Is Having An Expensive Wedding Worth It?

By Ademola Adeyoju |

Image: Business Insider

Lavishness is a common theme in this part of the world. It is deeply embedded in the prevalent practice and general attitude of Nigerians, and so when it comes to planning and conducting wedding ceremonies, everyone almost always expect a fantastic show of wealth and opulence.

 

Indeed, conducting weddings in the grandest manner has become so trendy that it is now a part of our way of life; a part of our existence as a race. Wedding ceremonies are the avenues to compete; the stage to showcase fame, personal success, and flex financial muscles. So even if you are not very rich, you should find the means somehow. Right? Wrong!

Listen, it is not wisdom to spend your entire savings on a ceremony when a storm of serious responsibilities gather ahead.

I’m not saying that you should be stingy or that you shouldn’t celebrate in an elaborate manner, one of the most important days of your life. If you have the means, why not? But if you are not so financially buoyant, then you should cut your coat according to your cloth! People will show up, eat your food, and talk about your wedding. And in a few days, most of them would have forgotten how much you spent or how much they ate. Hundreds of weddings take place every Saturday!

I have seen grooms-to-be take loans, borrow from friends and buy foodstuffs on credit. Somehow, they seem completely oblivious of the fact that when the party is over, and the light is off; when the band has left, and the music is off, they will have to face the proverbial music alone. They tend to forget that a lavish wedding means more debt after the wedding. The mother-in-law, the bride, and the friends who encouraged you to be lavish will be the first set of people to condemn you when you cannot perform your financial duties in the days following the ceremony. The voices in your head will suddenly vanish, and you will wake to a painful reality (or in other words, your eyes will clear).

A fairy-tale wedding is really, really nice, but if you can’t afford it, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You can still have the ‘perfect’ wedding without having to break the bank! Diamond rings are nice, an expensive hall is great, a honeymoon in the Bahamas is awesome, but do you really want to start your marriage with a huge debt hanging over your head?

I think not.

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