₦airaland Forum

taryour:
Very nice one op. Following closely and learning.

But i kinda disagree with the idea of using newbies as your vendors expecialy when it comes to the catering and cake aspect, food aspect generaly.

Imagine using a caterer without experience to be incharge of the food/drinks and cake He or she gives you at a very cheap price and at the long run you get a call from him or her that the funds available isnt enough to execute the job. Or they dont deliver what is expected.

Yes some professions charge very high but still out there are vendors with reasonable prices and you still get very quality service.

I think dealing with a newbie is a big risk to take, expecially when it comes to the food and wedding cake which are the attention of the event.

Am not disputing the fact that using a newbie is good and cheaper, it comes with a BUT...

**just my opinion**

In my experience, newbies have been eager to impress and showcase what they've got to offer. Not that there isn't the risk of disappointment, mind you. I acknowledge that. But that's why you have sampling sessions, meetings, briefs and such. And hiring a newbie doesn't necessarily mean someone who has NEVER worked at an event before. Just someone with a portfolio that isn't very large. Having said that, it won't be wise to put all one's eggs in just one basket. Therefore having a mix of professional and newbie vendors for an event will help allay any fears of screw ups.

I recently opened a thread offering certain wedding services at discounted prices for intending couples. And boy was there some backlash regarding the total cost for said services which some Nairalanders felt was too exorbitant for a wedding!
Click here for the thread: https://www.nairaland.com/2862648/budget-wedding-n900k-350-guests


With the feedback I got, I decided to do a write-up on holding a frugal wedding for a thrifty couple.
I'm going to try to make my write-up as brief and concise as possible. Bear with me if I meander a bit. Lol.

WHAT CEREMONY?
Now, a wedding in Nigeria is typically a three-part affair; The Trad wedding, The Court/ Civil Ceremony and the Church/White wedding. One of the easiest ways to cut down on costs is to delete one or more of these ceremonies from your plan.

In Nigeria, and in several governments around the world, the ONLY recognised marriage certificate is the one which is issued by the customary courts. So in essence, you aren't considered a legally-married couple in the eyes of the state if your marriage isn't duly registered and a certificate issued by the state. In light of this, the most important wedding to consider, as a legal citizen of this country, is the Civil wedding a.k.a court marriage.
Secondly, because Nigeria is a nation made up of peoples of varying cultural backgrounds and beliefs, many traditions consider a marriage contract executed ONLY if a brideprice is paid. I'm Yoruba and I know for a fact that if a groom hasn't paid "Owo Ori" or bride price, then the union between him and his bride isn't recognised in the eyes of both parents as well as the extended family. Therefore, the traditional wedding (which many erroneously call the engagement) is the second most important ceremony for any intending couple.
Last on the list is the White/Church Wedding. This gives a marriage recognition with regards to the individual church which a couple attends.
Many people will argue to the contrary, but I am not of the conviction that having a formal service in church is necessary for a marriage to be considered contracted. What is needed is for a cleric to bless the marriage in the presence of God and loved ones, and frankly, God is anywhere you ask him to be, not in ANY one building of concrete and mortar.
Having stated all this, a couple can shave costs off of their wedding budget by holding a civil ceremony with only a few family members and close friends, a traditional wedding with family members and close friends and foregoing going to the church for a wedding with a huge guest list and having a Pastor or Imam come bless the marriage at the site of the traditional wedding. This will save costs in a number of ways such as outfits, photography, venue, transport and logistics, etc.


THE GUEST LIST
The second most obvious way to cut down the budget is to trim the guest list. A wedding is supposed to be a ceremony to be witnessed by friends, family and loved ones. You really don't need to invite your sister's secondary school biology teacher or your mum's tailor's twin sister or the security guard at your dad's office. The number of guests you intend to invite will have a huge effect on details of the wedding such as the size of the hall, the decoration and rentals, food and drink, souvenirs and such. It therefore follows that a large guest list = higher costs and a small guest list = lower costs.


WEDDING DATES
Whatever ceremonies you decide to have; civil and traditional or white, or all three, it can make better economic sense to have them all on the same day and at the same venue. That way you make a one-off payment on hall rentals, decoration and even feeding and entertainment of your guests. You reduce the need to rent two different locations for the trad and white weddings, different decoration requirements, feeding your guests at two separate events, buying outfits for two separate ceremonies, and so on and so forth. Having everything done on the same day will prove to be very stressful and will take its toll on the couple and their families before the day is over, but cost-wise, it's a brilliant strategy.


