Exploring the Socio-economic Factors of the Modern Society that Encourage Wedding Ceremonies in Foreign Countries

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the socio-economic factors of the modern society that encourage wedding ceremonies in foreign countries. The objective of this research is to answer the research question: what are the influencing factors for decision makers when they choose foreign destinations for wedding venues? Semi structured in-depth interviews (a qualitative research method) are conducted, where the researcher interviewed each respondent face-to-face to briefly discuss the topic. Modern urban Egyptians are the target population under study because prior studies have indicated that currently this population segment has been greatly influenced by western traditions when it comes to marriage celebrations. The interviewees are selected based on purposive sampling. The selected participants are decision makers for wedding venues; they include wedding couples, parents, relatives, and friends who are involved in the decision making process and who were at least 18 years of age. The researcher conducts twenty semi-structured interviews, which were all recorded and transcribed for further analysis. Thematic Analysis is conducted in this study. From the interview analysis, the socio-economic factors of the modern society that encourage Egyptians to have wedding ceremonies in foreign countries are respectively: packages offered, fulfilling prestige, distinctive atmosphere, and escaping from daily routine to relax.