A Guide To Nigerian Wedding Customs And Traditions

Nigerian weddings are a vibrant, joyous affair, steeped in rich cultural traditions. With hundreds of tribes in Nigeria, each wedding is a unique celebration of religion, culture, language, and heritage. From the pre-wedding preparations to the post-wedding rituals, Nigerian nuptials are a community affair, bringing together family and friends in a colourful, lively spectacle.

Nigerian weddings are known for their elaborate attire, delicious food, and lively entertainment. The ceremonies are often long, with multiple outfit changes, rituals, and smaller ceremonies. The weddings also tend to be large, with hundreds of guests in attendance, and it is common for invited guests to bring along uninvited guests!

Nigerian weddings usually consist of two parts: a traditional Nigerian wedding, bursting with cultural elements, followed by a more Western-style or religious ceremony, typically held at a church. The traditional wedding is a public statement of the groom's intention to marry, with the groom and his groomsmen asking both families for the bride's hand in marriage. The bride and groom exchange vows and rings, and there are blessings and prayers offered by a religious leader.

Nigerian weddings are a celebration of love, culture, and heritage, and with so many unique traditions, they are a fascinating spectacle to behold.

Two weddings are often held: a traditional Nigerian ceremony and a Western-style celebration

The traditional Nigerian wedding is a cultural ceremony that incorporates various tribal customs and is a community celebration. The Western-style wedding is more akin to an English wedding, with the couple exchanging vows before a religious priest.

The traditional Nigerian ceremony is filled with colour, music, food, and dancing. It is common for the couple to have multiple outfit changes throughout the day. The bride's family provides the food for the party after the ceremony, which is usually prepared by the bride's mother. The entire community is welcome to attend, and it is expected that guests will bring along uninvited guests, resulting in a large gathering of 250 to 1,000 people.

The ceremony is conducted by an Alaga, a female officiant or emcee, who adds humour to the proceedings while weaving in cultural traditions. The Alaga heckles the groom and his friends, creating a live theatre that entertains the guests. The groom and his groomsmen are expected to prostrate themselves before the bride's family, a sign of respect and honour. The groom's family is also required to provide a dowry, or bride price, to the bride's family before the marriage can take place. This is a symbolic gesture of the groom's financial capability and is not indicative of a woman being sold.

The Western-style celebration usually follows the traditional ceremony and is often referred to as the "white wedding", due to the bride's white gown. The couple may choose to change into traditional Nigerian attire during the reception. This part of the wedding is more intimate, with a smaller guest list.

There may be more than one invitation, so expect to be invited to one or both

Nigerian Wedding Invitations

Nigerian weddings are a joyous celebration of religion, culture, language, and more. With hundreds of tribes in Nigeria, every wedding is unique. The weddings are often lavish affairs with elaborate attire, food, and entertainment.

Multiple Invitations

The traditional wedding is a community affair, with a guest list of 250 or more, including extended family, distant relatives, neighbours, and well-wishers. The religious ceremony may be more intimate, with a smaller guest list, depending on how well you know the couple.

The Traditional Wedding

The traditional wedding is a vibrant and lively celebration, with guests wearing the aso-ebi, a uniform dress that displays solidarity and cooperation during important ceremonies. The couple decides on a colour scheme, and there may be up to five different aso-ebi groups within the wedding celebration, such as the bride's family, the bridal party, and the groom's family, each with their own unique colours and fabrics.

The traditional wedding is also where you will witness unique customs and rituals, such as the breaking of the kola nut, which signifies the start of the festivities, and the "spraying" of money, where guests shower the couple with cash as a way of giving their blessings.

The Religious Ceremony

The religious ceremony, on the other hand, may be more aligned with Western traditions, such as the couple's first dance, cake cutting, and bouquet toss. It is also where you will see the couple in their Western wedding attire, with the bride in a white gown and the groom in a suit.

A Grand Celebration

Whether you are invited to one or both weddings, you can expect a grand celebration filled with delicious food, lively music, and extravagant outfits. Nigerian weddings are a wonderful opportunity to learn about a different culture and see how love is celebrated across nationalities.

Nigerian weddings are community affairs, so expect a large guest list of 250+ people

Nigerian weddings are a community affair, with the guest list including extended family, distant relatives, friends of friends, and neighbours. The concept of a guest list and RSVPs does not apply here. Instead, the parents of the couple invite everyone they know to share in the celebration of their children's special day. This often results in a guest list of 250 or more people.

