Ever heard the saying “it’s your marriage but it’s their wedding”? In Nigeria, a wedding is rarely just about two people. It’s a multi-stakeholder merger involving two extended families, three generations of aunties you haven’t seen since your naming ceremony, and a neighborhood association that believes your “happily ever after” is incomplete without them eating your Jollof rice.
The pressure is real. We live in the era of #TheBigMerge and #ForeverYours, where wedding trailers look like Netflix originals and the floral arrangements cost more than a plot of land in Mowe. We want the “Vogue Nigeria” aesthetic, but our bank accounts are screaming “Don’t do it!”
But here’s a secret the “Wedding Industrial Complex” doesn’t want you to know: Class is not a price tag; it’s a strategy.
In an economy where food inflation hit a record high of 40% this year, and the cost of a “modest” middle-class Nigerian wedding can easily soar between ₦5 million to ₦15 million, it’s time to rethink the celebration. You want to start a marriage, not a debt collection agency.
Here is how to plan a wedding that looks like a billion Naira but doesn’t leave you scrambling for funds when the celebration is over.
1. Be Brutal With The Guest List
In Nigeria, your guest list is the Master Variable. It determines the size of the hall, the number of plates of food, the souvenirs, and how many times you’ll have to explain to your mother why “Mummy Shade from the market” isn’t on the list.
The average Nigerian wedding hosts between 250 to 500 guests, but “Owambe” culture often pushes that to about 1,000. If a plate of decent catering costs ₦7,000 to ₦12,000, you do the math.
Adopt the “Strictly by Invitation” (SBI) rule, and actually enforce it. A smaller, intimate wedding of 100/150 people allows you to spend more on the quality of the experience. Think premium plated service instead of a chaotic experience.
2. Venue: Think Outside the “Event Center” Box
Lagos and Abuja event centers have become predictably expensive. Some halls charge as much as ₦3 million just for the space!
To help with pricing, choosing an unusual day comes in handy; do you really have to wed on a Saturday? Most vendors and venues are cheaper on Thursdays, Fridays, or even Sundays.
For your venue, you can look for boutique hotels, private gardens, or even high-end restaurants. These venues often come “pre-decorated” with beautiful greenery or architecture, saving you a lot of money in decor costs.
In keeping with picking an unusual day, you can also pick an unusual time. Have your ceremony early in the morning, followed by a brunch reception. Brunch food (waffles, mimosas, sliders) is chic, trendy, and significantly cheaper than a full three-course dinner.
3. The “Aso-Ebi” Trend and the Wardrobe Hack
Aso-Ebi is beautiful, but it is also a logistical nightmare. Between chasing vendors and dealing with friends who haven’t paid, it can be a full-time job.
Instead of a mandatory ₦80,000 fabric, give your friends a Color Code. Tell everyone to wear “Emerald Green and Gold” for instance. Your photos will still look cohesive and expensive, and your friends will love you for not taxing their bank accounts.
For the bride, one question you may want to genuinely consider is “do you need to buy a gown for ₦1.5 million that you’ll never wear again?” Consider renting a premium designer gown or hiring a stellar local tailor who can recreate a high-end silhouette for a fraction of the cost.
4. Catering: Quality Over “Mountain”
We’ve all been to weddings where there’s a mountain of food, but none of it tastes quite right, and this isn’t what we want for our own ceremony. So instead of a massive buffet with 10 different types of rice, focus on a “Signature Jollof” and a sophisticated “Small Chops” platter. You can have a few well curated meal options, the quality will speak class over the quantity alone.
A well-curated mocktail bar featuring local ingredients like Zobo-infused syrups or ginger-lime coolers is also sophisticated, refreshing, and budget-friendly.
Reducing your menu by just two redundant items could save you enough to cover your photographer.
5. Decor: The Power of Minimalism
In the past, “more” was “more.” Now, “less” is “class.”
You can spend ₦5 million on flowers or ₦500,000 on professional mood lighting. Lighting transforms a boring hall into a romantic wonderland instantly. Also consider using more foliage than flowers. Eucalyptus, palms, and local ferns are cheaper than imported roses and lilies but look incredibly high-fashion.
6. The “Spraying” Problem
We know, we know! Spraying money is a cultural staple. But spraying often leads to lost cash and messy accounting.
Consider the “Digital Spray.” Many modern Nigerian couples are using “money cards” or dedicated QR codes on tables that link directly to their bank accounts. It’s cleaner, safer, and the money goes directly where it’s supposed to, towards your new life together, not into the pockets of the “pickers” on the dance floor.
Start Your Life on a High Note
A wedding lasts 8 hours; a marriage is for a lifetime. The most “classy” thing you can do is to enter your new home with a healthy savings account and a clear head.
You can have a Pinterest-worthy wedding. You can have happy parents. And most importantly, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you didn’t overspend to impress people who will probably complain about the Jollof rice anyway.
As a bonus; if you’d like to consider alternative financing options for your house rent, buying a new home, or buying needed gadgets and home appliances in your home in a way that doesn’t take away all your savings at once, or even a financing option for your honeymoon, then you should definitely click here.
Remember, your wedding is a day you’ll always remember, but it’s one day while your marriage is a lifetime; plan with that lifetime in mind. Happy planning!