LOCATION.
It goes without saying; renting a hall, even a small one, will always be more expensive than making use of an open field. Therefore, if you're considering a low budget affair, paying for a school field or community park will be the way to go. But on the obverse, the perks of renting a hall such as air conditioning, furniture and relative security will be lost. Using a field means that you will have to rent canopies, and chairs and tables, industrial fans, etc in order to create a nice atmosphere for your wedding to take place in. In a number of cases, the cost of these rentals as well as the transportation and logistics involved may significantly increase costs, but for the most part, it's almost always cheaper.


SEASON
There are times of the year when food items, clothes and accessories, and other items become really expensive to buy particularly around the festive periods and the planting season. Holding a wedding at these times of the year will mean higher costs of feeding your guests and buying your dream outfit.


WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU?
What do you want to remember your wedding by? What would you like for your wedding to be remembered for? Answering these questions will help you determine what's important and what's not. Do you want clear, crisp images, well-fed guests, a pristine designer outfit, decor that whisks you away to some magical far-off place? Establishing a hierarchy of preferences and determining what you want to splurge money on and what you really could do without and delete from your list will help shave a couple thousands of Naira off your list.
I personally consider the couples' outfits and overall look, decor and photography to be the most important aspects. These are the features which will be presented in a photo album which you get to keep for decades and decades and possibly even hand down to posterity. Do you really want to look over your wedding album and see yourself looking all drab and underdressed or see the venue looking shabby or see how grainy and blurry the pictures look because you didn't hire a photographer who knows what he's in the business for?
Also, are you going to rouse dozens or even hundreds of people from their bases several kilometres and miles away only to feed them with subpar food as if they came begging to be fed? These are things you should consider, when planning your budget and determining the scale of preference.
With items like the wedding cake (which is an integral part of the ceremony), you can opt for fewer tiers (you don't need five or six steps, two or even one will do). Bakers these days offer cut outs which can be passed amongst guests who wish to have a piece.

OUTFITS AND ACCESSORIES
Consider renting your wedding gown or tuxedo instead of buying one. Or having a good tailor sew you one and at fraction of the cost. Also you can ask your friends or sisters/brothers or cousins who've been married before you to lend you theirs or at least sell it off to you at a lower price.

DON'T SAY THE "W" WORD!
Many vendors hear "wedding" and they immediately multiply the rates by 10. So it's always a good idea to not reveal that you're shopping for wedding services when you ask for vendor's quotes. For instance a D.J that would ordinarily charge 10k for a birthday bash at the local club may hike his fees to 70k when you tell him you want to hire him for a wedding. Ditto on some photographers and decorators. Even some events centres charge up to 50% less for other events than they do for weddings. Eventually, you may have to reveal to the prospective vendor that you're having a wedding, but being able to determine in advance that you're capable of getting lower prices can give you some bargaining leverage.

HIRE A CONSULTANT
This may sound like an unnecessary expense, but wedding planners/managers/consultants have experience with vendors in the industry across many fields and over a sufficient period of time. They're great resource personnel who can advice you on where to get the best bargains on details such as venues, catering, decoration, photography, outfits and accessories, MCs, and every other service required. And many will be willing to work within the budget you've stipulated and execute your brief perfectly. In the end you'll be saving a great deal more money than if you launch out planning on your own.

USE NEWBIES.
Don't say you heard it from me- i'll deny it! But a fledgling decorator, caterer, baker, MC, makeup artiste is more likely to offer cheaper rates than one that's already established in the industry. Why? Because they're trying to build a portfolio of their work and showcase what they have to offer and, as such, will be a bit more eager to compromise on their rates than a vendor who will boldly make it known that they're established and if you can't afford their fees, please step aside and close the door behind you, thank you very much. I was once shopping for a decorator for a client and when she heard the budget we had, she snidely said "call me when you have a higher budget" and never responded to any of my subsequent chats. True story. Cross my heart. We got another one (a newcomer) who executed our brief perfectly and with change to spare.

All in all, there are so many creative ways through which one can achieve a low-budget wedding. There are no hard-and-fast rules. It's all up to you.

For more info on how we can help bring your wedding to fruition and bring your dreams to life, all while working within your budget, email us at aprilconcierge.ng@gmail.com
We'll be glad to be of service.
Have fun planning!

