Mass marriages are not unusual in conservative Libya as a way to help young couples tie the knot in a country where wedding expenses are often higher than many can afford.

Milad Said, economics lecturer at Bani Walid University, southwest of Tripoli, told Al-Monitor that a decade ago group weddings, in which dozens of couples would take part, are usually “donation-funded and organized by nonprofit organizations” with minimum financial support from the government. He said that such activities have never been a “government policy funded by public money.” However, he pointed out that back then money was put into better use like subsidized housing projects. A typical young Libyan is likely to be concerned about having a house before considering starting a family.

However, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh wants to change that and establish a precedent for future governments to follow. Last August, he announced his government’s intention to fund weddings through the Marriage Fund. In September, his government allocated 1 billion Libyan dinars ($218 million) to the fund with another billion to follow.

Young couples wishing to get married and start a family rushed to submit the online application to register and get the 40,000 dinars ($8,700) promised by Dbeibeh. Only applicants with official marriage contracts could apply.