Roughly N500,000.00 for just 15 people means you had a high-class wedding. In some places in Nigeria, that amount is just enough to host the whole community. After-all, our gate-man just got married.


Well, you tried, HML. Wish all the ladies can learn from you.

Note to Naija based brides. If you dont want to pay through your nose for a makeup artist, you can watch some youtube videos and practice, practice, practice.

Shey una dey hear?... I no sure say dm go hear with those big attachments wey dm use block their brain

By the way... Na the Naija brides go pay or na their husbands?... because MOST girls for Naija see marriage as a means of steadily getting things for free from a man

ladygogo: I recently tied the knot and I thought i'd share some tips on how I worked with my budget. This is especially for couples on a budget and those not interested in spending a down payment/or money for land on a 5-7hour event. But if you or your parents can comfortably afford to throw a party then go ahead with your bad self.

I had my wedding ceremony where i currently reside and my parents and parents-in-law had the Trad in absentia in Nigeria.


My husband and I had a civil ceremony where a Marriage Commissioner comes and officiates. This is similar to going to Ikoyi or Ikeja registry.

Here is a breakdown of what we spent:

Marriage Licence: $100.00
Marriage Commissioner fees: 125.00 firm. No egunje.
Recreation Park Permit- $60.[/b]00

Bride's Dress: [b]$300.00 I saw a mori lee bridesmaids dress on online and later ordered one in ivory from one of the local bridal stores.

Shoes : $200.00. I wanted to splurge on this one. I ordered a pair of badgley mischka shoes online at nordstrom.

Hair Styling: $70.00 No. We dont charge and arm and a leg here for Bridal Styling. Its is actually 60.00 but she charged 10.00 more for coming to my house.

Weave installation-$55.00.

Human Hair- I got three bundles of hair for $120.00 plus customs fees- $140.00 from Ali express.

Make-up -I freelance as a Make up artist. So I did my own make up.Besides, getting your Makeup done is not expensive here as well. The only thing i bought was foundation from MAC. It was $27.00.

Note to Naija based brides. If you dont want to pay through your nose for a makeup artist, you can watch some youtube videos and practice, practice, practice.

Nails:I polished my own damn nails. I'm kind of like a nail polish junkie anyway. So all I did was pick one of my many red nail polishes.


Hair Fascinator: 38.00. i ended up not using because I forgot.

Jewelry: Pearl earrings: $22.00 and pearl bracelet: $10.00

Bouquet: $70.00. I ordered a dozen roses in ivory with baby's breath for more fullness.

Cake. i initially didnt want one because we didnt want to make it too formal, but my sis suprised us with one. Nice. Would have been max $50.00

Undergarments:$40.00 I ended up not wearing it.

transportation- 50.00 on gas

photography- Ok. I initially budgeted 400.00 dollars for it, but my hubby got me a professional camera as a birthday gift. So we told the photographer(who also happens to be my family friend) to use mine. We ended up paying him $250.00.

Food: The lunch was at an East Indian restaurant.

The owner charged us $25/head-Three course meal.

I budgeted for 18 people but 15 people showed up.

Beverage; Red wine -$28/bottle. Champagne $29/bottle

I ordered four of each and also ordered pepsi/coke in a pitcher.


I dont know how much my hubby spent on his suit and shoes, but i believe he wore one of his old suits and ordered a pair of shoes from Dune. I will get back to you on that.

Rings: Im not sure of the exact amount. Wouldnt have been over $1000.00. I will get back to you on that.

The total amount i Spent was $3285.00- N 479,610.00

TIPS:

-The more people you invite, the more money you spend on food and drinks. Try as much as possible not to let the whole world know you are getting married.
- Ladies!! You dont need to spend all your money on a dress you will wear for one day. It just doesnt make sense. You dont have to wear that Vera wang or Pnina Tornai Dress oh!
-I dont think you need a wedding planner if you are having a big wedding.Google is your friend.

-Compare rates .This is a no brainer really, but I know it can be difficult in a place like Nigeria where you will only be hearing Millions and thousands from those wedding vendors. I planned my sisters wedding so I know.

-Make up.I think make up artists are really overpriced in Nigeria. As a makeup artiste i know good makeup when i see one,but the amount they charge is ridiculous. Say wetin?. You will be hearing 150k,200k, 350k, etc. The rates they all charge cant be justified and its not like they give out the make up products they use on their clients. Would be brides can scour instagram for good and lower priced make-up artists.

Pics attached


To the mods. I only want this posted to the family, events and fashion section. Thank you.

Op, u look gorgeously sexy.. Congrats.

