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Lisa Napoli: Paying up for not walking down the aisle. Mexico City is considering a proposal that would force runaway brides and grooms to reimburse their significant other for wedding expenses. Traditionally, the bride’s family is stuck with the bill. From the Americas Desk at WLRN, Dan Grech reports.

Dan Grech: In Mexico, like the U.S., weddings can be extravagant affairs. Couples spend big pesos before the big day — on gowns, catering and music, like this mariachi band at a Mexico City wedding.

Now, a local congressman from the country’s ruling conservative party wants to attach a big fine to being a runaway bride or groom.

Mexico City native Manuel Perez Rocha is with the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. He says family unity is a problem in a country torn apart my migration and poverty.

Manuel Perez Rocha: And I don’t think measures like this one, that the poor bride’s family doesn’t have to pay the whole burden of the wedding, will solve anything in the long run.

The divorce rate is up in Mexico City, from 1 in 10 couples in the 1970’s to 3 in 10 today.
Ironically, this measure could make that problem worse, as couples with cold feet go through with it anyway.

I’m Dan Grech for Marketplace.