JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — There were sighs of relief and expressions of gratitude under the giant dome of a grand mosque in Jakarta on Wednesday as 51 couples exchanged wedding vows in a mass Muslim wedding.
Most of the couples, who live in Jakarta, were able to marry through a program designed to help those facing financial barriers, and were given a dowry, stapple food packages, wedding gifts, and even the photo session.
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Brides and grooms prepare for a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A couple gets married during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Brides and grooms pose for a group photo after a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom show their wedding certificates after getting married as family members use their mobile phones to take photos during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Family members use their phones to take photos during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A couple prepare for a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom, right, have their photo taken after a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Dafa, second left, and his bride Zulfa arrive to take part in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom, right, pray after getting married during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride holds her footwear during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Fauzi, left, who uses only one name, and his bride Endah Kartini take part in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride signs her wedding certificate as the groom looks on during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom show their wedding certificates after getting married in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Brides and grooms prepare for a group photo after a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Brides and grooms prepare for a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Suryadi, left, who uses only one name, and his bride Laili Nofiana show their wedding certificates after getting married in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A band performs during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Endah Kartini, 44, the new wife of Fauzi, a 35-year-old porter from East Jakarta, said: “Praise God! I am happy and feel calm now.” She added that she wishes that they can have two children.
After almost two weeks of delays, Muhamad Rifaldi, 25, and Dea Marliana, 26, said they were grateful for the event, which helped streamline the administrative hurdles that had held them back.
“We have so many wishes. We want to become a harmonious family and better individuals as husband and wife,” Marliana said.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Brides and grooms prepare for a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A couple gets married during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Brides and grooms pose for a group photo after a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom show their wedding certificates after getting married as family members use their mobile phones to take photos during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Family members use their phones to take photos during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A couple prepare for a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom, right, have their photo taken after a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Dafa, second left, and his bride Zulfa arrive to take part in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom, right, pray after getting married during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride holds her footwear during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Fauzi, left, who uses only one name, and his bride Endah Kartini take part in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride signs her wedding certificate as the groom looks on during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A bride and groom show their wedding certificates after getting married in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Brides and grooms prepare for a group photo after a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Brides and grooms prepare for a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
Suryadi, left, who uses only one name, and his bride Laili Nofiana show their wedding certificates after getting married in a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
A band performs during a mass wedding ceremony at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
