So you are getting married and you have no plans of running into debt just because your status has changed from single to married? Let me help you plan your Nigerian wedding on a budget.
The church reception is the most expensive part a wedding, so I will focus on budget tips for the reception and you can apply the tips to other areas.
When you say the word budget people think of cheap and tacky but that is not always the case. You can plan an event on a budget and still have it look very tasteful. Follow the below tips to plan a pocket friendly event you will enjoy.
The first step is to have a discussion with your spouse on how much you have available to spend. This is a very good time to start planning your post wedding budget. Ensure that you have enough money for the new expenses that come with setting up a home.
Never plan a wedding based on other people’s money. If your parents or relative have not given you the sum you “expect” from them, plan your event like you won’t get it.
You should also talk about what aspect of the wedding is most important to you. In my case, the most important aspect was the honeymoon. I really wanted to take a trip out of Nigeria and I made it very clear that I was willing to sacrifice any part of the wedding to make it happen (We have to chop this life, before life chop us Lol). After that I wanted great food at the reception. When that is sorted you can begin your planning process
Below are some tips on planning a budget wedding in Nigeria
Tip1: Have a mindset that there is no compulsory part of the wedding:
You can add and remove whatever you like. TRUST ME, NOBODY IS GOING TO FLOG YOU. They might complain or criticize you, but you should not care because it is your day not theirs.
Tip 2: Don’t plan a Noah’s ark wedding:
All of creation do not have to be at your wedding. If you want to have a budget friendly, yet classy wedding cut down on your invitees. Here are ways to cut down your invited guests
- Have a heart to heart discussion with your parents. Help them understand the implication of inviting all their church group and townhall meeting members to the wedding. Help them to understand how that negatively affects you. If all else fails, print very limited invitation cards, so your parents can invite less people.
- Don’t share your wedding invites on social media. Since you are not the Queen of England, the whole world does not need to know about your wedding, you can share pictures afterwards.
- Set your wedding date on an unusual date. My wedding was on the 28th of December in Abuja. Anyone who lives in Abuja knows that the town is empty during the season. I ensured that all my immediate family members and some of my very close friends could attend.
- Plan a destination wedding: A destination wedding could be at Obudu cattle ranch, or some other out of town location in Nigeria, it would take only those who really love you make the trip.
Tip 3: Focus on the important aspects:
What are the crucial parts of a party? Food, drinks, music, Venue. Ensure that these four items are well set up and you can be sure that you and your guests would have fun. Trust me, no one remembers whether the bride showed up in a ribbon covered car or took pictures in a house-robe covered in feathers.
Tip 4: Rent/Buy fairly used:
Most of the items used for weddings are used only once by the bride and groom, so reach out to your family and friends who have gotten married and see what items they have that you can use. Rent or buy fairly used “one-use” items such as wedding gown, bouquet, tiara etc. to save cost.
Tip 5: Cut down on the number of your bridal train:
All of your friends and relatives don’t have to be on your train, they can just attend the wedding and have fun with you. Trust me, you will save time, money and stress that comes with organizing multiple people.
Tip 6 : Pick a theme for the event:
A theme is more that just color schemes, It’s a feel that the entire event gives. It should be carried along in your stationary, decor, outfits etc. When your wedding has a subtle theme it sets your wedding apart and creates a unique experience for your guests.
It gives the impression that event was planned with precision and a lot of thought went into the design. I would not recommend loud and obvious themes as that those can look tacky.
Themes can help you cut down on your budget, by giving you a reason to make non-conventional decisions which might save you a lot of money. For example, you pick a summer themed wedding, you can have it outdoor, which is always cheaper. Rent out a gorgeous duplex for a day, with a big backyard and have a garden themed evening wedding. Think outside the box, do something unusual that is uniquely you. We all plan to marry once, why not have fun with it.
Tip 7: Recruit a wedding planner and coordinator:
Find a RELIABLE friend or family member who would support you during the planning process and also coordinate the activities during on the day of your event. If you don’t have anyone you can vouch for their abilities, Pay someone to do it, it is always worth it. You will save more money than it would cost you to hire them (visit Ogavenue.com to find a wedding planner).
Tip 8: Cut out all unnecessary items:
What would make this list is different for each person. For me, I wanted a stress-free event, I wanted to enjoy the entire process from start to finish. Anything that would stress me out, got cut out. Luckily for us, we were free to plan our reception however we like without interference from parents.
It might not be the case for you, but you have to make it clear to family that you have a budget and what the budget covers.
Hope this helps!