I recently opened a thread offering certain wedding services at discounted prices for intending couples. And boy was there some backlash regarding the total cost for said services which some Nairalanders felt was too exorbitant for a wedding!
Click here for the thread: https://www.nairaland.com/2862648/budget-wedding-n900k-350-guests


With the feedback I got, I decided to do a write-up on holding a frugal wedding for a thrifty couple.
I'm going to try to make my write-up as brief and concise as possible. Bear with me if I meander a bit. Lol.

WHAT CEREMONY?
Now, a wedding in Nigeria is typically a three-part affair; The Trad wedding, The Court/ Civil Ceremony and the Church/White wedding. One of the easiest ways to cut down on costs is to delete one or more of these ceremonies from your plan.

In Nigeria, and in several governments around the world, the ONLY recognised marriage certificate is the one which is issued by the customary courts. So in essence, you aren't considered a legally-married couple in the eyes of the state if your marriage isn't duly registered and a certificate issued by the state. In light of this, the most important wedding to consider, as a legal citizen of this country, is the Civil wedding a.k.a court marriage.
Secondly, because Nigeria is a nation made up of peoples of varying cultural backgrounds and beliefs, many traditions consider a marriage contract executed ONLY if a brideprice is paid. I'm Yoruba and I know for a fact that if a groom hasn't paid "Owo Ori" or bride price, then the union between him and his bride isn't recognised in the eyes of both parents as well as the extended family. Therefore, the traditional wedding (which many erroneously call the engagement) is the second most important ceremony for any intending couple.
Last on the list is the White/Church Wedding. This gives a marriage recognition with regards to the individual church which a couple attends.
Many people will argue to the contrary, but I am not of the conviction that having a formal service in church is necessary for a marriage to be considered contracted. What is needed is for a cleric to bless the marriage in the presence of God and loved ones, and frankly, God is anywhere you ask him to be, not in ANY one building of concrete and mortar.
Having stated all this, a couple can shave costs off of their wedding budget by holding a civil ceremony with only a few family members and close friends, a traditional wedding with family members and close friends and foregoing going to the church for a wedding with a huge guest list and having a Pastor or Imam come bless the marriage at the site of the traditional wedding. This will save costs in a number of ways such as outfits, photography, venue, transport and logistics, etc.


THE GUEST LIST
The second most obvious way to cut down the budget is to trim the guest list. A wedding is supposed to be a ceremony to be witnessed by friends, family and loved ones. You really don't need to invite your sister's secondary school biology teacher or your mum's tailor's twin sister or the security guard at your dad's office. The number of guests you intend to invite will have a huge effect on details of the wedding such as the size of the hall, the decoration and rentals, food and drink, souvenirs and such. It therefore follows that a large guest list = higher costs and a small guest list = lower costs.


WEDDING DATES
Whatever ceremonies you decide to have; civil and traditional or white, or all three, it can make better economic sense to have them all on the same day and at the same venue. That way you make a one-off payment on hall rentals, decoration and even feeding and entertainment of your guests. You reduce the need to rent two different locations for the trad and white weddings, different decoration requirements, feeding your guests at two separate events, buying outfits for two separate ceremonies, and so on and so forth. Having everything done on the same day will prove to be very stressful and will take its toll on the couple and their families before the day is over, but cost-wise, it's a brilliant strategy.


LOCATION.
It goes without saying; renting a hall, even a small one, will always be more expensive than making use of an open field. Therefore, if you're considering a low budget affair, paying for a school field or community park will be the way to go. But on the obverse, the perks of renting a hall such as air conditioning, furniture and relative security will be lost. Using a field means that you will have to rent canopies, and chairs and tables, industrial fans, etc in order to create a nice atmosphere for your wedding to take place in. In a number of cases, the cost of these rentals as well as the transportation and logistics involved may significantly increase costs, but for the most part, it's almost always cheaper.


SEASON
There are times of the year when food items, clothes and accessories, and other items become really expensive to buy particularly around the festive periods and the planting season. Holding a wedding at these times of the year will mean higher costs of feeding your guests and buying your dream outfit.


WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU?
What do you want to remember your wedding by? What would you like for your wedding to be remembered for? Answering these questions will help you determine what's important and what's not. Do you want clear, crisp images, well-fed guests, a pristine designer outfit, decor that whisks you away to some magical far-off place? Establishing a hierarchy of preferences and determining what you want to splurge money on and what you really could do without and delete from your list will help shave a couple thousands of Naira off your list.
I personally consider the couples' outfits and overall look, decor and photography to be the most important aspects. These are the features which will be presented in a photo album which you get to keep for decades and decades and possibly even hand down to posterity. Do you really want to look over your wedding album and see yourself looking all drab and underdressed or see the venue looking shabby or see how grainy and blurry the pictures look because you didn't hire a photographer who knows what he's in the business for?
Also, are you going to rouse dozens or even hundreds of people from their bases several kilometres and miles away only to feed them with subpar food as if they came begging to be fed? These are things you should consider, when planning your budget and determining the scale of preference.
With items like the wedding cake (which is an integral part of the ceremony), you can opt for fewer tiers (you don't need five or six steps, two or even one will do). Bakers these days offer cut outs which can be passed amongst guests who wish to have a piece.

