Why Nigerian weddings have turn into so costly

Rising up within the mid-80s, my dad would sometimes regal my brothers and me with tales of how my maternal uncle walked out on the day of his conventional marriage ceremony due to what he thought-about extreme and unreasonable calls for from the bride’s household. 

In accordance with the story, my dad and different relations had escorted my uncle throughout the Forcados River to Futorogbene, a city contained in the creeks in present-day Bayelsa State. That they had loaded the boat they chartered from Bomadi to his Fiancée’s hometown with virtually every little thing on the wedding listing they got. Festivities commenced and gadgets have been requested and offered, cash was paid instead of some, and on it went till they requested for a particular materials that was for the grandmother of the bride. 

My dad, who was the lead particular person on my uncle’s facet, knowledgeable them the stated merchandise was not on the marriage listing. In the meantime, their middleman replied that the stated merchandise was crucial and needed to be made obtainable. At that time, my uncle had had sufficient and informed his youthful brother to pack all of the gadgets they’d introduced and head for the jetty. 

All entreaties from my dad fell on deaf ears. My uncle stated he was now not . In any case, it was he that everybody had accompanied to the marriage. 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 marriage. 

Each time I recall the previous occasion, I at all times discover myself smiling. Based mostly on the present traits, calls for, and prices of weddings, my uncle may need most likely chosen to stay single all his life. 

Overview of the Nigerian Wedding ceremony Business immediately

The marriage trade in Nigeria has grown from its humble beginnings to turn into a billion-naira trade involving venues, catering, music, occasion administration, designers, social media handlers, Make-up Artists, specialised drinks providers, ushering/hostesses, and many others. There are actually groups of well-trained and resourceful individuals who plan, set up, and execute each facet of the excellent Nigerian marriage ceremony.  

However why and the way have weddings developed in Nigeria to turn into such a capital-intensive endeavour?

• One basic purpose why weddings are actually so costly in Nigeria is the 3-tier marriage ceremony system now we have adopted, which has turn into the norm amongst all ethnic teams and religions. This technique means now we have what we name the standard marriage ceremony, the registry marriage ceremony, and a white/ non secular marriage ceremony. Every of those is cost-intensive. 

The price of conventional weddings 

The accepted conference is that the conventional marriage ceremony rites are held on the ancestral hometowns of the brides or any location chosen by their mother and father. If the couple and their associates reside in numerous cities from the venue of the standard marriage ceremony rites, the logistics outlay can turn into an enormous element of the general price range for the marriage. The prices of transporting, accommodating, and feeding visitors (earlier than and after the marriage) should be thought-about. Buses are sometimes made obtainable to move visitors to and from their base to the marriage vacation spot, whilst lodge rooms are booked for them.

Most cultures in Nigeria have what’s termed a marriage listing. The listing comprises all the necessities for a standard marriage ceremony. This listing is distributed forward to the groom’s household for them to obtain and current the required gadgets in the course of the ceremony. Nigeria is a culturally various nation, which implies what’s the norm in a single half might not be the identical in one other. However you possibly can ensure that the important thing gadgets will not be low cost. 

The price of court docket and white weddings 

The registry (or court docket) marriage ceremony is most instances a small affair for many households, aside from these that don’t intend to have a white/ non secular marriage ceremony. Take-away refreshments are normally the norm at most of those easy registry weddings. So, there may be typically no want to rent a corridor. The one mounted prices are institutional prices corresponding to charges payable to the federal government for a wedding license. 

For many Nigerians, the white/non secular marriage ceremony is the precise marriage ceremony. And for this, no expense is spared. The placement for white weddings is set by many components corresponding to the price of the occasion place worth, availability of the chosen date, the social standing of the couple, the variety of visitors, and many others.  

In Lagos, occasion venues in Ikeja and different components of the Mainland that may accommodate 300 – 500 visitors value upwards of N1.5 million– N2.5 million on common. On Lagos Island, the costs for a similar halls can vary from N3 million – N10 million for a single-day occasion. The costs are additionally decided by how lovely the inside decorations are and whether or not they have sufficient parking areas.

The related value of pre-wedding photoshoots 

 On this age of social media, high-quality footage and movies are as necessary because the meals on the marriage ceremony reception. For that reason, the providers of Make-up Artists (MUA), photographers, and videographers are wanted to assist create lasting recollections beginning with the pre-wedding photoshoot which may value between N300, 000 to N500, 000. 

The price of the marriage attires

The totally different attires worn by the bride and groom for the totally different marriage ceremony days additionally contribute to the price. 

• The bride and groom normally put on totally different attires for the engagement/introduction ceremony, the standard marriage ceremony, the court docket marriage ceremony and the white/non secular marriage ceremony. 
• Every of those attires is exclusive and costly and {couples} are anticipated to spare no expense. In any case, you solely get married as soon as for the primary time. 
• Nigerians love to decorate up in vibrant flamboyant outfits for his or her marriage ceremony day. So, quite a lot of effort is put into the selection of outfits for every part of the marriage sequence. 
• Some Nigerian style designers specialize in making beautiful and costly attire. This takes away the necessity for brides to go for imported attire. Nonetheless, a few of these locally-made marriage ceremony attire are equally simply as costly. 

The price of adorning the occasion halls 

Although a number of the occasion halls are sometimes already adorned, skilled inside decorators are contracted to create the specified atmosphere for the day. Sparing no expense, specialist inside decorators are employed to create an impression that will endure within the minds of visitors. The chairs and tables, desk structure, diffusers, floral association, and different equipment can run into something from N3 million – N10 million relying on the scale of the corridor and supposed aesthetic. 

The price of meals

As a folks, we love our meals. Little marvel meals is a crucial facet of each Nigerian marriage ceremony occasion. It’s thought-about impolite and uncouth so that you can invite folks even for a small gathering and never present them with refreshments. 

• Jollof rice is a Nigerian staple that should be on the menu together with an assortment of native dishes relying on the placement and ethnic group of the marriage hosts. 
• The fundamental value for a plate of jollof rice served with fish and beef or rooster and moimoi is between N2,500 – N4,000 per plate. 
• Generally, the Caterer components in the price of the serving dishes, chargers, and different issues used to enhance the general presentation of the meals. 
• Generally, the Caterer could possibly be informed to make a particular dish for some distinguished visitors who’re served in a separate room away from the gang. 

The price of drinks

What’s a Nigerian marriage ceremony with out drinks, heaps and plenty of it? Consumption of alcohol is a method Nigerians make merry. 

• Subsequently, weddings are at all times flooded with alternative wines, liquor, beer, non-alcoholic drinks, and cocktails made on the venue. When you’ve got ever heard concerning the drink, you could be certain it is going to be served at a Nigerian marriage ceremony and in very copious quantities for that matter. 
• Most worldwide manufacturers have discovered the Nigerian market very enticing and have spent tons of {dollars} on promoting and placements by which they’ve gotten a foothold on the Nigerian market and by extension the marriage scene.

The exponential progress of the Nigerian marriage ceremony trade within the final decade is seen within the variety of style designers, Make-up Artists, Photographers, Videographers, Occasion Managers, Decorators, caterers and social media handlers which have constructed their careers on weddings. 

No matter your ideas are on the price of a contemporary Nigerian marriage ceremony, the reality stays that each one the bills absolutely culminate in a jolly good time for the {couples}, household and associates. Weddings additionally contribute considerably to the Nigerian financial system. 

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