The Sunday Mail
Sharon Ngomani
Zimbabwe is yet to embrace the idea of a pregnant bride — especially for first-timers. That said, there has been a new trend rocking the bridal world of brides with baby bumps.
There is no need to cancel a wedding because the bride finds out she has a bun in the oven.
The first step to a beautiful ceremony in this situation is to be proud and confident. There is nothing to be ashamed of.
I call it “double glory” — expecting to bring life on this earth and being joined in spirit with your loved one. Talk of bliss!
Conversely, planning a wedding with a demanding tenant in your tummy is not easy at all especially if the bump is now visible and weighing you down with hormonal outbursts.
This means you cannot walk around for long and you may get emotional breakdowns a lot more often.
If you can spare some money, it is advisable to hire a wedding planner. If not, have an always available, reliable and trustworthy right-hand person who can run errands. It could be the fiancé or any other person she feels comfortable with.
Mutsawashe Chidzomba nee Muduviwa wed Brian Chidzomba on December 6, 2014. She was ecstatic about the pregnancy but she had a wedding to plan. Moreover, her husband worked in another town.
“We had already set the date for the wedding when I realised I was pregnant. To make it worse, the pregnancy was not an easy ride. I had so many things to do yet I was no longer physically able to do them in time. I was blessed to have close friends and relatives that were reliable whenever I needed them to run errands since Brian was far,” she explains.
When choosing a wedding dress, pregnant brides are not advised to go for heavy material and or tight gowns. This may be troublesome because it is common for pregnant women to visit the toilet a lot.
This does not mean that the dress has to be shapeless, frumpy and ancient. There are beautiful contemporary maternity pieces that she can choose from that will make her feel like a diva on the wonderful day.
It is also important for the bride to discuss with her wedding dress supplier about the pregnancy. The supplier should know how many months the bride will be in the month of the wedding.
This will make it easy in terms of the dress size and alterations as well.
A pregnant bride should always be comfortable. This extends to the shoes. Sexy six-inch heels may be tempting but they are unwise since pregnant women usually have poor balance and sometimes experience swelling of the feet. This will make the bride sweaty and highly uncomfortable.
It’s better to go for low heels or flat shoes, especially those with better aeration such as cute sandals and peep toes.
If the bride decides to accessorise with a necklace or bracelet, let these be on the loose side to avoid discomfort.
Lingerie should also be picked with caution. The beauty of lingerie is that it makes one feel beautiful from the inside so always go for something sexy but comfortable. Too tight bras are a no as they make the bride feel suffocated and irritated.
Also, there is nothing wrong in investing in someone with make-up skills to cover those bad spots and blemishes if the pregnancy comes with any.
Pregnant women gain weight or get swollen fingers. For that reason, it is wise to get a mock wedding ring otherwise after delivering the ring will be a bangle. The real ring should be safely tucked away.
If the wedding is an indoor event it is critical to ensure good ventilation.
Also ensure the bride has a comfortable seat. A good couch is relaxing. When choosing flowers, make sure the bride is not irritated by those placed close to her during the ceremony. Caterers are advised to keep the bride hydrated and fully supplied with snacks of her choice.
Don’t get carried away on the dance floor. Keep it light.
A wedding is a very special day. Enjoy it to the maximum. Embrace your double glory.
