Celebrating your wedding with you

30 Mar, 2018 - 00:03 0 Views
Celebrating your  wedding with you Guests getting food at a wedding

The ManicaPost

Ann Ruthenburg
Hello Mutare, its 2018 and we want to celebrate your wedding with you. Makorokoto! Amphlope! Congratulations!

If you would like us to showcase your wedding in the Manica Post, please contact us. We will come and take pictures of key parts of your wedding which will be showcased in this column. You will also automatically be entered into the Bride and Groom of the Year competition.

Yes it’s true! We want Manicaland and the rest of the nation to celebrate with you through your wedding photo’s.

Message or call Ann on 0772933845 or the Editor on 0778175925 for booking or more information.

This week I will take time to answer a question that many people have been asking: How best can one have a reception after a wedding at the magistrates’ court. Especially when one has no money or not much to spend?

Here is my response – in days gone by, people would live together after paying lobola and have kids together. This was accepted by families as legal. But at law, such marriage was defective and in most cases the woman would be prejudiced in the event of death or divorce. She may be legal traditionally, but not religiously or at law.

With advent of women empowerment during the last decade, we have witnessed an upsurge in women demanding that they and their children be protected in relationships. Economy challenges have seen many being unable to provide adequately for their families, and asking them to finance a wedding ceremony for hundreds of delegates is simply unrealistic. Not so any more.

The State and church are now encouraging couples to seal their marriages legally using cheaper options.

Legal in the eyes of the State

Many couples these days are wedding at the magistrates court until such a time that they can finance bigger celebrations. The magistrate court wedding is affordable. It just requires the couple and two witnesses to be present.

The couple can dress up in wedding attire or just in smart clothing.

It takes less than an hour to preside over and then the couple is legally married.

Usually photos can be taken outside the court room and the couple leaves for home or where ever they choose.

This is the ceremony.

The reception can be done in future when the couple can afford. But the wait is not necessary. You can have the reception at home.

There is nothing wrong inviting a few friends or families to a luncheon or dinner.

This is Africa, there is always someone willing to lend a hand without charging you. If you have a yard at your home or if you have a friend with one that’s a start. Chairs and tables can come from a church member or a school near you.

I went to a wedding where the couple’s friends each brought 10 plates, forks, knives and glasses. The men brought meat and drinks, while women brought dessert, rice, sadza and salads.

A friend brought a laptop with music and another brought a speaker. They invited 40 people who fitted in the lounge, verandah and garden.

The couple paid for nothing except the licence fee at the magistrates’ court. Now 10 years later the same couple are celebrating their wedding anniversary and are planning a bigger celebration with 700 people having saved a fortune over the years.

Legal in God’s eyes.
Christians believe that a marriage should also to be blessed by God. As a result they encourage a church ceremony or a couple to have their ceremony solemnised by a marriage officer from church.

I had the privilege to attend a wedding after a Sunday church service. Everyone at the church was invited to witness it. The wedding ceremony was so touching. After the ceremony everyone was given a slice of cake and a drink.

The church provided the drinks, the cakes were donated by women from the church. Chairs, tables and clothes were already at the church.

Another cheaper way to have a ceremony and reception.

I believe keeping one’s religious and traditional roots should not stretch a couple beyond their limits. If you have $200 you should still be able to have an enjoyable and fun-filled wedding ceremony and reception just like someone with $20 000.

It’s that simple folks.

Hope this has helped someone out there.

Until next week, God bless!

Ann Ruthenburg

Ann can be messaged only on 0772933845, or emailed on [email protected] or found in Meikles Department Store Hair and Beauty Salon Mutare.

 

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