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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.

 

 

Love steered

Love stirred

Love stored

Love strained

Love exercised

Love expanded

Love leads

Love risks

Love lays it all down

Love picks it all up

Love goes all in

Love goes all out

Love loves

Love hates

Love protects

Love protests

Love propels

Love repels

Love respects

Love disregards

Love changes lives

Love changes directions

Love changes destinations

Let love lead

Surprises await

 

It is very easy to take things for granted in your relationship. The fact that we are all very busy makes us susceptible to assumptions that our partners would understand when we are not able to show love. 

Logically, we all know that a relationship must receive attention if it is to grow. Realistically, few of us take the time to fan the relationship flames as often as we should. But help is on the way. 

Showing your special someone how much you love them doesn't have to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money. In fact, it's better if it doesn't -- it's the little things that we remember most. So don't wait until next Valentine's Day to show your significant other that you love and appreciate them. Try to incorporate at least one of these romantic ideas into your partner's day, every day (and when you've done them all, keep going by creating your own, or repeat the cycle!) 

1. Cook them their favorite meal. Have it ready to go when they walk in the door, complete with candles. 

2. Try your hand at a love poem that includes special memories only the two of you share. Leave it somewhere unexpected. 

3. Leave a note for your special other (or tuck one into a lunch/briefcase) telling them how much you care.

4. Create a playlist of your partner’s favorite songs. Have it playing when they come home. 

5. If married, have your wedding vows framed and give it to your spouse "just because." 

6. On a cold day, warm them up with a cup of tea or coffee. Bring them a blanket or sweater if they look cold.

7. On weekends, Volunteer to do some of their housework so they can relax. 

 

8. Let them sleep while you serenade them with soft music.

9. Give your partner a massage before they ask for it. 

10. Bring them lunch at work. Take out time from work to bring them lunch personally. Don’t send the delivery man.

11. Stop to say hello, kiss and hug every time you come in the front door. 

12. Pack a lunch and take your special someone on a surprise picnic or to the beach.  

13. Flirt with them. Dirty talk from time to time never hurt anyone.

14. Hold his or her hand. 

15. Tell them you love and appreciate them, don't just assume they know. 

16. Create your own holiday, then surprise your significant other with a celebration. This could be:       "Happy 8th day since your last trip," or "I Love You More Than Ever Day." 

17. Leave a flower and a note on the windshield of their car. 

18. Buy them a small, but meaningful, gift such as their favorite ice cream cone, an audiobook for them to listen to while in in traffic, etc. 

Make sure you add unique activities connected with your location and make memories with your partner.