Nollywood actress Ruth Kadiri has advised couples to avoid putting themselves under unnecessary pressure to organise elaborate weddings, warning that the demands surrounding such ceremonies can affect their marriages.
Kadiri said expensive and elaborate wedding celebrations often create emotional and mental pressure for couples, urging intending couples to prioritise their relationship over society’s expectations.
In a video circulating online, the actress questioned why some couples who had enjoyed happy relationships for years began experiencing fear and uncertainty after their wedding ceremonies.
“I do think that big weddings put pressure on couples. It puts pressure on the marriage itself,” she said.
Kadiri suggested that couples could simplify their wedding arrangements by completing the necessary traditional and legal processes, inviting a few guests and celebrating with close family and friends.
She also questioned the pressure on couples to organise several ceremonies, including engagement parties, court weddings, white weddings and traditional weddings, simply to satisfy societal expectations.
According to the actress, elaborate celebrations can expose couples to unnecessary scrutiny and pressure from other people, shifting attention away from the commitment they are making to each other.
Beyond weddings, Kadiri called for a change in societal expectations, particularly the pressure parents and extended family members place on young people to achieve financial success.
She highlighted the burden often placed on firstborn children, who may be expected to shoulder family responsibilities and provide financial support for relatives.
The actress argued that success means different things to different people and should not be measured only by wealth, career achievements or the ability to meet other people’s expectations.
“Success means different things to different people,” she said, noting that a fulfilling life could simply mean staying at home with one’s children and expressing love for them.
Kadiri urged parents and families to give young people more freedom to make personal decisions without being subjected to constant pressure to meet society’s standards.
She added that the expectations placed on people in 2026 could make it difficult for them to enjoy life, encouraging Nigerians to prioritise peace of mind and personal happiness over public approval.
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