According to market research group, TNS Global, getting married in Nigeria is big business and is worth millions of dollars. For context, the cost of an average Nigerian wedding can range from $9,460 (N3.5 million) to $13,515 (N5 million); and some destination weddings can cost as much as N10 million.
But the reality is despite weddings being a big industry in the country, many young couples can’t afford a large wedding and some have experienced debts after wedding expenses exceeded their budget.
So how does one have a memorable and fulfilling wedding ceremony without drinking garri with bae for weeks afterwards? Here’s how:
Choosing a day other than Saturday works for many reasons. One, this reduces the cost of getting a venue. Most venues are priced higher on Saturdays due to the high occurence of events that happen on that day. Secondly, It reduces the number of guests who can attend, especially if it’s a Friday or Sunday wedding.
A perfect day to strike a balance will be a Sunday. In that way, you don’t alienate your loved ones from coming due to work restraints but you also save cost by avoiding the ‘Saturday prices’.
Asides people from an older generation, everyone else can pretty much be invited through an e-invite. This is an invitation you can prepare yourself using a graphic design app. This might be unconventional but it saves the cost of paper, printing, and delivery. Everything is going digital, why not wedding invites?
This is an important detail. You might want a small wedding due to tight budget but your mother in law might want to invite half of the people in her village. Except she’s covering the cost of the extra guests, it’s best to strictly stick to a budget friendly guest list.
Having your ceremony and reception at one location will cut cost, travel time for vendors, and will make the clean up afterwards much easier than if it was two locations.
Ask recently married friends or relatives if you can borrow centerpieces or other items left over from their events. There are facebook groups dedicated to weddings, you might want to join one to find (and later sell) low-cost wedding decor.
Seated, plated meals tend to be the most expensive option for catering. So ask each potential caterer about alternatives, including buffets or family-style stations. Some families help out in the cooking. Either way choose an option that is budget friendly but also allows everyone to get some jollof.