We must not copy blindly
It has been rightly said that we are living in a digital era, judging by the way technology has endowed us with a multiplicity of devices capable of keeping us abreast of happenings around the world.
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And this seems to be the reason for the worrying phenomenon of lavish weddings in the country.
Thanks to social media, recent additions such as pre-wedding photo shoots, video wedding invitations, usually shot in gardens or at the beach, and bachelorette parties have become “must-do” activities for prospective couples. (See page 3.)
Many Ghanaians live below the poverty line and almost everywhere in this country now people are singing the same song about ‘no money’, yet some find it acceptable to dole out hard-earned cash, some of them loans, just for the one-day event.
We, however, acknowledge the fact that some smart entrepreneurs are cashing in on the phenomenon, but, then, the catch phrase here should be ‘cut your coat according to your cloth’.
Indeed, moderation should be the guiding principle.
Certainly, cultural and social norms explicitly favour a decent ceremony, but what is the point in having a lavish one-day event only to suffer for it at the end of day? There is also the possibility of a break-up when the couple get drowned in huge bills and are, therefore, unable to maintain a decent home after the wedding.
As succinctly explained by Dr John Boakye, a relationship expert and columnist of The Mirror, the focus must rather be on the marriage because “the same people who will come and eat and drink at your wedding will mock you when the marriage hits the rocks”.
The Mirror is not against any lavish ceremony, since it is a one-off event in the life of a couple, especially those with the wherewithal. But we believe that in our part of the world where incomes are generally low and many communities lack basic amenities, one expects that people who have wealth and resources will reach out to the vulnerable and the needy.
As a family newspaper, The Mirror believes that love, true love, is a necessary ingredient in keeping strong and healthy families which invariably lead to fulfilling lives in the community and the nation as a whole.
Let’s extend a helping hand to the needy and vulnerable in society. The nation stands to benefit a lot if we always show love to one another.
And, here, education is very important and requires a concerted and multi-disciplinary approach by all stakeholders – parents, family elders, churches and opinion leaders – to help check the organisation of expensive weddings.
There have been instances of some parents’ expectation of their daughters’ marriages as a means to recoup the ‘investments’ made in the daughters and, therefore, make atrocious demands from their prospective in-laws, such that one would not be wrong in describing the marriages as a ‘sell off’ of the brides.
Sometimes it is parents’ greed to grab cash and other goodies from elderly suitors that pushes the girls into marriage.
There should be clear-cut laws that deal with such irresponsible adults.
It appears that some churches have adopted innovative ways to help reduce the cost of weddings. It is God who instituted marriage and, therefore, it is pleasing in His sight for any such union.
The fact is that financial difficulties have been identified as one of the major causes of divorce. And as records on the rate of divorce show a disturbing phenomenon, it will be in our interest not to copy blindly by going the lavish way for our weddings.
As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine.