Omo… these days, the amount of work and effort I see people put into weddings really makes me sit back and pause as I think about them. They spend lots of money, regardless of how big or small it is. Even if your wedding is only going to be with five guests, you will still spend money. An astronomical amount at that, that’s just how it is. And the more people that you want there, the more funds you have to be willing to subject to it.
This is no easy feat, because weddings are a capital-intensive venture. No matter how rich you are, when you have your wedding, your bank account will take a hit. Depending on the kind of wedding you’re having. Because most people have weddings based on their status, I guess that’s why it consumes so much money. But then, it is what it is.
There are weddings where the entire preparation is outsourced, so the couples and their family members simply enjoy the event itself. They pay caterers, ushers, event organizers, all of them, to make it work in their favor. While someone else will be calling the shots, they’d be focused on having a good time. But not everyone can do this.
There are those who can’t trust strangers, even though they’re professionals, to handle anything. They just need a family member or close friend in place, calling the shots on their behalf, so they can rest assured that everything will be solved. But I’ve come to see that this usually causes a problem or the other. It brings about the regular case of segregation and discrimination when it comes to food. Like, serving food but skipping certain people simply because of who invited them.
I thoroughly dislike those dirty behaviors. If it happens to me, I’d just stand up and leave the wedding. Because I don’t know why food will be shared, but based on who brought it to you. So, the groom invited you, go and meet the groom for food. Or you’re the bride’s guest, then wait until they’re serving them. I’ve noticed that this only happens when family and friends of the couple getting married are in charge of sharing the food and drinks. But when it’s been done by a professional, they don’t care who is who because they don’t have that bias. Everyone gets treated equally, as they should be.
Some might say that you went there to support them and not to eat their food, and I laugh. Most of the time, it’s not about the food itself. What is food? Anybody can get food. It’s the very act itself. The idea that in a wedding where everyone should be happy and enjoying, you’re purposely making people feel bad by segregating and singling them out. Saying this is for you, and this is not for you. It’s a very bad feeling.
But there’s yet another type of people. The couple who can’t trust anyone at all to run the wedding except themselves. If they’re not the ones doing it, then it’s probably rubbish. Back when I was in the east, I remember attending a wedding where a bride was using her wedding dress to arrange the chairs in her venue. I’ve seen another who was sitting beside her new husband while dishing out orders on how food should be served. These people just can’t be relaxed enough to let someone else take the wheel, even if it’s for a few hours. And it just ruins the experience for them.
When my sister got married, the only thing she bothered herself with that stressed her was making her hair and doing her makeup. The most stressful part of that was just having to sit in place while everyone fussed over her. Every other person was working so that she could have and enjoy her day. How will you look beautiful and pretty on your big day when you’re concerned with mundane things like fetching water and arranging chairs?
And this is why I say that a lot goes into the planning of a wedding. Most of the time, the person who runs and manages it doesn’t really enjoy the event itself because they’re so busy making sure that everyone else is having a good time. A friend of mine was at her sister’s wedding, but she was so busy coordinating and planning that she didn’t even wear the clothes she had made for it, or take pictures with the couple.
Well, such is life. It happens either way. Not everyone will be able to afford a wedding where they can outsource everything, and even if they can afford it, not everyone will be willing to entrust the success of their big day to someone else. In the end, it’s just best that everyone does what makes them happy and makes the day as memorable as possible. That’s what’s most important.
