Many friendships have been broken due to funds demanded in wedding committees. So much that today’s mantra should be: Never mix friendship with wedding committee memberships.
We however will not overlook the fact that we all need some support when it comes to organizing weddings. Other than have your friends attend your wedding, you might need their financial input to put your special day together.
For your friendship to withstand wedding committees, you have to use the right approach when dealing with your friends. Here are a few pointers:
1. Call. Don’t text, WhatsApp or email. The initial communication should be through a phone call. This will also help you gauge who to approach; if it feels awkward calling a particular friend about funding your wedding, then you probably should not call them.
2. If you have not communicated with your friend for over a year, don’t ask them to come and raise funds for your wedding. It is not right to drag a friend from your ‘archives’, to ask them to play such an important role in your life.
3. This is not a chance for you to be extravagant with your wedding budget. Do not exploit your friends’ generosity towards you. Accept what is offered, and work with it. Don’t insist on the sparkly cutlery, the 7 tier wedding cake, the expensive champagne if it will mean having them dig deeper into their pockets.
4. Appreciate whatever you get, however little. Just because a group of people you consider your friends are willing to come together to make your day special, does not mean that you get to be demanding. Consider that most of them might have to forgo spending quality time with their families; some of them might have to dip into their savings even, because they value your friendship.
5. Most of the finances for your wedding should come from you. You are funding your wedding, with the help of your friends. Don’t expect your friends to meet all the expenses. They should only help you, not fund the entire wedding
6. If money is a problem, consider cheaper options of getting married. Don’t insist on a wedding just because someone else had one. Live within your means and if money is a problem maybe you should pay a visit to the AG chambers instead of milking your friends dry.
Don’t risk losing your friend over wedding committee issues. If you can fund your own wedding the better for your friendship. Over and above, save and get married when you are financially ready.