Mchango Cards, The Forgotten Card

 Black + White laser printed Mchango Card (Contribution Request cards)... sometimes simplicity is so much more...
For me, there are a few incidents that give me a gratifying feeling of happiness, and one of them is knowing I have exceeded a customer's expectations and they are so happy beyond my expectations.

Once in a while I get a bride that wants "the bare minimum" card . The bride would say something like, "Oh it's only a contribution request. It doesn't need to be lavish or anything... so you know, just make it simple."

But of course they rarely mean that.

Often this kind of talk is directly in relation to the Contribution Request card, or commonly known as Mchango Card in Tanzania.
This most frequented note card is the subject of many discussions over the years in the changing trend of how weddings, and even now send offs and kitchen parties, are financed in Tanzania.

Financing a wedding solely is almost unheard of these days. But don't hold your breath too long, because the trend is beginning to take another turn, yet again.

The tradition of contributions has a long history in many parts of Africa. Whereas other parts of the continent are requesting for education support, in Tanzania it's common to contribute for weddings and even funnerals.
Though, it's less common in some elite circles for mass contributions for weddings, funnerals are no exceptions. Anyone can contribute and especially without a request card.

It is understandably justifiable why we contribute... but given it's importance as part of the culture and all, so little significance is placed on the design elements of it.

Often times I have received cards that bear no resemblance to the occasion, or at best, is often so small in size it almost looks like a tag card that comes with a bouquet of flowers.

So I got enough courage and asked one of my clients, who luckily was a family member this time, why do people tend to favor small A6 size for Contribution Request cards as oppose to DL or the standard A5?
Her answer came down two fold - and this was a long conversation which could have easily gone south, it's kinda delicate.

1. You don't want to send out the wrong impression. So this can have two meanings as well - you don't want to imply you are dreaming and hoping for a lavish affair that's why you are asking for anything they've got through a 'really small not so well designed card'. And or basically, you don't want to imply this will be a lavish affair and that's why you're being asked for what you've got. And this is the part that can make a conversation go south because whether you agree or not,  there are many layers to the justifiable answer. So this leads to the next reason.
2. It's a card that doesn't pay for itself, costing out of pocket, so let it be cheap. It is thought that if you have a well designed stationery reflecting the significance of the event, it will detract from the whole point of requesting, thus convinsing people to only contribute a little instead of more than a little.

It has to be understood at this point that contributors often expect an invitation in exchange.

Mhhhm. Enough said right.

So there is me the professional who thinks it's actually a shame really. What a wasted opportunity.
What I think most people don't understand is the significance of the occasion equates to the significance of the efforts behind it. I'm totally saying, I want to change your mind dear mother-of-the-bride and dear Mr future groom.

This is a day that is unique in a lifetime. It only happens once. And if you are going to make an effort to celebrate it, then do it in a memorable joyful way. And by the way, it doesn't have to be expensive. Any of it. All of it.

But it should bring a smile to your face the moment you think back... at the small details.

So this I guess has been one of the reasons for a change in the wedding financing trend. I have known quite a few wedding parties that opted to finance the whole shabang just as family or just as a couple. There are a growing list of reasons for this but just so you know, it is possible and it's getting done.

But regardless of whether you request or not, these pieces of stationery have a sense of added life when they enter into someone's hands. They are a source of inspiration, a joy to look forward to,  even a means of convincing power to support. If you underestimate it, so will the event be too.

So go ahead, ask the professionals who know best what they can help you design for that day. If its worth your happiness, so will the price.