₦airaland Forum

WIZGUY69:
See what mimiko has turned Ondo state to
The last time it was Ikare, now Owo.
ThankGod for his deputy.
instead of him to beef up security in ondo state, he's busy buying ogogoro and fedora hat for his boss

[size=24]R.I.P to the DEAD[/size]

folash:
Am glad I stumbled on this piece of info...my wedding is in august, and the bridal train issh has been giving me worries, cos I really dunno have people to use...all my friends are saying they want to wear aso ebi...am the last child, and hubby is also the last, so no younger sibling or something to use...so just to clarify things, are u saying one could actually do without the whole bridal train wahala?

Rhukie:
Good morning to all the bride's to be and event planners
and helpers. my wedding took place on Saturday and it
went so well. Thank you all for your suggestions and
ideas.

Onegai:
Nigerian Weddings are something else. May I share some insight into what you should and shouldn't do

Make a Budget

Once you two have decided to marry, sit down and list out what you need and how much you're willing to pay for it. That way, you can control spending. e.g

Bridal clothes N10,000
Hall N100,000
Food N50,000
etc. It will check you from overspending because every vendor you meet out there will do their best to urge you to go above your budget. If your gown is budgeted at N75,000, INSIST ON FINDING A GOWN IN THAT RANGE OR CHEAPER. Same with makeup, if your budget is N25, 000 stop wasting your time, his/her time and saliva trying to beat a N40, 000 makeup artist down. They won't budge so better look for something in your price range from the get-go (I don't punish myself looking at a designer's website or Instagram page when I can't afford it).

Negotiate Your cake. Yes you want that 7 layer amazement but can you afford it? Nope, order 3 layers and ask your baker to use dummy. Then ask
for a price reduction based on that (since she's not baking 7 cakes it should be cheaper).

Your hall should be somewhere that has parking and security. Especially if you're in Lagos. I don't want to attend your reception and lose my phone.

Add 50 extra guests to every list you make. Nigerians will carry their friends, cousins and all sorts to your wedding and be upset if they don't eat, not minding if the IV said "Mrs Uche Toyin" only not Mrs Uche Toyin and co.

1 month to your wedding is not the time for you to start changing your skincare or diet. I've seen bride's say "oh I'm gonna look lighter on my wedding day". Start 3 months in advance so if you react you have enough time to heal your skin.

Let your family know your budget and be careful of family adding their own expenses to it. My mum went and ordered my traditional clothes. I swear they cost N250,000 (just one outfit, unsewn, no jewelry or shoes or gele added!!) then told hubby and I to please repay her. I sharply negotiated and said I would return the wrappers back to her (since it was george) afterwards, borrow gele and purse from her and pay for the laces. Let your family know "omo that is beautiful, but I cannot afford it, unless you are gifting it to me". Same thing happaaened with my hall (my family was picking a hall of N1.5mil, I quickly redirected them to somewhere cheaper before they asked us to pay).

Be careful of friends or aunties who know someone that can do something e.g "I know a decorator, I know a wedding planner, I know a DJ" etc. Hate to break it to you but those people who come recommended by your friends will rarely be cheaper than professional strangers (the family friend's printer was more expensive than the wedding store I approached) and even worse if they mess up, you can't vex too much (because they came recommended by family). I'd rather hire a professional wedding vendor, negotiate and pay them and be able to dictate to my heart's delight. I've been priviledged to meet some topnotch people in the wedding industry so knew whom I wanted to do want before I even got engaged.

Watch out for unnecessary expenses

My hubby wanted champagne (the good stuff, not Moet) plus 3 bottles of wine on each table at the reception. I made him see it was unnecessary, limit the fancy stuff to those who will gift you well and spray you nicely, not that uncle and his 10 kids you only see during family occassions when there's food. You have to be strong-minded and say "NO THIS IS A WASTE".

OTHER SOURCES OF WASTE are:

Bridal shoes: please buy silver shoes that you will wear a million times after.

Jewelry: rather than buy, I went to a relative's store and borrowed a few pieces, to return the next day. Who go know?? Same with your veil and if someone has married recently and they used fake flower bouquet and kept it, swallow your pride and ask them for it. Buy a can of Spray paint for N350 and spray it your wedding colours or nicer pastel colours. Voila, it's new.

Gown: especially if you're planning on changing during the reception, abeg make one gown cheap. Even better, rent the white gown.

Drinks: please limit the fancy stuff to your VIP. Be real, your friends ain't gonna spray you or gift you jack (that's if they even buy asoebi). Save that nice wine for the uncle who will cut you a N200,000 cheque.

Decorator: No, you don't need chivari chairs, you don't need your name on a centre rug lining the walkway, you don't need a specially decorated table for your bridal train, cut it out of your budget. Even mood lights, ask for fewer lights to be used and reduce your budget. Be strong-willed.

Video: How many of you have watched a wedding video recently? So why are you paying for it??

Music: If I pay a DJ more than N50,000, that's a waste. I've seen N20,000 DJ who did a better job than some MAC-wielding N150,000 DJ.

MC: my hubby thought a fancy MC would make the night more interesting. I reminded him that he couldn't remember the jokes Ali Baba cracked a few months ago at an event, so why spend so much on something he may not remember the specifics of, just that he will say "I think I remember the guy was funny"?

Wedding IVs and Programmes: the only people who will keep them after are your mum, his mum and parents of unmarried kids. Everyone else will fling them. At the wedding store I went to, the saleslady kept insisting "I think you deserve N400 per IV, it's not too much for you" I thanked her for her flattery and said N40,000 for 200 or more IVs was my budget and if I couldn't get cheaper, I would send out nicely printed letters and take my business away from her. She stopped her nonsense immediately. My mum wanted pictures of us in the IV, I stopped it (totally unnecessary and not classy).


WHAT YOU SHOULD SPEND ON

Photography: after your gown cost N180,000, you now hire N40,000 photog who shoots nonsense and the beauty of your gown is lost

Food: If you don't feed people (and feed them on-time) they will sit down and watch you whilst you dance. No spraying money. Do you want that?

Music: if your crowd is Yoruba, hire a band. You will enjoy it more. Good music means a happier crowd.

Wedding Coordinators: mine was a straightfaced man. So if he said "please sit down drinks are coming", people felt ashamed to be making a fuss. Plus he had assistant wedding coordinators (I don't like ushers, they are usually uni girls who have no courage to be strong and get overruled by aunties). He also called all the vendors beforehand and the 2 mothers and gave them instructions. Everyone else he ignored that day.

There is a vendor for every budget. If the vendor you are speaking to keeps saying "I can't do this for your budget" don't negotiate, thank them and go away to find a vendor in your budget.


Remember there is Life after Wedding. Any monetary gifts you receive during wedding planning, I recommend putting it in your savings account and don't say "oh now that I have extra, let me add to my budget".

Be firm. Have fun!

lawvlypearl:
What if I'm on a budget? And to buy exceeds it?

lawvlypearl:
Good afternoon beautiful people....pls where can I rent a lovely wedding gown in lagos?
&
would you prefer to rent,sew or buy your wedding dress?

ladynice:
thanks marvelousG pls wat about dancing any idea

Evina:
What is your budget? Lemme link you up with the lady that will be doing mine.

Not only is she really good, she does exactly what you want.

rachealforealy:
Mine is in June, am yet to conclude on the theme colour......and am kinda of Harsh on d make up artiste bills!!!!!

Ray360:
this story looks somehow. but if at all it's true, then you should be flogged! you are screwing another man's to-be wife. get ready, a mad man will screw yours too when the time comes

Evina:


But why does it result in black spots? You touch and squeeze them? Please stop. I have like one or two pimple show up when my period is around the corner, but I NEVER touch em. (I have a really smooth face, ladies always ask what foundation I use and I have never touched foundation) after the period, they dry up and leave with absolutely NO trace! I even wonder where they were in the first place. But i heard too much of lime is not good for woman especially those that has not given birth

I prefer the ripe lemons. Touch it to ensure it has enough liquid you can squeeze out. Please note that it really stings oh.

Do you use a shower gel? You can also mix the lemon with it.

Don't forget to drink lemon with your water in the morning oh. Let's attack these annoying guys with double action Lol.

Evina:
Pweetiebabe amen oh!

I wanted to point out the need for brides to also prepare spiritually!

Also, let's share pre wedding beauty regime
What are you gurls doing to look really radiant on that day.

Cc
MarvellousGod

vickilafab:
way to go! happy married life in advance

Evina:
Wow. I am soo glad I stumbled on this thread! How come I am just seeing it though?

My wedding was fixed for March 28. I'm sure you guys know by now what a wedding on that date in Naija means.

Anyways, we had to move it to May cos we already paid for reception venue and all other dates after the first date was already booked. May was the closest we could get.

I'm practically not doing anything as regards planning. I have a great support system thank God.

Also, no asoebi! I no get strength to ask people for money. Just wear anything that matches the color of the day. Family insists on getting their asoebi though.

Also, no brides/grooms men. LOL. Just maid of honor and best man.

lawvlypearl:
@oadeyeye and @rushino....thanks for the contributions ma, lool I don't really av a wedding theme, my fiance loves anything green so green must be the main colour,maybe u should help suggest from there. And I'm so in love with the peach and emerald green for the trad. Pls note d aso-oke gele (aso-ebi) for d wedding in cream and lemon green is already being weaved. Thanks in anticipation.