I'm still single o, incase u have any lady dat thnks like u *winks*

Op, you wrote to advice people who spend money that can buy land on a wedding of 5-6 hours.
And at the same time, your wedding plan (simple as you describe it) cost roughly 500k Nigerian currency.
A quarter plot of land in Ajah/Abijon/Awoyaya area of lagos ISLAND cost 250k,
A half plot in Mowe, Badagry, Ikhorodu goes for 200k
A full plot in Iwo, Olodo, and some nice places in Ibadan goes for 200k.
In my village in Auchi, Edo state, with 500k, you can both buy a land and build a single room self contain apartment.
Except the land you were referring to is in banana Island, Ikoyi, lekki and what have you, I guess you have contradicted your self.

Secondly; I wish to point out the fact that you spent 500k for an event attended by just 15 people, and that 60% of the said amount went into your personal appearance and decoration. You mentioned that you bought a dress worth $300, you forgot to mention what your husband spent on shoes, suits, diamond ring, and all other superfluous decorations that prevented him from appearing like a mechanic on duty on the wedding day.


Lastly, please lay emphasis on what you describe as outrageous spending on a wedding figuratively. What amount. Do you define as excessive and what do you define as otherwise for a wedding, given that your own case has defeated the yardstick (cost of land) you provided before

The title is misleading.

Depending on those you invite.
Mine is going to be a quiet wedding too, Evening mass by 5pm,dinner/reception by 6pm and not more than 50 guests!
I hate those crowded wedding,can't imagine going through that stress and I keep telling my friends..No Ashoebi,bridal train or whateverm

I'll only allow relatives to have their fun in the trad wedding. But for white wedding,they will see me with ring and ask when it happened .

Congrats ladygogo and HML

GboyegaD: Good for you cos you could control the number of guests which is almost impossible in Nigeria.

Guy relax na
Were you expecting them to wear bend down select on their wedding day?
If you know how much people spend on their wedding day in naija even poor people,you will be shocked! People even take loans for wedding and that's being stup!d I must say.

blakky97: Op, you wrote to advice people who spend money that can buy land on a wedding of 5-6 hours.
And at the same time, your wedding plan (simple as you describe it) cost roughly 500k Nigerian currency.
A quarter plot of land in Ajah/Abijon/Awoyaya area of lagos ISLAND cost 250k,
A half plot in Mowe, Badagry, Ikhorodu goes for 200k
A full plot in Iwo, Olodo, and some nice places in Ibadan goes for 200k.
In my village in Auchi, Edo state, with 500k, you can both buy a land and build a single room self contain apartment.
Except the land you were referring to is in banana Island, Ikoyi, lekki and what have you, I guess you have contradicted your self.

Secondly; I wish to point out the fact that you spent 500k for an event attended by just 15 people, and that 60% of the said amount went into your personal appearance and decoration. You mentioned that you bought a dress worth $300, you forgot to mention what your husband spent on shoes, suits, diamond ring, and all other superfluous decorations that prevented him from appearing like a mechanic on duty on the wedding day.


Lastly, please lay emphasis on what you describe as outrageous spending on a wedding figuratively. What amount. Do you define as excessive and what do you define as otherwise for a wedding, given that your own case has defeated the yardstick (cost of land) you provided before

ITs sad that you did a white wedding @OP. I weep 4 Africans.

I've always told those around me that my wedding will be low key.
1. Not more than 15 to 20 would be in the venue.
2. The venue will be a small banquet hall in a hotel.
3. I may not go to the church. The pastor(s) and some officers only will be required to just bless the marriage in the church's vestry.
The only person I may not be able to convince is my mother-in-law. I can convince my parents, my father-in-law and my wife.

@ ladygogo: congratulations wish u a blissful marriage.
.
back to the topic, this is what I need at the moment. having a proxy traditional in some months time and i dont know what or how to go about it. my partner wont be around for it i will have to go join my partner after the whole stuff in naija..

.
can u tell me how you went about the planning for the proxy traditional back in naija

lolzzz..... nairalander eh? she said the wedding was not in nigeria....why are you guys now comparing the cost of leaving in her end to nigeria. I believe if she wants to have that same wedding in Nigeria she won't spend up to that for just 15 people.....
.
na the type of ena dey always use calculator they convert the amount of milk to naira in a store in America before buying it

Nice wedding but I ain't feeling it at all. Abeg make friends n enemies come chop belle- full. Wetin na, dem d do wedding 2x? its 1s in a life time event......my hubby nd I will prepare very well for our wedding, it may not be necessarily extravagant bt we will try nd make it worth it.

this is no low budget wedding

@ladygogo, you did an excellent job there. Low-key, but classy. God bless your matrimony

Posting a picture of a wedding and then blurring out the faces makes no sense, at all.

