Wananchi Opinion: Why taking loans for a wedding could land you in a money hole

In many cultures around the world, weddings are seen as grand celebrations of love and unity.

In Kenya, for instance, a wedding is not just a personal milestone but a public affair where expectations run high and social status is often displayed.

Unfortunately, this pressure has led many couples to make unwise financial decisions, one of the most damaging being the decision to borrow money to fund a fancy wedding.

While it may feel like a worthy sacrifice for a once-in-a-lifetime event, borrowing for a wedding can easily become financial suicide.

Weddings are events that last for a single day, but the loans taken to fund them can last for many years.

A couple may take out a personal loan, use digital lending apps, or borrow from family savings groups to meet the high costs of a venue, catering, attire, entertainment, and photography.

These loans often come with high interest rates and tough repayment terms.

For example, borrowing five hundred thousand shillings to fund a wedding may lead to years of monthly repayments that could easily strain a young couple’s income.

At a time when couples should be building a future, they are already stuck in a cycle of repaying a debt that provided no long-term benefit.

Beginning married life with debt adds stress to a relationship. Money problems are one of the leading causes of disagreements and separation in marriages.

When a couple starts off by repaying loans taken for a single day’s celebration, they face unnecessary emotional and financial pressure.

Arguments about bills, missed payments, and lack of progress towards important goals can damage the foundation of their union.

What began as a celebration of love can quickly become a source of conflict and regret.

Borrowing for a wedding also blocks future financial opportunities.

The same money could be used for more meaningful investments such as starting a business, buying land, furthering education, or even saving for a home.

These are decisions that build long-term value and stability. A wedding, on the other hand, is a consumption expense.

Once the guests leave and the decorations come down, all that remains is a memory and often, a painful repayment schedule.

Social pressure plays a huge role in encouraging couples to borrow for weddings.

There is a growing trend of trying to impress friends, relatives, and the community by hosting expensive events.

Couples feel forced to match the standards set by others, hiring costly venues, wearing designer outfits, and even flying in professional entertainers.

Yet most guests forget the details of the wedding shortly after it ends. They will not help repay the loans and are unlikely to care if the wedding was simple or extravagant.

It makes little sense to go into debt to impress people who will not shoulder the burden.

Life after the wedding is full of unpredictable turns. Emergencies like job losses, health issues, or family responsibilities can come up at any time.

If a couple is already servicing loans from their wedding day, they may find themselves unprepared for these real-life challenges.

They may be forced to borrow more, sell assets, or even default on payments.

This can lead to emotional stress, a poor credit record, and difficulty accessing future loans for meaningful goals.

Couples should consider planning weddings within their means.

A modest wedding can be just as meaningful as an extravagant one. What matters most is the commitment being made, not the amount of money spent.

A wedding should be the beginning of a hopeful future, not the start of a financial struggle. Choosing simplicity over extravagance shows wisdom and maturity. It allows couples to start their new life with peace of mind, free from the burden of unnecessary debt.

While society may celebrate lavish weddings, the price paid for them in borrowed money is far too high. The joy of marriage should not be followed by years of financial pain.

Borrowing to fund a wedding is not a display of love. It is a reckless move that can leave a couple struggling for years.

Starting small and building together is the wiser and more rewarding choice.

Mr. Abol Kings is a personal finance advisor and a former banker