IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, everyone at some point asked themselves, ‘what will weddings be like post Covid-19?’ At least, Ange Umwamikazi did wonder if the pandemic situation would end at some point, to let her prepare her dream wedding in peace. In response to the pandemic, the government banned mass gatherings whatsoever especially in the early days of the outbreak. In March 2020, when the lockdown, and consequent ban on mass gatherings was announced, some people on social media joked about how there has never been a better time to get married. Indeed, a number of people took advantage of those, to avoid flashy weddings that would gather many up to the farthest neighbor. They were simply contented with a small wedding affair without flair, with only close family members and few friends. Some even dared to think that the culture of big weddings had ended for good. For Umwamikazi though, there was no rush. She was willing to wait, with hope that eventually the pandemic would subside and she would then have the big wedding of her life. She was proposed to by her then fiancé, Fiacre Ishimwe, in 2019 with plans to get married in 2020 before the pandemic ruined it for them. “Everybody, including our families, advised us to give up on our big ideas and just get married, because according to them, nobody knows what may come tomorrow. But that is exactly why we were willing to wait till there won’t be any constraints anymore,” she said. The likes of Umwamikazi had hoped to catch up on the time lost in 2020, in the then next wedding season of 2021, which normally runs from July to December. But delays, postponements, limited number of people, tight restrictions, persisted from when the first case of the virus was recorded in Rwanda. For those who wondered how long they would have to wait, it seems the 2022 wedding season is the answer. It seems to be a good time for event hosts and planners as well. “We have been so busy with orders! Sometimes, in one weekend we may get up to four weddings booked. It is very fulfilling considering that we were literally ruined during the pandemic,” said Claude Nkundimana, the Chief Executive of Correct Service which offers buffet service, protocol, photography, and cakes at events and conferences. Sharifa Umutesi, owner of Romantic Hill Garden, which hosts wedding ceremonies, also agrees that this wedding season is busier than ever before. “The whole month of August and September is already booked,” she said. Rise of bachelorette parties This wedding season has also seen the rise of the culture of bachelorette parties in Rwandan society. While these parties have been a thing in other parts of the world since the 1980s, the same cannot be said for Rwandans. Bachelor/Bachelorette party is one held to celebrate the last days of the bride or the groom as a single woman/man. The bride gathers up all her girlfriends in a party separate from the groom’s own with his boys, mostly unmarried age mates. Bachelorette parties are often held the day or week before the wedding day. Reports have said that many people even take it as an excuse to cheat since they are celebrating their last day (s) of freedom before being binded by the oath of marriage. “It was just an occasion for me to hang out with my boys, before I get married, especially since many of them are still single,” Benjamin Mahirwe said. The 29- year- old suggested that the new norm was a youthful thing and hence is not common for the older generation. “I used to see it in movies and found it cool. While my fiancé was preparing for her bridal shower party, I thought I could have one on my side too,” he added.
