The Founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International Ministry, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has cautioned men against soliciting funds to finance lavish wedding ceremonies, describing the practice as a sign of irresponsibility and poor preparation for marriage.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams said marriage is a serious lifelong commitment that should be undertaken only by men who are financially and emotionally prepared to shoulder the responsibilities that come with it, rather than relying on family and friends to fund wedding celebrations.

Speaking in an interview on TV3’s New Day on Friday, January 23, Archbishop Duncan-Williams questioned the logic of a man seeking financial assistance for a wedding, asking how such a person would be able to care for a wife and future family after the ceremony.

He stressed that love alone was not enough to sustain a marriage, insisting that responsibility must be the foundation upon which any union is built.

“It is still wrong because you are still not a man. You are not responsible. How are you going to take care of the woman after the marriage? Are you still going to go to all these friends and family to be asking for money when she gets pregnant, and she’s throwing up, and she goes to the hospital, who pays the bills? Are you going to go back to your family?” he asked.

He added that depending on others for wedding expenses was a clear indication that a man was not ready to marry. “You are not responsible, you are not ready. So it is not just about you loving the person; you have to be responsible,” he stated.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams also criticised the culture of extended families and relatives frequently contributing towards wedding costs, arguing that such practices were doing more harm than good, especially to young people.

According to him, constant financial support for weddings discourages discipline and personal sacrifice and fails to instil a sense of accountability in couples preparing for marriage.

“And this kind of mentality and attitude in our society, ‘Oh, let’s help them,’ we are not doing justice to future generations; we are making them irresponsible. They must take responsibility; they have to save for the child coming, the pregnancy, the school fees, etc.,” he stressed.

The archbishop urged families and society at large to encourage young men to plan responsibly for marriage and family life, rather than prioritising extravagant ceremonies that leave couples financially strained from the outset.