Sh1.2m, 1000 guests planned wedding reduced to only 9 attendees
The outbreak of coronavirus has affected social behavior and some cultural practices.
Among the events largely affected are weddings which normally attract a huge number of people.
But for one couple in Murang'a County, they decided to do their wedding as planned though this time, things had to be done differently.
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Lawrence Kariuki Mutemwa and his fiance Rachael Wanjugu decided to hold their wedding amid the pandemic.
The couple said they had made all the necessary arrangements for their wedding which was slated to take place on 25th April 2020.
Keen to observe the government's directive on number of people to attend any gathering and maintaining social distance the two had to make a tough choice on who to allow into their wedding.
For them waiting for the pandemic to end was not an option.
After consultation with the family members, the couple resolved to have a low key event which was only attended by nine people.
They included their best couple, parents from both sides and the officiating priest.
This rare event was held at PCEA Muhito in Mukuruwe-ini Nyeri on Tuesday 7th April 2020 and lasted for only 30 minutes.
Kariuki said they had everything set for their big day but the current crisis turned everything upside down.
"I thought of doing the wedding because I did not want to spend the money I had kept aside for the occasion.
"What was most important for us was to officiate our marriage so that we can live together as man and wife," the groom said.
Kariuki, 30, and Wanjugu, 26, started preparations for their big day in April last year.
Having concluded all the basic customary rites, Kariuki had been given a go ahead by Wanjugu's family to marry her.
They wanted a wedding ceremony that they would live to remember all their lives and a budget of Sh1. 2 million was in place for that.
The couple had planned to host about 1000 guests.
The venue for the wedding, tents and chairs, photo session venues, reception venue and decor were all in place and down payment had been made.
"We had spent approximately sh300, 000 in preparations for our wedding this being a quarter of what we had set aside." said the groom.
As fate would have it things did not go as planned but this did not dumped the couple's spirit.
"Since my childhood, I always wanted to do a wedding and I am glad it has come to pass," said the bride.
They said they are yet to decide if they shall claim back the down payment they had made to the service providers.
