Nigerian Weddings: Unveiling The Lengthy Journey To The Altar

Nigerian weddings can be glamorous and expensive, with traditional weddings taking place over multiple days. The registry (or court) wedding is often a small affair, but wealthy celebrants may invite popular Nigerian artists to make it more extravagant. The cost of a Nigerian wedding can range from 2 to 3 million naira and can cost upwards of £25,000 in the UK. The length of the wedding can vary, with traditional ceremonies lasting about an hour but receptions lasting late into the night.

Cost

Many Nigerian weddings are glamorous affairs — which means they can cost a lot. With traditional Nigerian weddings taking place over multiple days — and hundreds of guests to feed and entertain — it’s no wonder that the cost of a Nigerian wedding quickly stacks up. In Nigeria, weddings often cost between 2 and 3 million naira — almost £6,000. And if you want to have a traditional wedding in the UK, you’ll pay far more than this for a multi-day celebration. Reports suggest that some Nigerian weddings in the UK can cost upwards of £25,000.

The registry (or court) wedding is most times a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/ religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall. The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license. For more financially wary celebrants, the court and white weddings are done on the same day.

The wedding industry in Nigeria has grown from its humble beginnings to become a billion-naira industry involving venues, catering, music, event management, designers, social media handlers, Make-up Artists, specialized drinks services, ushering/hostesses, etc.

Very wealthy celebrants go as far as inviting popular Nigerian artists to give their traditional wedding another level of greatness.

The cost of a Nigerian wedding quickly stacks up, so it is important to budget and save for the wedding of your dreams.

Time

Traditional Nigerian weddings take place over multiple days and can be glamorous affairs with hundreds of guests to feed and entertain. The registry (or court) wedding is usually a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/religious wedding.

The cost of a Nigerian wedding quickly stacks up with venues, catering, music, event management, designers, social media handlers, make-up artists, specialized drinks services, ushering/hostesses, etc. involved. Very wealthy celebrants go as far as inviting popular Nigerian artists to give their traditional wedding another level of greatness.

The registry (or court) wedding is most times a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall. The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license.

The ceremony usually takes about an hour but can last much longer, and the reception will last late into the night so there's time for dancing and often multiple outfit changes.

The registry (or court) wedding is most times a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall. The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license.

Tradition

Nigerian weddings are glamorous and expensive affairs. They are often multi-day events with hundreds of guests to feed and entertain. The registry (or court) wedding is usually a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall. The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license. For more financially wary celebrants, the court and white weddings are done on the same day.

Very wealthy celebrants go as far as inviting popular Nigerian artists to give their traditional wedding another level of greatness. The registry (or court) wedding is most times a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall. The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license. For more financially wary celebrants, the court and white weddings are done on the same day.

Venue

The registry (or court) wedding is most times a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/ religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall. The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license. For more financially wary celebrants, the court and white weddings are done on the same day.

The traditional Nigerian wedding takes place over multiple days and involves hundreds of guests to feed and entertain. It is no wonder that the cost of a Nigerian wedding quickly stacks up. In Nigeria, weddings often cost between 2 and 3 million naira — almost £6,000. And if you want to have a traditional wedding in the UK, you’ll pay far more than this for a multi-day celebration. Reports suggest that some Nigerian weddings in the UK can cost upwards of £25,000.

The Yoruba engagement is a ceremony that usually takes about an hour but can last much longer. The reception will last late into the night so there's time for dancing and often multiple outfit changes.

The registry (or court) wedding is most times a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/ religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall. The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license. For more financially wary celebrants, the court and white weddings are done on the same day.

The Yoruba engagement is a ceremony that usually takes about an hour but can last much longer. The reception will last late into the night so there's time for dancing and often multiple outfit changes.

Gifts

Traditional Nigerian weddings are glamorous and costly affairs. They can take place over multiple days and involve hundreds of guests to feed and entertain. The registry or court wedding is a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall.

The only fixed costs are institutional costs such as fees payable to the government for a marriage license. For more financially wary celebrants, the court and white weddings are done on the same day.

The registry (or court) wedding is most times a small affair for most families, except for those that do not intend to have a white/religious wedding. Take-away refreshments are usually the norm at most of these simple registry weddings. So, there is often no need to hire a hall.

Very wealthy celebrants go as far as inviting popular Nigerian artists to give their traditional wedding another level of greatness.

The cost of a Nigerian wedding quickly stacks up. In Nigeria, weddings often cost between 2 and 3 million naira — almost £6,000. And if you want to have a traditional wedding in the UK, you’ll pay far more than this for a multi-day celebration. Reports suggest that some Nigerian weddings in the UK can cost upwards of £25,000.

All entreaties from my dad fell on deaf ears. My uncle said he was no longer interested. After all, it was he that everyone had accompanied to the wedding. It took the intervention of the bride (who had been unaware of the happenings) and her father to get him to return to the venue of the wedding. Every time I recall the preceding event, I always find myself smiling. Based on the current trends, demands, and costs of weddings, my uncle might have probably chosen to remain single all his life.

The wedding industry in Nigeria has grown from its humble beginnings to become a billion-naira industry involving venues, catering, music, event management, designers, social media handlers, Make-up Artists, specialized drinks services, ushering/hostesses, etc.

From how long the wedding will last to what you should bring as a gift and what you'll be eating, we asked Bianca Gardner of luxury multicultural wedding planners Bumble Events to tell us what to expect at a Nigerian wedding.

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