Online Reporter
Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
WHEN one imagines a typical Zimbabwean wedding, their first thoughts would probably wander to a serene outdoor setting, one in where a cool African breeze and confetti gently brush the skin of a couple who have just committed to love each other for life.
In this imaginary scenario, one would also probably envision excited relatives sitting, gleaming cutlery in front of them as they watch what they hope will be true and everlasting love blossom before them.
Weddings are a special thing in Zimbabwe and that is for good reason.
Love is, after all, a sacred thing — an ongoing conversation between two hearts.
On that one specific day, the wedding day, friends and family are invited to eavesdrop on the quiet promises the lovers whisper to each other.
It is a ritual reserved purely for those closest and dearest to the couple, serving to make their union official.
Only the chosen are there to witness it.
It is hard to imagine a venue in which all and sundry are welcome, one whereby this most respected of celebrations is open to the public.
Yet in Bulawayo, there is a growing trend where couples are hosting their wedding receptions in pubs, where even strangers can celebrate their union without even knowing their names.
Pub weddings are a sudden and surprising trend in the City of Kings.
Increasingly, lovers are now finding comfort in solidifying their unions in pubs and clubs where their love once blossomed to the soundtrack of loud music, clinking glasses and hoarse voices.
One such pub, the famed city shebeen, which over the last few months has seen several people host their wedding receptions within its four walls.
According to the pub owner Nhlanhla Nkomo, the venue’s appeal lies largely in its affordability.
“It all depends on the nature of the event. If the event benefits us and all the required services, such as food, drinks and other essentials, are supplied by us, we can offer our venue free of charge. However, if the client requires exclusive arrangements, such as specific décor, catering or other customised services, we then negotiate charges based on the scale and size of the event,” he said.
Nkomo said by choosing established entertainment venues, couples are able to significantly reduce costs associated with hosting a wedding reception.
“We have hosted several birthday parties and wedding celebrations at our premises. I believe this is because hosting such events at an already established venue allows clients to cut costs, particularly on décor and sound. We also have a host of DJs who can provide quality entertainment upon request,” he said.
While they are growing in popularity in Bulawayo, pub weddings are now a new phenomenon.
Such weddings trace their roots back to medieval England and Ireland, where local public houses, originally called tabernae or alehouses, frequently hosted casual marriages, “handfastings” and receptions.
For centuries, pubs served as affordable community hubs before shifting to trendy, specialised wedding venues today.
For Nkomo, the trend in Bulawayo gathered momentum earlier this year when a pair of the pub’s regular patrons, Nyararai Shakemore Sithole and Getrute Ndlovu, decided to tie the knot at the venue.
The pair had stokvels, money and grocery clubs whose activities usually unfold at the pub.
“Earlier this year, we had a couple who chose to host their wedding ceremony at our venue. They were regular customers and wanted an intimate celebration with family and friends. I believe this opened more doors for us, as we have since seen an increasing number of clients choosing our premises to celebrate their special occasions,” he said.
But the growing popularity of pub weddings, he reckons, is testament to the trust that customers have developed in the establishment over the years.
“It does not surprise me at all. We have worked hard to ensure that we become one of the most competitive entertainment venues in Bulawayo. The services we offer are unique, and the formula we use has remained consistent because it continues to satisfy our clients.
“I believe this is why many of our patrons choose to celebrate their birthdays, weddings and other milestones at our venue. People prefer a brand they can trust. I take great pride in the trust our customers have placed in us and seeing them return more frequently to celebrate their special occasions with us is truly rewarding,” he said.
Another Bulawayo bar owner, who requested anonymity, believes the trend is driven by the sense of community that many pubs cultivate among their patrons.
“We pride ourselves on being a ‘family’ pub. By that, we mean that we regard our patrons as family. Some of them have met those who would go on to be their loved ones here, started families with those people and went on to lead long and happy lives,” he said.
“We all yearn for a pub where everybody knows your name and that is what we offer here. Everyone knows everyone else. With that being the case, if you are drinking at a place where everybody knows your name, it means you are imbibing with family, so why wouldn’t you want to get married amongst your true family? Weddings are, after all, usually a family affair and that is the attraction of holding your reception here.”
As economic pressures continue to mount and traditional weddings become increasingly expensive, more couples appear willing to swap manicured gardens and lavish halls for the familiarity of their favoured local pub.
In Bulawayo, where countless romances have begun over shared drinks and late-night conversations, the local watering hole is increasingly becoming more than just a place to meet.
For a growing number of couples, it is now the place where their love story reaches its most important chapter.
Former pub manager Dalubuhle Sibanda said the phenomenon also reflected a growing desire among many people to challenge long-held notions about what a wedding should look like.
“I think in most instances, there is a desire by people to break from tradition in almost everything that they do. Of course, over the years, they have been told that they must hold their weddings at certain venues or places that bring a certain ambience. These places have become, in our minds, traditional wedding venues, although they might not have existed a few decades back,” he said.
“To a lot of people, especially those that are familiar with nightlife, these places are boring and drab. Weddings are something that they detest. So, if it were your own wedding, wouldn’t you want to break with tradition and do something that you and those truly closest to you would enjoy?”
For Sibanda, pub weddings are ultimately about authenticity, allowing couples to celebrate in spaces that reflect who they are rather than what society expects them to be.
“That is what has led to the allure of pubs as venues of choice for some of these events,” he said.
Ends
