Ever&Ivy
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Journal
Practical advice from our planners on budgets, families, traditions and style, written for couples marrying in Nigeria.
Budget · 6 min read
Hold the conversation early, before venues are visited and hearts are set. Bring a simple sheet with three columns: what each family hopes to contribute, what the couple can add and the guest numbers each side expects.
Agree who pays for what, not only how much. Many families prefer to own a part of the day, such as the traditional ceremony or the cake, and that pride is worth honouring.
Style · 4 min read
Pick one strong colour and one neutral, and ask the families to choose fabric in the same weight so it drapes the same way in photos.
Test the colours at the venue at the time of day of the reception. Gold looks rich under warm light but can turn yellow under cool LEDs.
Planning · 5 min read
June to September brings rain and better prices. Choose a venue with a covered route from car park to hall, and book a marquee as plan B for any outdoor moment.
Give guests umbrellas in your colours and lay flooring above the lawn. The photos of a joyful wedding in the rain are often the most loved.
Tradition · 7 min read
The alagas, one for each family, lead the ceremony with songs, jokes and gentle negotiation. The groom's family prostrates, and the bride enters with her friends, often veiled.
Plan time for the reading of the letters, the presentation of the bride price items and many changes of music. Three to four hours is typical.
Vendors · 5 min read
Ask how many guests they have served at once, how they keep food hot in a hall without a kitchen, and what happens if the guest count grows on the day.
Taste the jollof and the soup, not just the small chops. And ask to see their food handlers' health certificates.
Guests · 4 min read
Seat elders near the high table but away from speakers. Give the umuada or family women's groups a clear block so they can move together for their moment.
Mark VIP tables discreetly and give ushers a printed plan. A good seating plan prevents more arguments than any other document.
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