Bride Speaks After Dramatic Cancellation Of Wedding At The Last Minute

A bride in Bomet County gave her side of the story after drama ensued when she reportedly cancelled her wedding at the very last minute, requesting more time to make a decision.

The wedding was initially slated to take place at Kapsoiyo Africa Gospel Church (AGC) in Bomet on Saturday, December 9 with Pastor Clement Chalulot expected to preside over the event.

Initial reports depicted in a screenshot from the wedding WhatsApp group claimed that the 23-year-old bride-to-be, Nelly Chepkoech, called off the wedding hours before the D-day, with the pastor informing congregants that attempts to have her reconsider her decision and move ahead with the wedding plans bore no fruit.

Africa Gospel Church in Bomet County. /AFRICA GOSPEL CHURCH KENYA

Pastor Clement also faulted Chepkoech for refusing to submit her documents to process their marriage certificate.

“The communication from the presiding reverend that the bride had changed her mind halted everything and brought the entire plans to a halt," he said.

"The bride refused to hand over essential documents such as her ID. She also displayed a reluctance to continue with the wedding as initially planned even though the groom assured us that all was well."

The pastor termed the situation as unfortunate but noted that the decision did not have an adverse effect as only Ksh50,000 was spent from the total wedding budget.

Pastor Chalulot, at the same time, said a group of emissaries had earlier been dispatched to reconcile the two families, but the lady stood her ground and refused to be part of the discussion.

The groom's family was left enraged since they had already paid the dowry and handed over three cows and other valuables to the would-be in-laws in line with marriage traditions.

Following the botched event, hundreds of villagers who had milled around waiting for the big day were treated to free mursik and other perishable foodstuffs that were prepared for the big day as efforts to return the dowry got underway.

The saga spilled over to social media platforms with a section of netizens claiming that she had run away. Quarters criticized her for dumping the groom when he had already paid the bride price.

However, the bride set the record straight by revealing that it was the church leadership who urged her to cancel the wedding.

"We were supposed to celebrate a wedding in Kapsoyo. We had diligently planned this occasion for two months, pooling funds in a WhatsApp group to cover the expenses. Unfortunately, the reverend advised us to postpone the event, and we did not know what to do. Both of us shed tears," she said, pinning blame on the church in part.

Chepkoech then dismissed claims that she had abandoned her man by cancelling her wedding, stating that she was at home waiting for what would transpire next.

"I would like to tell Kenyans on social media to stop spreading rumours, I'm still at home and I have not left, I'm waiting for the day we will be called.

"I'm waiting for that day, the pastor has not said the wedding was cancelled so we are waiting for the day we will proceed with the wedding. It was not cancelled, it was postponed" she said.

She was backed by her father who slammed Kenyans on social media for jumping into baseless conclusions.

Setting of a wedding held at a beach. /THE WEDDING MISSION