Looking for an original business idea? How about renting out expensive things to poor couples to show off as dowry during their wedding?

A Thai company has been doing just that for the past three months, and business has been booming.

Chiang Mai-based special event company Romantiese has been making news headlines in Thailand for their newest service – a dowry rental option for couples who can’t afford to properly honor their parents on their wedding day.

Finances

Known as “sin sod”, the dowry system is still very deeply rooted in Thai culture, and considered both a of honoring your bride’s parents for raising their daughter well and proof that you are financially capable of starting a family.

Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to have stacks of cash and gold bars on display at their wedding, which is where Romantiese comes in.

Romantiese owners, Tawan Supanontakorn, 31, and his wife Kangkai, 28, told Thai website Sanook that the new service was inspired by their own wedding experience:

Perfection

“We got married five years ago, and we dreamed that we’d have gold and cash to honor our families, but we didn’t have them, so we hope the business will help all the brides and grooms to have a good memory of their wedding day. Our service simply helps their special day to be perfect.”

In the three months since Romantiese started offering this service, they’ve rented out dowry to a dozen couples, with the highest amount rented out being $32,000 (Sh 3.2 million)