Starting next Tuesday, couples looking to tie the knot in Manzanillo, Granma, will have to exchange vows at a state-run computer facility, known as the "Manzanillo 1" Joven Club de Computación.
Located at the corner of Villuendas and Batería streets, this venue will now host civil marriage ceremonies in the city, replacing the traditional Wedding Palace.
Estela Mompié Ramírez, an attorney at the Wedding Palace, confirmed the move to local official media but did not provide reasons for the relocation or a specific timeline for a return. She described the measure as "temporary" and noted that the Joven Club would be open to interested parties from Tuesday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
The head registrar of the Palace, who has held the position for over 30 years, highlighted the symbolic loss associated with the change: "I've married multiple generations of grandparents, parents, and children. The people of Manzanillo have a strong tradition of marrying at the Palace, leading them to 'chase' me. We conduct about fifty official unions monthly," she shared with official journalist Roberto Mesa Matos.
This long-standing tradition will be disrupted indefinitely in a computer club while the government remains silent about the original building's condition.
Some online commentators lamented the venue change, speculating that the decision might stem from the deteriorating state of the Wedding Palace, although this remains unconfirmed.
The decline of such facilities is a widespread issue throughout Cuba, a testament to the government's inability to maintain its institutional heritage.
For example, in Sancti Spíritus, the Wedding Palace was closed for nearly two years due to severe disrepair, and in September, it was handed over to a private micro-enterprise for rehabilitation. In Holguín, the Provincial Real Estate Management Company launched a bidding process to transfer the management of the Maceo Street Palace to private actors.
In Havana, the Wedding Palace in El Vedado fell into ruin after years of neglect until an Italian entrepreneur leased the mansion and funded its restoration. Part of the building still provides public wedding services.
The irony in Manzanillo's case lies in the fact that the temporary solution is not exactly in peak condition either. The Joven Clubs de Computación are facing their own crisis of obsolescence, with insufficient maintenance and frequent power outages.
Frequently Asked Questions about Manzanillo's Wedding Venue Change
Why are weddings in Manzanillo being held at a computer club?
Weddings are temporarily being held at the "Manzanillo 1" Joven Club de Computación due to an unexplained relocation from the traditional Wedding Palace.
Is the change of wedding venue in Manzanillo permanent?
No, the change is described as temporary, but no specific timeline for returning to the Wedding Palace has been provided.
What challenges do the Joven Clubs de Computación face?
The Joven Clubs de Computación encounter issues of obsolescence, insufficient maintenance, and frequent power outages.