Asian weddings are renowned for being grand and lavish affairs with deficit inducing events.

Many justify the expense as being a one off expenditure. However, we asked our readers if it is deemed crass to host an ostentatious wedding if it is not a first marriage.

Mehreen, 29, says when she got married the second time, she wanted to celebrate the wedding with full vigour.

“I got married for the second time. The first one was a big wedding.

“The second one was bigger and more expensive.

“The first marriage was a mistake - I found that out within a week of the wedding.

“Why should I let a bad ex-husband ruin my wedding celebrations with the right man?

“The second time I spent more money on a more beautiful wedding outfit, hired an even more glamorous hall.

“It was worth the expense.”

Aisha, 35, admits the build up to the wedding appeals to her more than the marriage itself.

“I just like being a bride. I love the whole planning process of the mehndi and wedding.

“That feeling of being a bride, nothing compares to it. I’m planning my fourth wedding right now.

“The problems for me each time arise after the honeymoon and we start living together.

“That’s when I can see we’re not compatible.

“I have been told I rush into marriage, but what can I do, I’m a hopeless romantic.

“I’m not worried about the cost. My parents can afford it.”

Asim, 48, says that planning a big wedding was not something he aspired to do.

“My wife died a few years ago, so this second marriage for me is more emotional.

“To be honest, I didn’t want a big wedding, “I just wanted a nikah.

“But for my new wife, it is her first marriage, and it is not fair to deny her the dream wedding.

“My children were unhappy about the arrangement, but I was caught in the middle. I had to let my wife plan the wedding her way.”

Akbar, 34, says that he has finally found his perfect wife after two failed attempts.

“I am the youngest child, so my parents went all out for all three of my weddings.

“I had a big ceremony each time, actually each one outdid the previous one.

“The first two took place within three years of each other in the UK.

“Although by the third time I travelled to Pakistan to find a wife and I had to lie about my age to my wife’s family and I told them I had been engaged twice and that had broken off.

“I don’t think it’s in bad taste to have a big wedding the second or third time round, well, as long as you can afford it.”

Athiya, 66, says that her decision to marry a second time saw her face criticism from people in her community.

“I had a big wedding celebration the second time round.

“My husband died when I was 65. I will miss him, but I don’t think it’s right to mourn forever.

“We didn’t have any children together.

“The second marriage was a new chance at life for me.

“I wanted to celebrate my new path, my new journey.

“The community were very judgemental and some people didn’t even turn up to the wedding which really upset me.

“They said it was not appropriate for a woman of my age to marry again.

“It doesn’t say that in any religious books, so why are they making me seem like an outcast?”