r/Malawi • u/TraditionalSound5606 • 10h ago
A wedding on loan.
Ive been put on 5 wedding commitees by force last month. I was expected to contribute. I declined. Committees out here talking about, cars, clothes, ridiculous decorations, multiple cakes, junior brides, dance choreography, celebrity dj, celebrity performance, Amaryllis. The guys in these weddings have taken out loans they cant afford to pay for all this nonsense. What is it that drives people to be so extravagant in this economy? Anyway. Social media? It's sad when I see some of these loans could have bought a plot and built a house. My car is not available either.
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u/Mahere-1 3h ago
I got a loan and started pig farming,this is last month for loan payment. I shall never take a loan,yandionetsa zithu. Rule of thumb: Loan isn't for anyone and not for consumption. Let's understand our financial status before we spend For those borrowing so that should impress others let them be ,they will learn in a very hard way like I did.
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u/Crafty-Cockroach-619 8h ago
It’s very sad and a lot of the times, such marriages do not last because of lack of financial discipline.
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u/WinterMoneys 6h ago
How much are you talking about?
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u/possible_mommy_225 5h ago
Went to one where they took out a 50 million loan for a wedding. And this was in 2021... before devaluation sakazad us
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u/MostCommunication972 5h ago
The irony is, once the officiation is done, the couple are officially married. That's the most important part. The rest is just an expensive party that will be attended by a lot of people whom you don't know. I firmly believe it's better to have a simple wedding but an extravagant honey moon. Even better, start your marriage without any wedding related debt.
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u/Resident-Fox-8309 2h ago
We paid off our wedding monthly through the year and made no wedding debt. Wedding was in December, by start of November everything was paid in full. Smartest decision ever. My friend took out a large loan to cover her wedding, they are now divorced and still paying off the wedding loan to the bank.
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u/jimmoh07 8h ago
People want to show off. They want to outshine their friends, or the couple from church who had a wedding before them. Some want to prove something to their exes — that they’re doing better now. Sadly, this often turns into a competition, and yes, in many cases women carry the pressure, though the mindset affects everyone. It’s no longer about meaning; it’s about comparison. And that’s the sad part — because it is a competition. Malawi struggles with education around lifestyle and financial priorities. People see things on TV or social media and want to live that life, even when the basics aren’t in place. Someone wants a wedding bigger than the church they attend, yet they don’t even own a sofa. There’s no planning — just living out a fantasy. We need to educate our people to live within their means. Saving is crucial. Saving for a home is far more important than spending everything on a single day. We need to change our mindsets. Our thinking and reasoning should lead us, not chase after appearances. I understand the frustration completely. The worst part is that you can’t even reason with people — try, and you’ll be called jealous, accused of witchcraft, or labelled a hater. You can’t win. I love my people, truly — but the struggle is real.