OUTFITS AND ACCESSORIES
Consider renting your wedding gown or tuxedo instead of buying one. Or having a good tailor sew you one and at fraction of the cost. Also you can ask your friends or sisters/brothers or cousins who've been married before you to lend you theirs or at least sell it off to you at a lower price.

DON'T SAY THE "W" WORD!
Many vendors hear "wedding" and they immediately multiply the rates by 10. So it's always a good idea to not reveal that you're shopping for wedding services when you ask for vendor's quotes. For instance a D.J that would ordinarily charge 10k for a birthday bash at the local club may hike his fees to 70k when you tell him you want to hire him for a wedding. Ditto on some photographers and decorators. Even some events centres charge up to 50% less for other events than they do for weddings. Eventually, you may have to reveal to the prospective vendor that you're having a wedding, but being able to determine in advance that you're capable of getting lower prices can give you some bargaining leverage.

HIRE A CONSULTANT
This may sound like an unnecessary expense, but wedding planners/managers/consultants have experience with vendors in the industry across many fields and over a sufficient period of time. They're great resource personnel who can advice you on where to get the best bargains on details such as venues, catering, decoration, photography, outfits and accessories, MCs, and every other service required. And many will be willing to work within the budget you've stipulated and execute your brief perfectly. In the end you'll be saving a great deal more money than if you launch out planning on your own.

USE NEWBIES.
Don't say you heard it from me- i'll deny it! But a fledgling decorator, caterer, baker, MC, makeup artiste is more likely to offer cheaper rates than one that's already established in the industry. Why? Because they're trying to build a portfolio of their work and showcase what they have to offer and, as such, will be a bit more eager to compromise on their rates than a vendor who will boldly make it known that they're established and if you can't afford their fees, please step aside and close the door behind you, thank you very much. I was once shopping for a decorator for a client and when she heard the budget we had, she snidely said "call me when you have a higher budget" and never responded to any of my subsequent chats. True story. Cross my heart. We got another one (a newcomer) who executed our brief perfectly and with change to spare.

All in all, there are so many creative ways through which one can achieve a low-budget wedding. There are no hard-and-fast rules. It's all up to you.

For more info on how we can help bring your wedding to fruition and bring your dreams to life, all while working within your budget, email us at aprilconcierge.ng@gmail.com
We'll be glad to be of service.
Have fun planning!

agarawu23:

I honestly wish u can but I don't have a gf right now talk less of to plan wedding

I will follow u sha! Even if na 5years time I ready , I will alert u and if I also have friends or relatives that are in need of a wedding planner, I will chat u up.
I like patient and welcoming Lady like u

Would appreciate that. Thanks a lot.

kevoh:
I understand the full-blown carnival thingy jare but not on my bill. I already told mumsy she's gonna be footing the bill of all those extra extra people she knows if they come. Good thing she knows and she's ready. Pure Edo woman with Yoruba owambe blood!

I knew what size my so called ''small introduction'' turned into last December, not going to make same mistake by being quiet when the wedding proper happens later this year. I have already started singing the song to every family member's ear. Make I hear peem, you foot the bill shikena!

LOL. Well it usually is the norm for families to contribute towards the wedding. Particularly parents and uncles and aunts. And moreso where there's harmony and togetherness in said family.

Don't forget to hire us for your planning and coordination. You can bet on us doing an outstanding job. aprilconcierge.ng@gmail.com

agarawu23:
that's my number 1 problem. My both parents do attend parties a lot especially their club members party and these people will want to be present In their occasion too. I am not exaggerating, if I am about to wed, we will be expecting close to 500-600 guest from my both parents not including my own guest o. I always make mouth that I don't want loud wedding but I doubt my dream on that can come through.

And you baulk at N900k? Tut tut. You're in for some serious spending, brother.
I have to be your planner whenever you're ready.

agarawu23:



okay!
I will open a new thread on that when I am back from work today. Though it will be for below average guys who don't have much.

We eagerly await...

