For many years, I have attended white weddings of different classes in the Gold Coast; most of the time, I happen to know the bride or the groom – never both. They were either my sub-ordinates at work, partners, seamstresses, colleagues etc. Many times too, I joined friends to attend the white weddings of couples that I never knew from Adam. I have even joined a wedding at the church where I attend Sunday services. I am not referring to average or below average people but classy people: UK trained dress makers, software developers, web developers, chief executive officers, army generals, lawyers, medical doctors etc. But one thing is strikingly admirable in all of these: the simplicity of the wedding receptions is mind-blowing!
The most amazing part of the white weddings in the Gold Coast which I really want to dwell on is the Reception. During these white wedding receptions where the couples are well-educated and financially buoyant, one would expect to see honorable guests like the military personnel, politicians, renowned medical doctors, successful lawyers etc being recognized individually; and a luxurious high table decorated to accommodate these ‘honorable’ guests. Then, one would expect the Master of the Ceremony to call each of them, saluting them with annoying accolades, and recanting their positions, educational qualifications and success stories, and in the end, lead them to the high table by a beautifully-dressed hostess and a solemn music by the DJ while the commoners applaud them as they leave the ‘low table’. Usually, this mechanized act of flattering usually gulps about one hour and trust me, guests are fagged out by the end of that unpopular ceremony. But what do we have here in the Gold Coast? The couple’s parents, the renowned politicians, medical doctors, lawyers, religious men etc sit in the midst of commoners round the table and are served the same refreshment. Amazing …
E never finish oh! Again, one would expect to see assorted wine lying everywhere and some special brew, lined up at the high table. Just enough is provided! I like … The most annoying part of the wedding receptions that I have attended all my life is the toasting part where every Tom, Dick and Harry claim to be wise and as we dey call them for Naija, ‘the people wey sabi’ begin to advise the couple (as though there are exact rules to successful marriages). Funny enough, most of these ‘fake’ counselors are either thorns in their partners’ flesh or adamant to the feelings of their better-half. In fact, I attended a wedding in Naija where the groom’s father advised his son’s wife during the wedding reception not to make friends with unmarried ladies. And I was like, ‘What the hell!’ I found that so awkward and silly because I have never heard that a married lady having single ladies as friends is a sin. Now, this old folk was actually implying that the bride does away with all the single ladies she knew including her bridal train, chief brides maid, former classmates, colleagues etc who may have traveled long distances just to grace her special day and with whom she had enjoyed friendship over the years. I actually wondered why the groom was not also counseled to do away with his single male friends; because come to think of it, association with single male friends is more harmful to marriages than female friends (can someone echo ‘Yeah’ … Ladies in the House!). When a lady marries, her single friends become conscious of that desire which begins to well up once more in them and they yearn to be like their friend (not always the case though, but the adverse is always in the minority); but the male friend actually ‘yabs’ his friend who is getting married by asking him why he wants to sell his freedom. Funny …
A typical wedding reception in the Gold Coast usually lasts between 75minutes and 100minutes – no long talk, no flattering, no accolades, no counseling, no ‘paparazzi’… Just straight to the point. The couple is ushered into the reception hall and as they take their seats, a cute couple who is special to them is invited to sit with them and that is it! Next, the opening prayer is said, and refreshment is served. While refreshment is going on, the couple cut their cake and the champagne is popped to toast to the success of the marriage. Gifts are presented to the couple while the cake is being shared and the wedding reception is over. Abeg, me like …
In the Gold Coast, newly-wedded couples whose church/registry wedding begin at 10.30a.m usually return home to commence their honeymoon at 2p.m after a solemn wedding reception and their invitees also, return to their homes to complete their household chores before the day is over. I like the simplicity of the people of the Gold Coast, simply put.
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