Srinagar, June 11 -- People don't talk about it openly, but you can feel the strain. You see it in the subtle hesitations of fathers. You hear it in the nervous laughter of young men unsure how to afford marriage. You catch it in the eyes of daughters waiting for years. Not for love, but for someone who can afford their wedding.

Weddings in Kashmir weren't always like this. They used to be small, spiritual, and shared. Families gathered for a simple nikah, a home-cooked meal, maybe a song or two. Now, the ceremonies stretch for days. The expectations stretch for miles. And the budgets? They break people.

In the past decade, we've seen a cultural shift. Or maybe, a cultural crisis. Today's Kashmiri wedding often comes with multiple pre-w...