Acidosis:
How about: "single but ready to consider a good man"?

I have got a good man whom i'm considering already. So i'll pass. Thank you sir.

agarawu23:
wow
I am single too,
Can we hook up and tie the knot asap?

Er, no.

Acidosis:
Yeah,

so why did you make this statement: " Not that i'm open to advances oh."?

I believe the alternate expression would be "single but not searching"...

Acidosis:

You find this surprising?

Click here for the thread on budget weddings and the conversations that followed.

https://www.nairaland.com/2862648/budget-wedding-n900k-350-guests

tpiah2:
Plan B for the cake could be having minicakes from another vendor, perhaps same design.

Alternatively, using plastic models of cakes is also an option, just in case.

Great thinking. However, in Nigeria, the tradition is for the cake to be split between the couple and their respective families. Three tiers is the standard. The bottom tier for the bride's parents and family, the middle tier for the groom's side and the top tier for the couple. Cake is very important; you can have people receiving their own piece up to several weeks after the wedding. Not many families will agree to a plastic cake. lol. And by the time you consider the cost and logistics of having mini cakes, the economics just won't add up. That's why people invented the idea of "cut outs" for guests who wish to have a piece.

kevoh:
350 guests? For what reason? Is it a novelty football match? 50 to 70 guests are ok, the rest of you(the remaining 280 guests) can celebrate with me on Facebook, twitter,Instagram,Nairaland by clicking likes and typing comments like Congrats and Happy Married life on my wedding pictures. Haters can also join by clicking unlike button if provided or troll the pictures with silly comments.

Different strokes. But you can't tell some parents you only want 50 guests oh. Not when they have church members, club members, office colleagues, brothers, sisters, inlaws, neighbours to invite. They'll nod and say "ok". And the next thing you know, they've gone and printed their own IVs and turned your "small wedding" into a full-blown carnival with people who don't even know your name. Hahaha.

monievecakes:
Very interesting thread. Bridalassistant is really patient.

Thanks a lot ma'am. And great job on here. God bless the work of your hands.

agarawu23:
[b][/b]
Yes! We need to know
Bridalassistant, are u single?

Charleebro:
First thing I've noticed is how incredibly well-spoken this BridalAssistant is. Well articulated and adequate responses. Are you single? Lol

Lol. Thanks guys. I am single actually. Not that i'm open to advances oh.

agarawu23:
I am coming to break down the op cost and bring a low budget wedding when I am back from work. Not this "gbese" own way op call budget.

Funnily enough, you haven't submitted your budget oh.

Click here for thread that launched a thousand debates by agarawu23 and other Nairalanders. Things got really interesting really fast. My head is still reeling.
[b][/b]

https://www.nairaland.com/2862648/budget-wedding-n900k-350-guests

agarawu23:
I must commend u for welcoming critics and defending your points, u must be a patient lady/woman. Keep it up

tearoses:
She is composed and Its needed for this type of job
It shows that she will not collapse if the wedding cake does not turn up, but she will be calm and quickly think of plan B
Wedding planning is not an easy job.
I don't have the patience

agarawu23:

Exactly,
Mod for don ban all of us sef cos the thread is meant for advert and not suggestion/debate.

She is indeed worth the job.

Jahblessme:
Many people also spent 20k on wedding and are separated today.
@Op good job at defending your biz.Seems you have a target market, pursue with all your might and then expand if you want to.
The 900k could reach over 2m if an expensive hall and clothing are factored in.So basically you are looking at middle class consumers cos this ain't a budget for someone scraping by..

Good luck o and great job on keeping your composure.

Thanks everyone. Keeping one's cool is a virtue that has to be honed in this industry. An events manager is the centre that holds everything together and she must never come unravelled. In preparing for any event and on the D-Day itself, many things will threaten your sanity and you just have to be of a quick wit to be able to keep it all together. Jega has got nothing on you if you know your onions as an events planner. Lol.

Besides, I was a Girl Scout in my younger years and one thing they constantly drummed into us was the motto "Be Prepared". Life will come at you from ANY direction imaginable and hit you below the belt when you least expect it. There should always be a plan B or even B- Z.
Thank you all for your critiques and contributions.

cooooooks:
I didn't know wedding events were closely tied to imports.

Lol. that was a tongue-in-cheek response to a comment that stated that potential couples were struggling in a 300-naira-to-the-Dollar economy, good sir.

tpiah2:
just looking at the prices.
thought it was included in the N900k before.

I gave a breakdown of all the services which will be offered in my initial post.

tpiah2:
ah.

