Getting cold feet before a wedding in Mexico could become an expensive proposition, if a local politician gets his way.
Jose Antonio Zepeda, a city deputy for President Felipe Calderon's conservative National Action Party, wants the jilting bride or groom to compensate the 'jiltee' if the latter was left holding the bill.
Like Ireland, Mexican weddings can be big social events where large amounts of money are spent before the big day on gowns, tuxedos, catering and music bands. Churches are even reserved years in advance.
Weddings of up to 1,000 guests are frequently splashed across newspapers' social pages and according to Mexican tradition, the bride's family absorbs most of the expenses.
Mr Zepeda is introducing the idea of compensation for backing out of a wedding as part of changes to Mexico City's civil code.
'He or she who refuses to live up to a marriage commitment will pay for the expenses that the other party made in connection with the planned matrimony,' Mr Zepeda's proposal says.
