Nesmahar Sayed attended a wedding party, without an invitation The harsh economic conditions suffered by so many Egyptians today failed to prevent many young couples from joyfully celebrating their wedding for free -- overlooking the immortal River Nile. Cairo's winding Sixth of October Bridge and the smaller Mounib Bridge are among the locations that currently attract many brides and grooms to rejoice in their marriage among friends and relatives in a unique atmosphere, without paying a penny. The park just outside Cairo International Airport, the road up towards Moqattam and the artificial rock in front of Cairo University's main gate have their own fans too. "It is the only way we can have good photos taken of the couple on this special night, and Cairo's nights are unique in any case," one man attending his relative's celebration said. While still a student at Cairo University, I became used to hearing the sounds of wedding parties as classes came to a close each afternoon. As one approaches the artificial rock at the main campus gate, one is likely to see at least 15 couples pass through what is known as the Love Gate, all perhaps in less than 30 minutes. At the Love Gate, the couples take photographs with each other and with their relatives and friends in front of the rock. The rock is just an artificial stone, lit up with red and green lamps and covered in plants. It attracts many to celebrate their engagement or wedding parties around it. Others find in it a wonderful place to work around. Said Bekhiet, the gatekeeper, is one of those whom the advertising agency that built the rock hired in order to look after it. Ashraf, a photographer who works at the site, says: "Sometimes I take photographs for foreigners, but usually it is for Egyptians wearing the fez, and a flower necklace," Bekhiet said. A bride's sister said: "The first time I came here was for my uncle's wedding six years ago. Two years later I took photographs with my husband on our own wedding night. As we have happy memories here, we decided to celebrate my sister's engagement here too," she said, happily.