A hall which can accommodate 350 people will range anywhere from 150k to 800k or even more depending on the location. That said, we haven't included hall prices as part of this specific package because the intended location for one couple's reception will vary from the next. As such we can't give an arbitrary venue. That would depend on where the couple wants to have their reception.

tearoses:
The issue with most partys is food and if you can have that covered then you are good to go

seriously if you don't do anything, just make sure that you have several trusted people in charge of food

even if you hire 1 million naira caterers they can still mess up and make you look as if you didn't spend a penny on food
one of my auntys after paying one of these efizzy caterers to cook and serve 300 plates of food, halfway through the event she was told "food don finish"
My aunty left the high table to go and speak to the caterer. The caterer was even packing up at this point.
caterer said "madam we have served 300 people"
my aunty said show me 300 dirty plates
They could only produce 170
No one told the caterer before she started offloading coolers from her van
Thats how they spoil peoples party's

If you've got the right events managers who will suggest caterers or other vendors whom they've worked with and who have been known to consistently deliver on quality service, then hiccups with vendors won't ever be a problem. We've worked with a wide pool of vendors in different services. We've seen them on the job before contracting them as a part of our team. We take full responsibility for all our vendors. And we assure our clients that they can bet on Optimum service every single time.

agarawu23:
[b][/b]you can remarry now, I am available for u .



Mrs/miss,
I read your above write up and I must tell you nobody is telling you your charge is high but you shouldn't have used the word "budget" . some can even afford more than that and I wish u success in your business

---

There was a day I jokingly ask my bae to tell me how much I should budget for our wedding and she happily told me 1m.

Background really matters in wedding preparation and it also depends on the social life of the couples parents. Someone like me, I imagine the look I will put on my dad's face when I tell him I am budgeting 200k for my wedding cos only his club members are up to 120 not to talk of friends and family we will invite and ofcus he will want to impress friends with the standard of the event. (So 80% cash will be coming from him because I no send am message).

I don't know if other guys has same mentality with me sha cos I prefer 100% traditional wedding, no wedding gown and suit crap ( as an African man ). I attended a wedding years ago and everything was pure traditonal and I was since then carried away by the event.

---

A low wedding for average Nigeria shouldn't be more than 250-300k (e too much sef cos our minimum wage na 18k and the governors are still debating on the reduction)

For folks who don't have much.

1. We have cheap suit and wedding gown that won't cost much (that's if they are doing white cos to me, that white wedding is crap)

2. Don't pass your boundary renting hall, use your neighbours compounds, street, field or any available open space close to your neighborhood.

3. I will advice couples planning to get married to spend more money on food instead of unnecessary designs that won't feed empty stomachs that will attend your wedding. Blv me, if people are satisfied, they will give u something good and spray u well (talking from experience). Abi you think say empty stomach wey no see food chop to put hand for pocket give u money ?

4. You know you dont have much, so don't invite much guest. The more guest, the more food.

5. All that decoration are just to beautify the event so stop giving yourself sleepless night cos people can sit comfortably on ordinary chairs . anybody that's not comfortable should bring his/her sofa from home .

6. Mind you, some of these people we call guest are just there to mock u but you just need to concentrate on your ceremony and make sure everybody are served and never care about what people will say because its your life

7. DON'T EVER borrow money to do wedding o, if your budget isnt enough, delete some cos nobody will help you feed your family after the event.

8. We guys know the kind of ladies that don't care about how much you will spend on your wedding (go for them So that 2 can divide 4) . We have ladies that their mouth are so wide and they are expecting a big wedding after attending one in lekki/magodo/vgc and these set of ladies are from poor background o. Ask them how much their dad spent to marry their mother RUN for them

9. If you don't have money to do wedding, call your pastor/alfa to come to your house and join both of you together (which I blv is the main compulsory thing, others na 'jara'). When God finally answer your prayer, do a lavish wedding anniversary when the marriage is still sweet and intact after years.

Chai! I attended a wedding in festac years ago, omg! The guy spend money no be small and that's why I respect igbos when it comes to wedding ceremony. Though Yoruba's spend lavishly on parties too but Igbo ppl dey try especially the rich ones.

I believe that a wedding should be a memorable event to herald a lifetime of conjugal bliss. With regards to that, each couple is free to celebrate this event as they deem fit. If a couple chooses to run the show based on the suggestions you've listed, who is anybody to try to convince them otherwise?
But for those intending to engage the services of professionals in the industry whose experience spans many years and who will help create an event that lingers on in the minds of all who are present (and for all the right reasons) then the price is just right.

salsera:
@Bridalassistant

This is what I think, I find your budget suspicious.

