The actress urges couples to keep weddings simple and says parents put pressure on their children to bring money home.
Nollywood actress Ruth Kadiri has urged couples not to put themselves under unnecessary strain to organise elaborate weddings, saying the expectations around them can affect the marriage itself. In an Instagram video that has circulated online, which Pulse shared on Sunday, she asked why some couples who have dated happily for years begin to feel fear and uncertainty after the ceremony.
Kadiri's core claim, in her words:
"I do think that big weddings put pressure on couples. It puts pressure on the marriage itself."
She said the strain is emotional and mental, and that some people do not recognise how the demands of wedding preparations can shape their move into married life. She added that the pressure could contribute to changes in how people feel about marriage once the ceremony is over.
Her alternative is a simpler route. In her view, couples might satisfy the customary and statutory requirements, keep the guest list short, and hold a quiet celebration among relatives and intimate friends. They do not have to hold several ceremonies, including engagement parties, court weddings, white weddings and traditional weddings, just because society expects it. She also warned that elaborate celebrations can expose couples to unnecessary scrutiny from other people.
Kadiri married her husband in a private ceremony in 2019, and the couple have two daughters, TheCable reports. In the same video, she said she did not have an elaborate wedding, and that this has been part of the success of her seven-year marriage.
Her remarks went beyond weddings. She called on parents and extended family to ease the pressure on young people to succeed financially, and pointed to the burden often placed on firstborn children. "It’s the pressure parents put on their children to succeed and bring money home," she said.
Kadiri also argued that success should not be measured only by wealth, career achievements or meeting other people's expectations. "Success means different things to different people," she said, and a fulfilling life might be as simple as staying home with the children and showing them affection. She urged parents, families and society to give young people more room to make their own decisions.
Pulse shared the video on Sunday, 25 October.
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