khawateen, u mention that the guys family pays and chooses the girls' wedding dress (dont get me started on how retarted it is).i've noticed others saying similar, is it a karachi-walay thing (like, Punjabi vs everyone else?) b/c most of the ppl i know (in pak), the girl chooses/pays for her own stuff on the barat, and guys side brings the mehndi jora and chose the valima jora... i know more "liberal" and modern susral let the girl choose everythign and they just pay for what they're suposed to....
no it isnt a karachi wala thing.. its urdu speaking ppl thing (delhi walay,basically ppl from UP) .. and as for the retardedness of it. girls get to CHOOSE their clothes.. its the inlaws paying for it... the significance of the bridal dress has great importance in UP culture cuz its termed as the suhaag ka jora and it makes total sense to me that the guys side get it for her.. she will be under his nikah on the day of barat and HIS wife.. so he is responsible for her and pays for things related to her. even the girls bury that is prepared has everything from undergarments to hair clips. .. everything she could possible need to start off her first few days at her in laws.. rather than letting the girl get all her things herself..
like sahar said.. what ure describing is a punjabi thing..