The Sunday Mail
Tendai Mbirimi
No matter how much you plan for your big day, the unexpected can still happen. Your reaction will brighten or blight the day.
The glitz and glamour of the wedding day is meant for the couple as well as the families that would have been brought together by your love.
Forget the tales of a jealous village witch, disregard the legendary sworn enmity between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law, friends and relatives contribute to the success of the wedding day. No matter your status, other people will always be important in your life.
It is, therefore, critical to welcome people during these happy moments.
In a superstitious world, some couples do not share their wedding plans with some relatives while some friends are simply forgotten in the business of wedding planning.
However, this constituency is very important and must not be left out. Friends and relatives celebrate with us. Even in preparation of the day, some will donate money, volunteer skills, give advice and run around to put things together.
A wedding is meant to be a gorgeous celebration of love.
The wedding party invests their time and effort and carefully choreograph every step to ensure that the day is truly resplendent. While members of the wedding party must be dressed to kill, they must avoid crossing the line for a possible collision with the respected cadres from the two families.
As Africans, the concept of ubuntu is a part of our very existence.
When a mother boycotts her daughter’s wedding in other parts of the world, it makes no news but it is a major blight on any wedding in Zimbabwe.
No one wants unpleasant surprises. Any sign of a mishap can be a source of anxiety and terror to both the bride and groom.
So then how do you stay calm when the unexpected happens on your big day?
To avoid overlooking anyone, draw up a list. Sometimes, wedding invitation cards are not enough for everyone. In that instance, phone calls will do the magic. You can also consider bulk texts.
It is also important to state in advance whether you will provide transport to the wedding venue, especially for the rural folk.
When things go wrong at a time when we least expect, sometimes even our best efforts to salvage it will fail to work, we need to be prepared to absorb that.
The ability to stay calm starts days before the main event. Make sure that you find time to relax before the big day. Rehearse physically, mentally and emotionally for the big day’s events. This will help you adjust on the big day without panicking.
You also need to hand over all last-minute and on-the-day wedding to-do tasks to trusted friends or relatives. This should be a mature and trustworthy person who is capable of making independent decisions. Should anything go wrong, this person will make the decisions and execute them while you enjoy your day.
These tips will minimise the unexpected disasters such that the day becomes splendid, not only for you but your relatives as well.
