Ruth Kadiri warns young couples against wedding pressure

Actress and filmmaker Ruth Kadiri has encouraged young couples to focus on building stable marriages rather than spending heavily on wedding ceremonies to satisfy family, friends and society.

In a video shared on her Instagram page, the mother of two warned that elaborate weddings could introduce unnecessary pressure into relationships, particularly when couples feel compelled to meet expectations beyond their financial capacity.

Kadiri said many intending couples overlook the emotional and mental demands associated with organising major wedding celebrations.

She explained that a couple could enjoy a healthy relationship while dating but encounter additional stress when preparing for marriage and dealing with the demands of an elaborate ceremony.

According to her, the effects of wedding-related pressure may extend beyond the celebration itself and influence how couples approach their new responsibilities.

“I do think that big weddings put pressure on couples; it puts pressure on the marriage itself. Big weddings put pressure on people, and they don’t seem to have realised that,” she said.

Kadiri stressed that her concerns were not restricted to money or spiritual matters, noting that mental health was another important consideration.

Drawing from her experience, the actress said she had been married for seven years and believed her decision not to have an elaborate wedding contributed to the stability she enjoyed.

She encouraged couples to adopt simpler arrangements, suggesting that traditional marriage rites could involve only parents, uncles and a few close relatives.

For the civil wedding, she proposed a gathering of about 30 people, followed by a pastor’s prayer and a return home.

Kadiri argued that couples should not feel that their marriages would fail if they did not organise several ceremonies, including engagement, traditional and white weddings.

She also expressed spiritual concerns about large gatherings, alleging that some invited guests could negatively influence a couple’s life. Her claims that guests may be responsible for some couples’ difficulties having children were personal assertions and were not supported by evidence in the video account.

The actress extended her advice to parents, urging them to stop placing excessive pressure on their children to achieve financial success quickly.

She said families needed to reconsider expectations that young people should immediately become wealthy and provide money at home.

Kadiri’s message reflects a broader discussion about the costs of weddings and the challenges young couples face when balancing cultural traditions, family expectations and financial realities.

Her advice was for couples to make decisions that suit their circumstances, protect their wellbeing and allow them to concentrate on the responsibilities of married life.