Young people across the globe are increasingly likely to experience waithood—a prolonged period between adolescence and adulthood. Simultaneously, marriage expenses are on the rise. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Cambodia, this article examines the relationship between the commercialisation of weddings and waithood. I argue that the high cost of weddings puts intense strain on many rural Cambodian families. Under economic conditions in which it is difficult to secure a stable and lucrative livelihood, young men often struggle to raise sufficient funds for bridewealth, and may delay marriage and the transition into adulthood as a result. As their life trajectories take on new temporalities, young men’s relationships with their elders can grow tense. By focusing on intergenerational dynamics, this article provides a deeper understanding of how rising marriage expenses and waithood shape not only the lives of young people but those of their family members as well.

全球的年轻人越来越有可能经历等待期——青春期和成年期之间的一段较长时间。同时，结婚的开销也在增加。基于柬埔寨的民族志田野调查，本文考察了婚礼商业化与侍女身份之间的关系。我认为婚礼的高昂费用给许多柬埔寨农村家庭带来了巨大压力。在难以确保稳定和有利可图的生计的经济条件下，年轻男子往往难以筹集足够的彩礼资金，并可能因此推迟结婚和成年过渡。随着他们的生活轨迹呈现出新的暂时性，年轻人与长辈的关系可能会变得紧张。通过关注代际动态，