A couple takes wedding photos by the sea in Qingdao. (Photo : Getty Images)
Traditionally in China, the groom has to pay the bride's family in cash to get her hand in marriage. A local government in eastern China imposed a maximum limit to the amount.
The "bride price" has been increasing in poor rural areas because the supply of women is low and there are fewer potential wives. The price has gone up to more than 100,000 yuan in several towns.
This is why the authorities in Taiqian County, Henan Province, want marriage costs to be less paralyzing. The local government released new guidelines stating that the "bride price" should not exceed 60,000 yuan.
According to reports from China National Radio, the authorities are also urging couples to have simpler weddings. The government regulation stated that there should be no more than 10 tables of guests at the reception.
The local government is not imposing penalties for disregarding the advice. Wedding planners and local Communist Party committees have been told to intervene.
A user from Sina Weibo commented, "The rules are made with good intentions, but how much money a family wants to give is a private matter."
Another user posted, "Which law gives the government permission to reach into people's family matters?"
There was one blogger who wrote, "For those that can't afford to marry, this is good news."
The increase in the amount of dowry was seen as being "too expensive" by the government and experts say that the high amount does not even follow the traditional purpose.
Zhang Mingsuo, a sociology professor at Zhengzhou University, said: "In traditional rural areas bride prices were charged by parents to support themselves later in life after they had spent large sums raising their daughters."
He added: "But as materialism prevails, the amount of money paid in bride prices has soared and the tradition has strayed from its original purpose."
