Pastor Sarah Omakwu, the senior pastor of Family Worship Centre in Abuja, has opened up about her marriage journey, revealing that she borrowed her wedding dress because she and her husband, Pastor Ifeanyi Omakwu, could not afford one at the time. The gospel minister shared this personal experience during a sermon on Sunday, June 21, 2026, using it to emphasize the importance of focusing on marriage rather than lavish ceremonies.
How the Wedding Happened
According to Pastor Sarah Omakwu, their wedding took place in the United States when they had very little money. Her husband, Pastor Ifeanyi Omakwu, was unable to buy her a dress, but a woman who had been married before offered hers, and it happened to fit perfectly. “Let me tell you how Pastor Ifeanyi and I got married. We got married in America. I went there; he didn’t have money for my wedding dress. A lady who had married before loaned her wedding dress to me and somehow it fitted. We married in the church. It was a nice wedding done by Dr Gizzle then,” she recounted.
The ceremony itself was simple and held in a church. She recalled that guests were served Kool-Aid mixed with sugar, color, water, and slices of orange before heading home. “After the wedding, they served Kool-Aid outside in a foyer. It is just sugar and colour and water. They sprinkled oranges on it and people drank it and went home,” she said.
Criticism of Extravagant Weddings
Pastor Sarah Omakwu criticized the growing culture of extravagant weddings, warning that spending millions on a single day does not guarantee a lasting marriage. The cleric noted that many couples spend huge sums only to separate shortly after. “Spending N40, N50, N60 million on weddings, then after six months they are divorced,” she said.
She urged women not to pressure their partners financially over wedding plans. According to her, the real priority should be choosing the right partner and building a strong home rather than organizing a grand reception. “I want to encourage the ladies, please don’t put anybody under stress or under pressure. Please you can take pictures, you can wear your wedding gown and take pictures,” she advised.
Biblical Reminder
In a caption accompanying the video she posted on her Instagram page on June 21, she added that many singles delay marriage because of the financial burden attached to weddings. She reminded ladies that a simple ceremony is enough to begin a godly home, quoting Proverbs 17:1: “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.”
Pastor Sarah Omakwu’s message resonates with many who believe that the essence of marriage is often overshadowed by the pressure to host a lavish wedding. Her story serves as a reminder that love and commitment are more important than material displays.
In a related earlier report, popular Nigerian marriage counselor Pastor Bisi Adewale instructed Christian men to prioritize becoming the spiritual head of their families. He noted that a man must build a strong relationship with God before attempting to love his wife to avoid becoming selfish, warning that loving a woman without God's guidance will eventually cause immense pain and destructive behavior in the home.
