11 Steps to Plan for Wedding in Nigeria

Are you doing a wedding soon? If yes, find the 11 Steps to Plan for Wedding in Nigeria. There are useful checklists to help you success on your wedding day and beyond. Generally, weddings require time and effort to turn out well but in Nigeria, much more is required. This is because Africans and indeed Nigerians prefer weddings with too many details. And this is owing to the fact that Nigerian weddings are more communal than familial. With this in mind, the need to please and even impress becomes mandatory. In view of this, many things have to be done and done well.

For intending couples who do not necessarily know how to go about the business of planning a wedding, and those who do not want to waste extra money on wedding planners, this article is all the insight you need. To a large extent, it covers various aspects of wedding arrangements that need to be done for a successful and memorable event.

Some of the decisions or steps to take should come earlier than others depending on how important and how long they may take to suffice. Here are some things you should consider.

1. Hire a wedding planner

First things first, if you’re not up for the stress that comes with organizing something this big and important, or you don’t have what it takes to do so, bringing on a wedding planner may be a good step. From venue to souvenir, from dresses to catering services, the wedding planner takes charge of them all, and more. All you have to do is sit back, tell them what you want and they’ll do the work while you just be ready for the big day.

2, Or a Wedding organizer

In case you don’t have a wedding planner, it is important you find a wedding organizer. The wedding organizer is in charge of the goings-on on the d-day. Interestingly, you don’t have to sweat to get one because a relative could easily fit in. If you don’t have one, chances that things may subtly or seriously fall apart is there. And all you can do as the groom or bride is to remain glued to your seat at the altar. To avoid this, put someone in charge.

3. Use a Wedding scrapbook

A wedding scrapbook is a notepad where you jot down ideas and information that may come in handy for the wedding. Ideas such as dress code, contact addresses of hire-able vendors, proposed venues, available caterers, and so on. This book should follow you everywhere you go because you never know when something new may come up. In addition to the scrapbook, surf online wedding platforms for more ideas, and whichever one suits your tastes should be documented.

4. Fix a Date

The date of the wedding has to be fixed early so that the invitation cards can be sent out in time. You can’t possibly want to give a 3 week notice and expect people to turn out in their numbers. Picking a date early and informing people early would help them check their schedule and make reservations for you if need be. You might also want to go with the usual Saturday program for weddings instead of the rarely used weekdays. That way, you give more people the opportunity to come celebrate with you, except you intend otherwise.

5. Arrange for a Good Venue

The venue must be picked carefully, considering certain factors such as: weather, space, price, proximity to where the couple will stay, aesthetics, etc. If you insist on having your wedding out in the open, perhaps at a garden, consider having your wedding during the dry season. And if you are so popular that having less than 300 guests is an anomaly, then get a place that can accommodate more people. Consider each factor carefully so that you don’t regret later for not foregoing the choice you made for another.

6. Sew Asoebi

If I am not incorrect, asoebi somewhat means the dress meant for friends or relatives. The material comes at a price which the bride resells to those that are interested. The upside of this mini business is that it is profitable and the proceeds can help one to settle other wedding needs. However, things could get ugly especially when people owe you or refuse to pay. So if you are going to give it a shot, be prepared for the politics that comes with it.

7. Get Other Wedding dress and accessories

The wedding dress (for the bride) can either be hired or bought. Buy something that suits you and not what suits the girl that goes with you to buy it. It is your day, your dress, so the decision is yours to make. I know some churches are strict as to the kind of wedding dress not to wear to church so if you attend such churches be sure to adhere. Also remember that that day you will have to dance and dance till the crowd is satisfied, make sure the dress would permit this without hassle.

8. Meet and Hire vendors

As you are your own wedding planner, hiring and dismissing vendors such as, photographers, videographers, caterers, fashion designers, ushers, is up to you. Be sure to book them ahead of time so that availability won’t be an issue. Also, before taking out your cheque book, meet two or three other people in the business. Then compare to know which clearly appeals to you in terms of what you have to offer and vice versa.

9. Book MC

The master of ceremony is another important part of wedding. He anchors the event, soothing the audience with interesting talk and laughable gists. Actually, the MC is responsible for making the event lively. I’m sure you can imagine how a wedding would be with a boring MC handling things; it would be awful. It is therefore important to find someone who does not need to bat an eyelid before your audience have their ribs cracked.

10. Send out Invitations

Make use of various media to get the word out. Depending on how big you intend the wedding to be, you can place an advert in the papers. Apart from that, use the regular invitation cards and bulk sms to contact people. Kindly, not coercively, ask them to come share in your celebration. Get a card that is easy on the eyes as that will make the information on the card appealing. Also remember to send a ‘thank you’ message to everyone after the event.

11. Arrange for your Honeymoon

Finally, don’t make the mistake of leaving honeymoon out of the whole picture. Every woman looks forward to it. Get something romantic that won’t dig a hole in your pocket.

It is important that as you plan your wedding you also plan life together with your wife-to-be. Plans are the foundation of success, so don’t deprive yourselves that.

Now, go plan your wedding.

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