THE EXPENSIVE PLEASURE OF BEING A WEDDING GUEST!

Weddings are expensive; even if you’re not the one walking down the aisle. It is also not strange to say that we are becoming very comfortable with staging extravagant weddings in Nigeria. The average Nigerian traditional and wedding ceremony often run into several millions of naira depending on the status and style of the wedding party. In hard times, it is not only the prospective couples and their families who are paying the price, but the wedding guests also have to shell out thousands of naira.

Pressure on the wedding guests

Being a wedding guest also has its own implications. For some, it can be very inconvenient and for others, the financial commitments can be huge, considering our country’s economic situation. Many guests have to travel far to the hometowns of the couple to perform the traditional marriage rites and if the couple cannot afford to accommodate them, they have to make their own provisions and incur the expenses too.

The second stage always seems to be the most expensive aspect as all hands are on deck to create a great ambiance for the guests who will attend the wedding beautifully dressed in Aso-ebi which comes in different grades; from the affordable to the ridiculously overpriced.

For many, ditching the wedding may not be an option if they consider their relationship with the families or the couples in question. The pressure can also mount if the Aso ebi is expensive. Some people spend money they don’t have in order to attend the occasion and incur debt after the whole wedding anxiety.

Pressure on the bridal party

The bridal parties are not left out of the financial pressure too as they usually have to spend a lot on the dresses of the bridesmaid. Then comes the cost of hosting the bridal showers and bachelor parties and some even go further to host a pre-wedding party too if the couples are trendsetters amongst their equals. All these take tolls on the couple’s friends who usually have to contribute towards the details. What ought to be a pleasure usually turns out to be a burden for them.

Cultural influence

The cultural influence and the current wedding trend and aspirations to wow the wedding guests are common factors in Nigeria. The more money spent on a wedding would always influence the couple’s or their sponsors’ decisions to influence the mindset of their guests who in turn aspire to dress in accordance with the rules and regulations set by the host irrespective of the cost implication. Culture is an important aspect of a true Nigerian wedding but if it can also be curtailed to encourage everyone’s participation irrespective of status.

Notes

• If you look at every wedding from the financial aspects, you will realise how much sacrifice wedding guests have to make in order to fulfil a couple’s dream of an unforgettable experience. If you simply love weddings in all its gratification, you really do not have to put a hole in your pockets to satisfy your hosts’ dreams.

• Be realistic with yourself and do not make commitments towards wedding fabrics if you know you may not be able to afford it.

• It is really difficult to figure out all the expenses you have to incur for other people’s wedding if you do not have good spending discipline or lack self esteem, make it a principle to buy only what you can afford or wear what you have to complement other guests.