist is, you don't know the couple. You weren't invited. You didn't even try to sneak in (remember 3 Idiots?). You actually bought a ticket to attend someone's big you read that right. In a world where Gen Z is busy dancing in fake baraats at staged weddings, there's another trend picking up: attending real weddings as a paid guest. No relation to the bride or groom, no emotional ties, just an experience you pay for, like a concert or a food festival. It's not about crashing a wedding for free food. It's a planned experience where you pay to be part of the celebration. You get to enjoy the music, the traditions, the grand decor, and maybe even make new friends. Weddings are no longer just private family events; they're becoming social experiences where anyone can join if they buy a ticket. Love weddings? You don't need an invite—just grab a ticket and join the celebration | Photo: Pexels/Emma Bauso According to The Guardian, Katia Lekarski, the founder of Invitin, came up with this idea earlier this year to connect wedding couples with paying guests. So far, six weddings, mostly around Paris, have signed told the publication that it all started when she was renting out her house in southern France to some people attending a wedding, and her five-year-old daughter wondered why they never got invited to made Lekarski think: what if people could actually buy tickets to a wedding and help the couple financially at the same time?In a world where we swipe left and right on dating apps, share meals with strangers, and bond with people we barely know over board games, paying for a ticket to attend a wedding as a guest doesn't sound all that what guests get for shelling out an average of EUR 100 to EUR 150 (Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 approx.)? Basically, the full wedding experience. You'll be there for the whole day. The only catch? You have to follow the dress concept is even happening in India. A startup called Join My Wedding connects tourists with couples having traditional Indian weddings, allowing them to experience the culture and celebrations up company describes it as the ultimate cultural experience. As their website puts it, "You haven't been to India until you've been to an Indian wedding." The weddings listed on their website, happening across India, are priced between $150 and $250 (Rs 13,000 to Rs 21,000 approx.) per invite. The company says that this contribution is treated as a gift for the couple and covers entry to all the ceremonies on all the you wondering if attending a stranger's wedding is a good idea? Surprisingly, it could be an amazing one. Think about it, you're not just going to a party, you're stepping into an entirely new cultural experience. You get to witness age-old traditions up close and enjoy the grandeur that comes with weddings. And let's be honest, who doesn't love good food? That alone is reason enough for some of it doesn't stop there. Weddings are all about people, and this is your chance to meet new faces, strike up conversations, and maybe even make friends for life. If you're someone who loves dancing, who knows, you might even end up being the life of the just imagine the story you'll have to tell years later: Remember that time we met at a wedding I bought a ticket for? Sounds like something straight out of a movie, doesn't it? The entire experience is a mix of adventure, fun, and unforgettable memories waiting to happen.- EndsTune InMust Watch
IOL News
27-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Communities call for stricter measures for marriages between locals and foreign nationals
Residents of Greater Lejweleputswa District Municipality called for stricter measures to ascertain the authenticity of marriages between foreign nationals and South Africans. Image: Emma Bauso/pexels At the recent public hearings on the Marriage Bill held at the Toronto Recreation Centre in Welkom, residents of the Greater Lejweleputswa District Municipality voiced their concerns over the rise of marriages of convenience between foreign nationals and South Africans. This was the second of three public hearings in the Free State, where community members presented a robust call for stricter measures to verify the authenticity of marriages, fearing that fraudulent entries could compromise the integrity of the national register. Participants echoed a collective apprehension regarding the troubling trend of marriages that, they argued, are not motivated by genuine intentions. "It is essential that the Bill outlines a clear process to distinguish authentic unions from those undermined by nefarious motives," said one attendee. The committee has previously heard similar concerns in other provinces and has urged the Department of Home Affairs to take immediate action to investigate these claims comprehensively. In addition to concerns over fraudulent marriages, the hearings have also revealed a variety of differing opinions regarding the alignment of the Marriage Bill with the South African Constitution. Some participants expressed that integrating different marriage laws into a single statute may infringe upon the constitutional right to choose. When it came to polygamous marriages, the views proved equally divided. Advocates for polygamy highlighted its historical significance within African communities, asserting that formal recognition within the legal framework could provide much-needed certainty. Conversely, opponents raised concerns over sustainability and potential conflicts, particularly regarding property rights, and called for a ban on such arrangements. The discussion also ventured into the contentious issue of same-sex marriages, with representatives from various faith-based organisations opposing the recognition of these unions based on religious teachings. However, proponents of same-sex marriage adamantly argued for the constitutional rights of all citizens to love and marry whomever they choose. The committee expressed disappointment over instances of perceived discrimination against same-sex couples, reiterating the importance of protecting the Constitutional rights of every South African. Another area of debate focused on the legal age of consent, with some participants supporting the established threshold of 18 years, while others contended that younger individuals should complete their educational pathways before entering marriage. Marriage officers also raised a significant concern about potential repercussions they might face should they refuse to solemnise marriages that conflict with their personal beliefs. Many called for clearly defined protections for these officers, as well as a comprehensive rollout plan for the training of new marriage officers in alignment with the provisions of the Bill. With the final hearings on the Marriage Bill set to take place today in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality, the committee has urged residents to attend and share their insights concerning this pivotal legislation. IOL
IOL News
23-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Mother refuses to straighten her toddler's curly hair for wedding
Mother refuses to straighten her daughter's curly hair. Image: Emma Bauso / Pexels While many brides dream of a picture-perfect wedding day, some take their vision to extremes, especially when it comes to expectations for the bridal party. Often, this means all bridesmaids are required to wear identical dresses, regardless of how unflattering or uncomfortable they may be. In other cases, brides dictate specific hair and makeup styles to ensure uniformity in wedding photos. But one bride may have taken this obsession with visual consistency too far by asking that even the flower girls match perfectly, down to altering their natural features. A concerned mother recently turned to Reddit's 'Am I the A**hole' community for advice after her sister-in-law pressured her to straighten her 18-month-old daughter's naturally curly hair for the wedding. 'My sister-in-law is mad at me because I refuse to straighten my 1.5-year-old's curly hair so all the flower girls can match,' the mom wrote. She pointed out that the bride knew about her daughter's curly hair when she asked her to be part of the wedding. 'She's upset because my daughter's hair forms tight ringlets. While it's fairly long when wet, it looks like short baby curls when dry. It's adorable, and I don't see why I should change how she naturally looks just to fit someone else's ideal wedding photo,' she added. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The mom also explained that her child is simply too young for heat styling, and she's worried about the risk of burns or damage. 'I'll style her hair nicely with a headband and use products to manage the curls, but I'm not straightening them,' she said firmly. Seeking reassurance, she asked other Reddit users if she was in the wrong for standing her ground. One commenter responded, 'As a curly-haired person myself, absolutely do not do it. A) This request is ridiculous, especially for a toddler! B) Curly hair is beautiful. No one should feel pressured to change their natural hair to be 'wedding appropriate.'' Another user added, 'This is beyond unreasonable. We're talking about a baby's hair! Even 10-year-olds shouldn't be exposed to heat damage. Your sister-in-law needs to seriously rethink her priorities.' Yet another chimed in, 'As someone who's unfortunately dealt with a 'bridezilla' in the family, this is classic unreasonable behaviour. No rational person would expect a toddler to undergo hair straightening for a wedding.' IOL Lifestyle
