By Thorn Mulli

Congratulations you are getting married. Even as much as such an occasion calls for a befitting celebration, the best you can afford, beware though amongst the cheer lurks are those who do not have your best interests at heart and if left unchecked could spell grey to an otherwise colourful event.

Inconsiderate parents
It is not the joy of every parent to witness his/her children tie the knot. This is what Adam Atsiaya learnt after his would be father-in-law, with whom he had shared cordial relations before ensured that his big day was hell on earth. Adam had always been weary of his in-laws dowry traditions as rumours flew of how greed ridden some of the proceedings could become.

His fears were soon eased after he was allowed Cindy’s hand after he completed paying the asked bride price. On the wedding day Adam’s cheerful turned pensive after reports of a standoff between his future in-laws and his clan bombard his cellular phone. Confusion reigned as his father-in-law played brick ball, adamant that unless the grooms clan ‘pay’ a 10,000 litre capacity water tank valued at Sh70,000, no wedding would take place.

With no money to spare, Adam aptly pleaded his case to no avail. It took the intervention of the local Member of Parliament (MP) hours later, to get the bride’s father to cede some ground. The couple eventually tied the knot albeit time bad. The old man’s theatrics, however, did not end there.

“When the MP presented an enveloped gift to the us at the reception, the hawk-eyed bride’s father snatched it from our hands before whispering to me that the ‘debt’ had been paid,” said Adam. Sadly, with such a bad footing to begin a marriage on, the couples separate soon after.

It is always advisable that you cover all angle lest such a situation befalls you.

Ex-Lovers
“If there is any among you who oppose this union, speak or forever hold your peace,” is one statement that is always met with pin-drop silence, save for that odd muffled cough as all wait with bated breath. It is no secret that things are bound to end sourly if that estranged lover pops up at your nuptials as recently witnessed at a recent church.

So it simply is in your best interests to ensure your house is in order. If that fails, make it a card only event or hire security to cover for you, lest you take a lesson on why hell hath no fury.

Aides
If you thought mutinies exists only in the ranks of soldiers or sailors, think again.

Achiel Adhiambo found out the hard way as her best maid led most of her bridal team on a boycott of the ceremony leaving her with a bitter taste in her mouth.

Trouble began brewing when her best friend since college challenged her choice of the bride’s maid’s dresses. Achiel defended her choice and as the bridesmaids weighed the matter, they sided with her best maid, sending matters south.

Losing control, the two burst into a fit of expletives exposing the ingrained rivalry they shared.  At the crack of dawn, the worst maid and her mutinying lot sneakedd out of the hotel rooms Achiel had paid for to ensure easy movement during the ceremony held on the same grounds.

Groomsmen are not spared from this curse.

Check your bridal party before they check mate you.

Pesky guests
Every married couple can attest to have had at least one kind of difficult to deal with guests during their wedding. These guests come in many forms and if not checked can be a thorn in the flesh.

They include; the wedding know-it-all and the kind who has an opinion about everything and always believes their way is the best way. Do not be surprised if they impose their ideal honeymoon destination to you.

The there’s also the over-eager wedding guest who is more excited about the wedding than the couple. With the rise of social media, these are the kind who will go on to invite all their Facebook friends to your wedding.

Rather than butt heads during the ceremony, it is wise to identify the ‘trouble guest’ in advance and find a way to curb their excesses.

Inexperienced vendors
Nothing is worse than an untested vendor. A wedding is the last place for practicing ones trade. This was the confession of a caterer who in the early days of her career, in effort to prove her skill went overboard in her choice of spices for a wedding she was catering.

Her spices combination produced a really sumptuous meal, but with a downside as the food shot right through all the guests who partook of it. The queue leading to the lavatories was not a pretty sight neither was the backlash she got afterwards.

Perfection comes at a price. Think twice before settling for the cheaper option.