Wedding Ceremony Turns Chaotic Moments After Marriage Pronouncement
A wedding ceremony in South Sumatra, Indonesia, took a shocking turn when the bride demanded a divorce seconds after her marriage was declared valid.
The incident, which was caught on video and quickly went viral on social media, occurred in Desa Betung, Abab sub-district, Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir (PALI) Regency.
The now-viral clip was uploaded on Instagram (@/paliupdate) on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
The Ceremony Started Smoothly
According to the video, it began with the bride and groom dressed in matching white wedding attire.
The groom, identified as Gunawan bin Maisin, calmly recited the Islamic marriage vow (ijab kabul) under the guidance of a penghulu, or marriage officiant.
“Gunawan bin Maisin, I marry you to my daughter named Miranti with a dowry of 250,000 rupiah, paid in cash,” said the marriage officiant.
“I accept the marriage with the stated dowry,” responded the groom.
The guests present confirmed the marriage was legally binding.
Bride Walks Out and Says She Was Harassed
However, only seconds after the marriage was declared valid, the bride, Miranti, declared her intention to divorce.
“Sir, I want a divorce. I don’t like him. He harassed me. That’s it. I want a divorce,” she said in the video.
She then stood up, left the ceremony space, and walked to another room.
Following this, guests appeared stunned, and his new wife’s sudden statement visibly took aback the groom.
Despite her outburst, the groom reportedly told those around him that he would not grant a divorce, even though his wife had just asked for one, Tribun News reported.
What Happened? The Details Remain Unclear
As of now, no detailed explanation has emerged about what exactly led to the bride’s claim of harassment or the breakdown between the newlyweds.
The marriage officiant at the event attempted to calm the situation and suggested that the issue be resolved amicably among the families.
Additionally, Tribun Banten reported that the wedding took place at the bride’s home in Desa Betung and the groom is reportedly a resident of Desa Air Itam, Penukal District.
The exact time of the ceremony remains unknown.
Wedding Was Not Officially Registered, Says Religious Office
Following the spread of the video, local religious officials confirmed that the wedding was conducted outside official legal and religious procedures.
According to H. Ayubi, Head of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in PALI:
“The marriage was conducted outside official procedures, without formal registration and without pre-marital counseling, which are part of the services provided by the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA).”
This means the wedding was a “sirri marriage,” an unregistered religious wedding which carries no legal weight under Indonesian civil law, according to Kontrak Hukum.
Religious Official Expresses Concern
Ustadz Asmuni, Head of the Talang Ubi Religious Affairs Office (KUA), also weighed in on the incident.
“It’s deeply regrettable this happened. It shows that the couple was not prepared for marriage,” he said on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
He added that if the marriage had been formally registered, the couple would have undergone pre-marital counseling and a verification process that includes documentation and mutual consent.
Uncertain Future for the Couple
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official update on the status of the bride and groom.
However, it is noted that since the marriage was never officially registered with the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA), it is not legally recognized under Indonesian law.
“If the marriage is not legally registered, then clearly the divorce process cannot go through the religious court, because they do not yet have the legal status of husband and wife,” H. Ayubi said.
Without legal status as husband and wife, any attempt to file for divorce through the Religious Court would be invalid.
In other words, the bride’s call for a divorce does not carry legal weight, because the marriage itself was not valid in the eyes of the law.
Watch the video here:
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