Weddings are some of the
most stressful events to plan in Nigeria especially when you are have limited
capital. It is one of the main reasons that people shy away from proposing to
their partners and can be extremely confusing for the people involved. The
assumption is that the bigger the wedding, the more memorable it will be but
that couldn’t be farther from the truth. A wedding is memorable because of the
two individuals getting married, every other thing is just an addition. For
those of you planning weddings, there are ways to get the most appropriate
wedding ceremony that would not run into millions of naira.
Attendance:
A budget wedding is not
a society wedding so you would have to cut down on your number of invited
guests. You must remember that the more guests you plan on having, the more the
event venue will cost. Create a list of all your family and friends, send
invites to them according to your list and let them know if they can bring a
plus one or not. We would advise not to have more than 50 people. The important
thing to note is that the list captures all the key members of your family and
close friends. You might be thinking, ‘What about the other people that want to
come?’ Well, you can also take advantage of technology and have someone stream
your wedding live via social media platforms for free.
Venue:
Now that you have
decided your audience, the next thing you want to talk about is the location of
your wedding. You can search for various event centers but remember to be
realistic. You venue housing 50 to 100 people should be about 150,000 to
200,000 naira on average and would cover power as well (Prices vary from state
to state). If you are in Lagos for example, this would not be the time to look
for venues in Lekki phase 1 or Ikoyi. You might want to get a venue in places
like Ogba or Surulere. Remember that it’s not about the destination but about
the people getting married. You could also relate with your network to find out
which be venues you can get for free or cheap. Please always have a backup plan
if you choose to go with this option.
Food:
In every Nigerian
wedding, the food is always a talking point and a prayer point for the couple.
People might forget everything but they don’t usually forget about the food.
The important thing to note is that you do not have to spend too much money on
food because you have cut down on the number of invited guests. With 300
thousand naira you can have the food completely covered. Please make sure your
food is served by a caterer with no interest(s) in the wedding and ensure that
your event planner has a preset order for food sharing based on the list of
guests. Remember, you are not obligated to give more than one meal at your
wedding so keep it simple.
MC:
There’s always that one
friend that can be your Compere for the wedding. If you absolutely have to pay
him, 50 thousand should do.
Music
Get a DJ. You don’t need
a live band. 50,000 to 100,000 naira should work.
Cake:
Please keep this
professional. You don’t want a cake that looks like a wrap of pounded yam or
tastes like kerosene. Get in touch with professional cake makers with a proven
history of success. Investing 50 to 75 thousand on the cake would ensure that
you get a very good cake with adequate steps. It also means you can rest
assured that the bakers will use the standard equipment.
Clothes:
There seems to be a new
trend of couples changing multiple times during a wedding. First, that should
not be a concern of yours because you can do with the same pair of clothes for
the duration of the wedding. Who says you have to choose an outlandish color
for your bridal train or groomsmen. Simple colors like black, blue, red and
pink are easy to purchase and might already be available. Asoebi isn’t necessary
and shouldn’t be made compulsory.
Decorations:
This is one of the areas
that would need a professional touch. Pay a decoration company or professional
to handle this and do not leave this to chance. The look and feel of the venue
will be a source of soothing relief and could make the wedding look grander
than it actually is. For the size of the venue, we prices would vary from state
to state but we place the average price range of a good interior designer at 80,000
naira.
Security:
This is another section
of the event that you would want to leave to the professionals. Get an actual
agency or company to handle this for your wedding because they would have no
stake in the wedding and as such would follow your guest list strictly. The
fees paid to these companies are dependent on the number of personnel needed
and the number of hours.
Transportation:
Make sure you use about
1 or 2 clean cars. The ribbon decoration around the car works every time.
Time:
Keep your event short
and simple. Let the joining and the reception take place at the same venue. The
joining should be done in 45 minutes or less and the reception should take
about 3 – 4 hours. This way you can get all the benefits of having a complete
wedding without overstretching time and resources.