First thing it makes no mention of venue that will hold 350 guests. If decoration is part of this deal then where are they decorating and what is the package for that decoration. Is the couple supposed to select and pay for venue ? Details details!
Bare in mind some venues don't need decorating.


Secondly you mentioned MC , which one who is he/she how do we know their work and skill. An inappropriate MC can mar a reception.

Same issue with the make-up artist. A lot more people can do their own makeup with so many YouTube tutorials. So if make-up is part of the deal whose the makeup artist. Is she making up just the bride or with her bridesmaids.

And photography hmmm

The budget doesn't include venue prices.

I've yet to come across any venue that doesn't require decoration. It's only been up to the celebrant to decide whether or not to decorate their venues.

As to the authenticity of the quotes given for all the stated items, one can easily shop around and ask various vendors for their quotes and compare with the ones I have listed. If anyone finds a cheaper price elsewhere for guaranteed quality service, then i'd like to know such vendors. As I have already stated, these are bargain prices which my vendors have agreed to offer for their services. And they are trusted hands. I would stand by and vouch for their services anywhere.

Oyind17:
what if the couple want less than that?

If a couple is looking to host less than 350 guests, we can work out a new budget based on quotes from our vendors. However, bear in mind the principle of fixed and variable costs. I have already stated that some items will still be at the same constant rate regardless of the head count, whilst the cost of others will vary with the head count.

Askseek:
All your points are valid however let me point out something you might have missed, when you use the word budget, you are targeting a particular demographic and the price you quoted is very far from being considered a budget for the average Nigerian. Again if you cater to particular populace it's important you indicate that, that way those who are truly on a budget as the word implies will steer clear. Here are some suggestions if you want to offer services for people on a budget. Find out what resources they have to minimise cost or have more funds available to divert to other things. Find out where they want to get the biggest bang from.

1. Do they have a free or cheap venue. Suggest using local schools in their community, or the yard of a family or friend?

2. Can they borrow cars from their family or friends?

3. Can they get servers from their church, you will provide the coordinator, this way you minimise the effect alternate loyalties will have on the flow of food and souvenirs.

Other thing is when you put yourself out here, you need to not be so sensitive about the responses you get. You are running a business. Take the feedback and do something with it. I believe that a business is most successful when you cater to the general populace and the truth is more people will spend way less than 900k on their wedding. These group of people do not use planners and looking down on them, or being condescending is truly a poor choice if you are trying to tap into this populace for business.

My intention was never to look down on anybody. My response was written in light-hearted banter/ quirky humor. Apologies if it came across as tightly-wound or high-strung. Having said, the offer is for bargain prices FOR the listed services. Of course I realize that there are couples who would rather not hire professional vendors for some of the items I listed- folks who would rather have family members or friends do the job.

But for the items on the list, for an intending couple who wants to hire professionals to provide all the services stated, and considering the going rate of said items, the price is just right to be classified as a budget.

Oyind17:
BTW 350 guest are too many

A 350-head count is the average size of many weddings. Which is why we have collected quotes from vendors based on that number.

Acidosis:
You need to throw an impressive light on the purpose of the thread. Are you here to advertise your biz as a wedding planner or convince the market (Nairalanders) that N900k is a budget fund for a wedding?

You need to understand the percentage of intending couples who are ready to consult a wedding planner.

A large percentage of Nigerians who are willing to utilize the services of a wedding planner won't consider N900k a budget fund. Only a wealthy groom/bride would want to outsource the whole event to a planner.

Guess what, those you try to convince with the word BUDGET will find the fee to be outrageous. It is outrageous, not because your fees are high, but the fact that a struggling-budget bachelor would never consider patronising a wedding planner.

I don't know if I'm making sense here but please try and understand the business-consequence of your ad.

The category of budget folks are those who utilize the love and attention of their friends, family and church members.

In my experience in the industry, 900k is considered a budget for couples looking to host 350 guests with excellent services provides by the all afore-listed vendors.
If you have got quotes from vendors to the contrary of what has been listed, please share with the house, good sir.

Thank you.

cococandy:
Too late OP. Where were you when I got married?

Dunno about others though but the budget is pretty cool for what they claim to offer in services.
I know some catering services that will charge way more than that for same or less service.

P. S I'm not saying everyone should have the same level of wedding. just saying that the OP isn't ripping anyone off with their prices as it sounds totally reasonable for all the services they provide.

