Editor,

I have received ten text messages just in one week, asking me to attend wedding meetings. I believe, at conception, these meetings were supposed to be a grouping of people who come together to help plan a wedding. Notice the ‘plan’. They have since evolved to money soliciting events that have bankrupted us all.

Family and friends look to us for contributions each time even if we can’t afford it, but because we don’t want to be excommunicated we comply.

I support this grouping to some extent but I am strongly against the money craze that has overtaken what was once a legitimate action.

I am aware that what I contribute will probably be given back to me should I decide to grace the marriage institution, but I am sure that if I do decide to marry I will get loans to bankroll my wedding. I don’t think that someone’s eminent marriage is a cause for another to go into bankruptcy.

Second of all, I think anyone who is going to get married should be responsible enough to save for it or conduct a wedding they can afford.

I don’t see the point of organizing a ten million franc wedding when you can handily raise even a hundred thousand by yourself. Everyone should have a wedding when and only when they are able to afford it.

Weddings should be as big as one can afford. I will not be persuaded to contribute for long lost friends and distant relatives especially those who ask as if it’s their right to get money from me.

Instead I will give some help as an act of kindness and not as a result of coercion based on grounds of friendship or family.

Gathoni Muoria
gmuoria@gmail.com