The weddings are a celebration of the couple's heritage, with guests wearing traditional attire. The aso-ebi, or traditional uniform dress, is a display of solidarity and cooperation during important ceremonies and festivities. Guests wear specific colours or patterns to show which side of the family they are from. The bride usually selects the fabrics for the wedding party months in advance, and guests will have their outfits tailor-made.

Nigerian weddings are lively, entertaining, and long affairs. They often include multiple outfit changes, rituals, and smaller ceremonies. The reception is where guests will spend most of their time, with plenty of food, music, colour, and dancing.

The bride and groom will change into traditional Nigerian dress during the reception

Nigerian weddings are vibrant, festive affairs, full of music, food, colour, and dancing. The bride and groom will often have two ceremonies—a traditional cultural ceremony, followed by a religious or Western-style wedding. The traditional wedding is a chance to showcase the couple's heritage, with customs and attire that vary depending on the tribe they are from.

For the traditional wedding, the bride and groom will wear attire that reflects their tribe. During the reception, they may choose to change into matching outfits, or they might opt for a completely different style. This is a chance for the couple to showcase their personal style and cultural pride.

For a Yoruba wedding, the women usually wear an iro and buba—a vibrant wrapper and top outfit that is heavily beaded, along with a veil and an ipele shoulder scarf. They also carry a fan and tie a gele (an ornate head wrap). The men wear an agbada, an oversized kaftan made from asa-oke fabric, with colours that complement the bride's outfit.

At an Igbo traditional wedding, women wear various outfits throughout the evening, including a coral crown and necklace. The men wear the isi agwu (lion head) fabric, which is usually black, red, white, or blue, adorned with gold lions. It is customary for the newlywed couple to re-enter the wedding in matching attire after they have been pronounced husband and wife.

The bride and groom's families will often wear colour-coordinated outfits called asoebi. These outfits are specifically chosen by the couple and are a way to differentiate the bride's family from the groom's. The asoebi tradition is a striking and beautiful aspect of Nigerian weddings, with each side of the family donning distinct fabrics and colours.

Nigerian weddings are known for their multiple outfit changes, so it is no surprise that the bride and groom may choose to change into traditional Nigerian dress during the reception. This is often done to showcase their cultural heritage and add a personal touch to the celebrations. It is also a way to pay respect to their families and tribes.

The traditional attire chosen by the bride and groom will depend on their tribe and personal preferences. Whether they opt for matching outfits or complementary styles, their ensembles will undoubtedly be vibrant, elegant, and full of cultural significance.

There will be a 'spraying' where guests shower the couple with cash on the dance floor

Nigerian weddings are known for their extravagance, colour, and lively atmosphere. One of the most anticipated moments of the celebration is the "spraying", where guests shower the newlyweds with cash on the dance floor. This tradition, also known as a "money spray", is a way for guests to bestow blessings and good fortune upon the couple as they dance. The longer the couple dances, the more money they receive. The money is collected by "collectors", usually the bridesmaids, and kept in bags for the couple to take home.

The money spray tradition is not unique to Nigeria and can be found in various forms around the world. In Poland, for example, male guests dance with the bride while female guests dance with the groom, and money is pinned to their wedding attire. In the Philippines, money is also pinned to the couple's clothing, with bills sometimes made into garlands or crowns. In Cuba, Mexico, and Eastern Europe, guests toss wads of cash towards the couple as they dance.

While the money spray is a fun and exciting part of Nigerian weddings, it is important to note that it is technically illegal in the country. According to Section 21(3) of the CBN Bill, spraying or marching on the Naira (Nigerian currency) is considered defacing the currency and is punishable by a fine or even imprisonment. Despite this, the tradition remains a beloved part of Nigerian wedding culture.

If you are attending a Nigerian wedding, it is customary to bring a small amount of cash, preferably in smaller denominations, to participate in the money spray. This is usually done in US dollars or local currency. Guests should also be prepared for a lengthy celebration, as Nigerian weddings often include multiple outfit changes, group dances, and abundant food. It is also common for guests to bring plus-ones, even if they are not invited, so expect a crowded dance floor when the money spray begins!

Frequently asked questions