I pray make u do that kind wedding for naija I pity u both pple wey u invite nd those u did not will come

biafranqueen: Op a big congrats! Always love your husband it is you and him first before family, friends etc; cook him good food, keep your slim figure cause thats how he married you and always be his freak between the sheets and you will stay new in his eyes like the first day you met.

Thank you so much.

GboyegaD: Good for you cos you could control the number of guests which is almost impossible in Nigeria.

u said it all. Na because na abroad dats y she fit control d crowd.
Try it in naija and see if all dose eldrs , aunties, and uncles for villa no go do meeting for person head because dey were not invited.plus many handbags (uninvited guests) we dey folo invited ones come

dorosola: @ ladygogo: congratulations wish u a blissful marriage.
.
back to the topic, this is what I need at the moment. having a proxy traditional in some months time and i dont know what or how to go about it. my partner wont be around for it i will have to go join my partner after the whole stuff in naija..

.
can u tell me how you went about the planning for the proxy traditional back in naija

Thank you dear.

The parents pretty much just did the planning. I didnt do anything. The most important thing is for the two families to meet.

Moderators.? please can you take this off front page.Thank you.

OrlandoOwoh: I've always told those around me that my wedding will be low key.
1. Not more than 15 to 20 would be in the venue.
2. The venue will be a small banquet hall in a hotel.
3. I may not go to the church. The pastor(s) and some officers only will be required to just bless the marriage in the church's vestry.
The only person I may not be able to convince is my mother-in-law. I can convince my parents, my father-in-law and my wife.

Awesome!! you can do it!

PAGAN9JA: ITs sad that you did a white wedding @OP. I weep 4 Africans.

@pagan9ja. I wish i could go to Naija for our Trad wedding, but unfortunately couldnt afford it. I love love trad weddings, because i see it as our wedding.

Weddings in Nigeria cost money o.

you spent $3000+ in a wedding and you said it is a small wedding, when my friend Musa spent just #70,000 for his wedding that attracted 150 guests in Borno state.

ladygogo:

@pagan9ja. I wish i could go to Naija for our Trad wedding, but unfortunately couldnt afford it. I love love trad weddings, because i see it as our wedding.

Weddings in Nigeria cost money o.

Ok. I understand.

but you could atleast have worn Native attire now.

Anyways , who am I to say? I wish you both a happy and prosperous married life.

oseiwe: You spent roughly N500k and just 15 guests? What about the mock traditional wedding ceremony?
Firstly, the money is too much, secondly, native law and custom in absentia is the most hilarious ceremony in every part of the World.

I Disagree with you. First of all, what is the minimum number of people required by law to be present Before a marriage ceremony can be legally completed? Maybe varies from country to country right? But in general, only one from both parties.
3500 + dollar could be his/her one month salary. How many Nigerian spend just one month salary to conduct wedding in Nigeria ? So the money is not too much to her maybe too much to you in Nigeria. Yes maybe you can use 500,000 for a good normal wedding in Nigeria, remember that amount is minus flight ticket.
What are you talking about native and custom? From what I read above tells me that she resides outside Nigeria. What native and custom is done in US? Have you forgotten so quickly about the different types of marriage even in Nigeria? Is not a must you to do all of them.

peppyluv02: Depending on those you invite.
Mine is going to be a quiet wedding too, Evening mass by 5pm,dinner/reception by 6pm and not more than 50 guests!
I hate those crowded wedding,can't imagine going through that stress and I keep telling my friends..No Ashoebi,bridal train or whateverm

I'll only allow relatives to have their fun in the trad wedding. But for white wedding,they will see me with ring and ask when it happened .

Congrats ladygogo and HML

The trad is the main one but if you want to make it quiet, your best bet is to invite your guest a day to or on the day of the wedding. Trust me, many of them wouldn't be able to make it/

OrlandoOwoh: I've always told those around me that my wedding will be low key.
1. Not more than 15 to 20 would be in the venue.
2. The venue will be a small banquet hall in a hotel.
3. I may not go to the church. The pastor(s) and some officers only will be required to just bless the marriage in the church's vestry.
The only person I may not be able to convince is my mother-in-law. I can convince my parents, my father-in-law and my wife.

Once you can convince your father-in-law, then it is easy. Plan it with your fiancee's siblings and the dad and all the man has to do is to inform her that there is an occasion they will be attending on that day and pronto, she gets there and discover that it is her daughters wedding and the father and siblings are therein present.

Lucasbalo: There is nothing wrong 'with aiye a gbo orun a mo' wedding if one can afford it. Different strokes for different folks.

I didn't say there was something wrong with it. I only said low key is my ideal type.

Kindly read my post again

You should have added pictures to back it all up. Wishing you a blissful married life.

U will spend much less if u invite ten guests and fix the white wedding on a tuesday

pictures or it didn't happen.