Example story · Abuja
Zara & Kunle
A garden wedding in Abuja for two hundred and twenty, with a dusk ceremony under the trees, long tables and a menu that moved from Kano to Lagos.
Zara grew up in Kaduna and Kunle in Ibadan, and they both live in Abuja. They wanted a smaller wedding than either family expected, outdoors, with real conversation and food that told both of their stories.
We found a private garden estate in Maitama and held the ceremony at half past five, when the heat breaks and the light turns gold. Guests walked from the ceremony lawn to long tables dressed in sage linen, with candles in hurricane glasses and bowls of white garden roses.
"We gave Ever and Ivy a mood board and a budget. They gave us the most peaceful day of our lives, which nobody believes about a Nigerian wedding."
The menu began with suya and kilishi, moved through jollof and ofada, and ended with a three tier cake dressed in fresh cherries. A generator was hidden behind a hedge with a sound cover, and a clear marquee waited in the wings in case the March rains came early.
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The day
How it unfolded
- 4:30pmGuests welcomed with zobo and chapman
- 5:30pmCeremony on the lawn
- 6:15pmGolden hour portraits
- 7:00pmDinner at long tables
- 8:30pmSpeeches and cake
- 9:00pmDancing under festoon lights
- 11:00pmLast song
The team
Vendors behind the day
- Venue
- A private garden estate
- Flowers
- Sage and Stem Abuja
- Catering
- Arewa Table Kitchen
- Music
- DJ Nuru
- Film
- Still Water Films
- Planning and design
- Ever and Ivy Weddings
All vendor names are invented for this demo.
Planner's notes
What we would tell you
Every wedding teaches us something. These are the questions couples asked us most while planning a day like Zara and Kunle's.
How long did this wedding take to plan?
Twelve to fourteen months for the full plan, with the most intense work in the final eight weeks.
What was the biggest challenge?
Keeping the guest list small. We wrote a gentle note for the couple to send to extended family.
Could this work on a smaller budget?
Yes. The same feeling can come from fewer guests, seasonal flowers and a single venue for ceremony and reception.