Network:
Everyone is usually one
person away from a solved problem. Make sure you network with friends,
colleagues and family, you never know who could offer the services for free or
a fraction of the price you were asked to pay. Don’t be scared to ask for help
but make sure you have a backup plan for any free service you are supposed to
get. One thing you must note is that if the service to be rendered is going to
be below par, it is not worth it even if it is offered for free
With these steps, you
are well on your way to organizing a beautiful and memorable wedding without
even spending up to a million naira. There no need to break the bank or wait
indefinitely because with the resources at your disposal you can get amazing
results.
The total amount by my
estimates is 805,000 naira. So with a little under a million naira you can plan
your entire wedding without having sleepless nights and then you can focus on
building a future with your spouse.
Passion
Thinking about you for the tenth time today
Reminiscing the feel of your hand
When it touches mine
Creating a whirlwind of breathlessness
The breath lost is mine
Thinking about the cadence of your voice
As it rises and falls with every question,
Every whisper that touches these ear of mine
I feel all sorts of emotions
My brain thinks about you all night
Thinking about the first time you told me you loved me
The playful seriousness in your eyes
That moment that left me mesmerized
And I knew you meant it
I knew with all my heart
Thinking about the time you hurt me
With that other girl
You stunned me
I was left speechless and surprised
That those hands that held me could hold another
That those lips that kissed me could kiss another
That those words you told me could be told to another
I told myself why even bother
I could just as easily find another
But here I am
Thinking about you for the tenth time today
Maybe this is my fate
Why even bother
Maybe I'm supposed to love you while you love another
Written by
Ojie Femi
First dates are usually perceived to have an air of trial and error about them but there are ways to prepare for your first date with a girl in order to make it memorable for her. This five-item list is not the ‘Gold Standard’ for every guy going on a first date in Nigeria but it is sure to make you more likely to create an amazing first impression.
1. Call Her Early To Confirm Your Outing.
There’s nothing more disappointing than a girl telling you that something came up, one hour to your date. You can reduce the chances of that happening by calling her earlier in the day. Do not tell her you’re calling to confirm but say something like ‘I can’t wait to see you later today.’ That makes her remember to prioritize your outing over other impulsive activities that could come up at that time.
2. Choose The Venue, Keep It Simple:
Never ever leave the venue to chance. The aim of a first date is to impress the lady enough to make her want to go on a second date so you have to be in control of the variables. What if she picks a restaurant that is out of your price range or a place where they sell Chinese food when all you know how to eat is Nigerian Jollof? Dude, make sure the venue of the first date is somewhere nice, moderate and affordable. Be sure to inform her of the venue beforehand.
3. Have Enough Money To Pay For The Meal, And Then Some.
This is no time to go ‘Dutch.’ No splitting of the bills on the first date. Do not plan for a date with the aim of paying just for two meals. Make sure you are ready to purchase a little extra just in case. Remember that this is not to prove that you can be ‘the man of the house’ but to show that you are a person who is prepared for any situation. If you don’t have a car, make sure that you have enough money to order a ride to take her home.
4. Appear Simple But Stylish
You don’t need gold braces and two chains (pun intended) to impress a girl. You just need to dress based on the type of date you chose. If you chose to take her to Takwa Bay, for example, a simple Vintage Shirt and beach shorts would do. A dinner would require a Tux but not a three-piece suit. Make sure she is aware of the type of function so she can dress accordingly. It would be quite awkward if she wore an evening gown to GET Arena, wouldn’t it?
5. Be Punctual, Plan Your Route And Time.
Check google maps for traffic predictions well ahead of the time for your date. If the venue is 30 minutes away without traffic, leave your house one hour to the time. If you need to pick her up make sure you call well ahead of time so she can get ready. You could also get a ride to pick her up and bring her to the venue while you go ahead and make sure everything is in order.
Now you’re ready to go on the date. You just arrived at the venue and to your delight, everything is in order. She arrives five minutes later and walks in looking like an angel and you give her a semi-flirtatious smile. ‘Why are you smiling?’ She asks. You respond, ‘Well, I’m just so glad that you’re here and I hope that this night would mean to you what you mean to me.’ She blushes, looks at you and with confidence in your voice you say, ‘Shall we begin?’