Subhan Dashti and his fiancée, Nadia Sabzi, had planned their wedding for Nowruz 1405, the Iranian New Year, set for March 20 to 21. However, escalating prices and political unrest, along with a war initiated by the United States and Israel on February 28, forced Dashti's family to leave Tehran, halting their wedding preparations. Upon returning, Dashti found that items like a television he had budgeted at 70 million tomans ($302) had increased to nearly 100 million tomans ($432). Despite earning 100 million tomans per month ($432), Dashti realized marrying immediately was no longer feasible. "We decided to postpone the wedding for at least a few more months," he stated.
Read More
The minimum wage in Iran is about 16 million tomans monthly, approximately $68, while the average wage is around 25 million tomans, or $105. Sabzi, aged 34, shares Dashti's concerns, but her fears extend beyond finances. Following a U.S. airstrike in September that targeted a wedding celebration in Kuhestak, harming several attendees, she worries about the safety of her wedding day. "For the past two weeks, I have been asking Subhan at night: what if the war starts again when we are getting married?" she expressed.
This couple’s situation exemplifies a broader crisis impacting young people in Iran. War, sanctions, inflation, and shortages are reshaping marriage decisions, with many couples reevaluating wedding costs and household needs. Simin Nouri, a bridal makeup artist in Tehranpars, noted a significant drop in business, going from two to three brides a day during the summer peak to just two or three a week now. Prices for wedding packages have soared, with a basic bridal package costing around 70 million tomans ($302) and a VIP package reaching 150 million tomans ($648).
Pejman and Sanaz, who married in July after the brief conflict, have seen a striking increase in rental prices. Their apartment's deposit and monthly rent rose from approximately 34 million tomans ($144) a year earlier to 58 million tomans ($246) now, a 71 percent increase. Due to the escalating costs, Pejman, aged 30, reported they had to sell 13 grams of his wife's gold to manage initial expenses. The price of gold has surged from about 6.48 million tomans per gram ($28) to over 23 million tomans ($99).
A mid-range Tehran wedding for about 100 guests now costs around 1.1 billion tomans ($4,752), compared to roughly 480 million tomans ($2,074) prior to the 2025 war. Economist Amir Hossein Mohaddes highlights the unpredictability of inflation, stating that even if peace agreements emerge, previously inflated costs won’t necessarily decrease.
Abbas Derafshi, a bank employee, faced challenges securing a marriage loan due to rising prices and bureaucratic hurdles. Under current regulations, loans have increased to 300 million tomans per person ($1,296), generating repayments that strain already tight budgets. Derafshi lamented about the growing gap between costs and income, stating, "The plans we had for starting our life together have basically been put on hold until further notice."
Political science professor Jalil Dara noted that ongoing inflation and uncertainty contribute to anxiety and delayed family formation among young Iranians. The economic conditions that young couples face stem from years of sanctions and policy failures, exacerbated by the war. Even if hostilities cease, the underlying economic issues remain.
As costs become untenable, some couples like Pejman and Sanaz are considering leaving Iran to pursue studies abroad, hoping to return and contribute to their country in the future. "We both love Iran. We would like to return after finishing our doctorates and work for our country," Sanaz said, expressing hope for a better situation upon their return.