Simple 'KUA Wedding' Trend and its Appeal for Couples

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Holding simple wedding vow exchange ceremonies at local religious affairs offices (KUA) has become a hot topic shared by young couples on social platforms lately. This legal requirement to register a marriage has been the top option for marrying couples during the pandemic, but the trend still remains as it is done with less hassle compared to traditional larger wedding ceremonies. 

Under Religious Affairs Ministry’s Regulation No.20/2019 concerning marriage registrations, holding a wedding at a KUA office only requires a legal letter from the local sub-district leader where the bride and groom live, a written statement of consent from the bride and groom, a written consent from parents, and the cost of registering the marriage that only cost Rp30,000 or US$1.99 in current exchange. 

The Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya’s Islamic Religion Faculty lecturer Thoat Stiawan argued that wedding ceremonies at local KUAs remain attractive to couples as it costs significantly less. 

The lecturer said the appeal of this type of wedding ceremony is time and cost efficiency. 

“It is less of a hassle as marrying someone at a KUA office does not require a myriad of preparations,” said Stiawan from the university’s website. “Another essential aspect is time efficiency as holding a wedding at a KUA does not require many preparations. The time the bridegroom has is much more efficient.”

He also believes this trend will continue as many people still yearn to hold a sacred wedding that is intimate and does not involve inviting many people to the wedding. 

TEMPO.CO | DEVI ERNIS

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