Torn between faith, family: Bride speaks on wedding cancellation over church choice

A Nigerian bride-to-be, Patience Addra, has broken her silence following the cancellation of her wedding just a day before it was meant to be held amid a wave of online reactions ranging from sympathy to backlash.

A digital copy of the wedding invitation obtained by PUNCH Online on Monday revealed that the ceremony was initially planned for Saturday, April 5, in Anguldi, Zawan Jos, but was abruptly called off on Friday.

“Online family (in-laws) Well-done,” Patience wrote on Saturday, the wedding day.

“If you follow social media saga You go kpai before your time.”

Digital wedding invite | Credit: Screenshot, Facebook

Friends and followers commented on the posts, with many advising her to take a break from social media.

According to multiple online sources, the couple had been in a relationship for three years.

Initial reports alleged that Patience called off the wedding due to the groom’s membership with the Church of Christ in Nations.

However, a Jos-based writer, Paul Kums, shared the bride’s side of the story, claiming that the groom’s mother called off the wedding after the bride, who is a Catholic, initially said she would attend her church after the marriage.

He said it all started during the final counseling session with the reverend.

The couple was asked about their plans for their future church attendance.

The bride, a devoted Catholic, said she would continue to attend her church, while the groom, a devout COCIN member, insisted that they would attend his church together.

The groom revealed that his mother had been adamant that they attend his church. The groom said his mother made it clear that if the bride would not follow him to his church, the wedding is off. The bride’s eyes widened in frustration as she retorted, “If your mother is going to decide everything for you, then maybe we should call off the wedding,” he wrote.

“The groom, taken aback by her words, returned home and shared the conversation with his mother. The mother-in-law’s face turned crimson with anger, and she declared, “If that’s how she feels, then the wedding is off!”

“As the wedding day approached, the bride realized that her future mother-in-law wasn’t bluffing. She began to plead with the groom, promising to attend his church and compromise on their differences. But the mother-in-law’s mind was already made up.

The bride’s desperation grew as she thought about her own mother’s fragile health. She feared that if her mother found out about the called-off wedding, she might pass out from the shock. The bride begged the groom to reconsider, but his mother’s influence had already sealed their fate.”

Social media users on Facebook reacted to the wedding that has been put on hold.

Christfurtune Timmy Kayathbachet wrote, “Who told you people that women have denomination? Haba sis as we funly called ourselves. This is a sad reality.”

Another user, Mercy Faruk Taldang, commented that, “You’ll be fine ko dear, God will see you through.”

However, JockNom John Sani said, “For the sake of your sanity, you should have taken a rest from this space. Making this post is unnecessary, you don’t expect anybody to clap for you after what the media have paraded.

“This is the right time for you to heal and move on, and not the time to trade words with your critics. It will be nice when you clear the air in due time to save your image and reputation.”