Thank you ma'am.

I thank you all for your contributions.

First off, i'd like to say that a wedding isn't ever something whose expenses are borne by one party. It's a joint affair between the bride and her groom as well as their parents/families. Save for a few exceptions, this is the norm. There are folks who might argue to the contrary, but I personally have never worked on a wedding project where all the funds are coming from just one source. In light of that, one can see how the budget can be spread amongst the celebrating parties.

Second off, please bear in mind that this is a budget for 350 guests. I've read comments about spending 15k or 20k or 100k. You want to spend 15k in entertaining 350 guests? You want to give them cabin biscuits and pure water? Even "Mama Put" won't accept 15k to feed 300 guests. And that's even just food alone. The Budget which I have given includes a wide range of services which many consider essential to the event.

I am going to go out on a limb here and state that many of the people who baulk at this budget aren't married or even planning a wedding. And if they ARE married, it wasn't in the span of the last 3years. Otherwise you'd know the actual costs of various elements having shopped around for prices.

As has been rightly said, one has the option to cut one's coat according to one's cloth. An intending couple who feels that the prices are to high can opt to shave off some services which I have listed. Small chops aren't compulsory to serve at your wedding, nor are cocktails. You don't have to have a D.J; just play music from your laptop or buy a mix tape and have one of your friends man the music. A standard photographer isn't necessary in this age where there are many photo apps to pick and choose from. Have all your guests play ad hoc photographer and send the pictures they've taken to you. Make up is another item that can easily be deleted from the list. Someone stated using your sisters and their friends as ushers to attend to guests as opposed to hiring professionals who know their onions, so you have ushers struck off the list. Ditto for coordinators. Also, who needs an MC? The programme will clearly state what items are on the agenda, so everyone knows what's happening at every point in time at the wedding. As for feeding, if you can introduce me to a "Mama Put" who will feed your 350 guests with 15k, and also provide services such as table settings and such, I'd like to work with them in the nearest future. The cake? Sister Mary in church can bake that for free. But you can't hold Sister Mary accountable for any mishaps, cos she's doing you a favour and you should actually be grateful to her that she even deigned to grace your wedding with her half-baked contraption. The bridal bouquet and accessories are entirely unnecessary. After all, I'm old enough to have lived at a time when you could easily go over to the neighbours compound and cut branches of bougainvillea and assemble into some semblance of a bouquet. Ditto on the decor. Just have the kids in your compound blow up some balloons and tie them haphazardly all around the school hall. And there! You have your 50k wedding! There are always "cheaper" options for people who want to get angsty about costs.

Having said, I'd like for us to bear in mind that the quotes I have given aren't arbitrary; I have liaised with vendors whose integrity has been unquestioned in my experience in working with them on past projects and they have been gracious as to agree to my request for bargain prices. The standard cost for all those items on that list would ordinarily be in the neighbourhood of 1.2 - 1.5m given the current state of the economy.
These people also have operation costs to cover.

Also, please bear in mind that as with standard economics, a wedding has fixed costs and variable costs. Certain items will have their costs align with the number of guests you're looking to host. Things like coordination, food and drinks and decor. While others are fixed irregardless of how many guests you're hosting; photography, D.J, M.C, Makeup, Outfits, etc. Therefore you can host the number of guests that you feel you can afford, taking this into consideration. 500, 400, 300, 100 or 50. It's all up to you.
Those who want to challenge the veracity of these claims, and who feel they've got better options which guarantee the BEST value for money, are free to present their own quotes. But many who've actually planned or held a wedding with standard services in a city such as Lagos will testify to the things that have been stated.

Thank you all for your audience.
To find out more about how we can help bring your wedding plans to fruition, please email us at aprilconcierge.ng@gmail.com or bbm 7F6FADCF.
We look forward to hearing from you!

This 2016, have your ideal wedding for just N900,000!

The package includes:
1. Venue Decoration
2. Food (local and continental dishes)
3. Drinks (soft drinks, water, juice and malt/beer, wine)
4. D.J
5. Photography (Soft copies, picture book and frame)
6. Small chops and cocktails
7. Three-tier wedding cake of your design plus cutouts
8. M.C
9. Ushers (5)
10. Waiters (15)
11. Wedding coordinators (2)
12. Souvenirs for your guests
13. Makeup
14. Bridal bouquet and accessories


Contact April Bridal Concierge on BBm 7F6FADCF or email aprilconcierge.ng@gmail.com