What To Wear To A Nigerian Wedding Party?

Nigerian weddings are a celebration of food, music, color, and dancing. Many couples have two weddings: a cultural ceremony followed by a more Western-style day. When choosing what to wear to a Nigerian wedding, it is essential to consider the customs and traditions associated with the event. One unique aspect of these weddings is the Aso-Ebi, or “Family Clothes,” which guests are expected to wear. This custom involves wearing a particular color or fabric chosen by the bride and groom.

Nigerian couples choose what their guests wear by assigning a color for the bride’s family and a separate color for the groom’s family. The elders bless the kola nuts from a kola tree before the bride and groom break the nut, symbolizing the elders welcoming all the wedding guests and prosperity. Money spraying is another tradition that involves gifts and money provided from the groom’s family to the bride’s family.

Nigerian brides wear an ornate headpiece called a Gele, while bridesmaids and families follow suit and wear a Gele to honor the cultural traditions of the day. The wedding party typically sources their attire, including the Gele (for the ladies) and Fila (for the groom) from a seamstress who makes everything custom to coordinate.

In Nigerian weddings, guests wear colorful traditional outfits, such as Ankara/lace styles, gele headwraps, and agbada or kaftan. To adhere to etiquette and guidelines, women can opt for vibrant traditional outfits like the gele headwrap and asoebi fabrics, while men can choose to wear traditional agbada or kaftan.

What not to wear to an African wedding?

Stay away from all black outfits: While black is a classic colour for many formal events, in certain African cultures, it is linked to mourning. Its advisable to choose more vibrant colours to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Attending an African wedding is an exciting cultural experience, and dressing appropriately is a key aspect of showing respect and understanding. While there is a rich diversity of traditions across the continent, here are some general guidelines on what not to wear to an African wedding:

In conservative communities, its essential to dress modestly. Avoid overly revealing outfits, short skirts, or low-cut tops, as they may be considered inappropriate for a wedding ceremony.

Even if the wedding is a more casual affair, refrain from wearing overly casual clothes like jeans, sneakers, or t-shirts. Opt for semi-formal or traditional attire to align with the celebration.

Is it okay to wear black to a Nigerian wedding?

On the flip side, dont wear black to an African wedding as this can insinuate that you are in mourning. Instead wear colourful and unique outfits as a sign of celebration and respect. The only exception is where the couple have made these colours their dress code which is becoming a trendy choice.

Aso Ebi translates toclothes of the family and refers to the fabric and colours specially selected for the occasion.It is typically worn by the friends and family of the couple as a physical display of their support and unity.

You do not want to be the odd one out as your friends come together in honour of the bride and in celebration of tradition by wearing the fabricAso Ebi picked out for the occasion. You will forever be reminded of the pictures if you break this rule!

What is the gift giving etiquette in Nigeria?

• Gift Giving Etiquette. If invited to dinner at someones home then bring fruit, nuts or chocolates for the host.
• A gift for the children is always a nice touch.
• Gifts should be given using the right hand only or both hands. Never use the left hand only.
• At Ramadan, it is customary for Muslims to give gifts of food and fruit.
• Gifts from a man to a woman must be said to come from the mans mother, wife, sister, or other female relative, never from the man himself.
• Gifts should be wrapped, although there are no cultural taboos concerning paper colour.
• Gifts are not always opened when received.

Catching a ride for the morning commute into work in Lagos. Photo by Ayoola Salako on Unsplash.

• Meeting and Greeting. Handshakes are the most common greeting.
• Wait for a woman to extend her hand first.
• Shake hands at the beginning and end of meetings.
• To rush a greeting is extremely rude
• spend time inquiring about the other persons general well-being.
• It is a good idea to lower your eyes when meeting someone who is older or more senior.
• Titles are important. Use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the surname.
• Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis. This is not a first name culture, although that may be changing with people under the age of 35.
• Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual.
• Present and receive business cards with two hands or the right hand, never with the left.
• It is a good idea to include any advanced university degree on your business card.
• Make certain that your title is prominently displayed.
• Never write on your business card. If the information has changed, have new cards printed.
• Make a point of studying any business card you receive before putting it into a business card holder.

Do you bring a gift to a Nigerian wedding?

What Gift Should I Bring to a Nigerian Igbo Wedding?

While there is no strict gift-giving tradition, it is customary to give monetary gifts to the couple by “spraying” them. The spraying tradition involves guests showering the couple with money during dances and celebrations. The amount is entirely at the guests discretion, and the gifts are seen as a gesture of goodwill and support for the newlyweds.

The Key Differences in a Traditional Igbo Engagement Ceremony and a Western Wedding.

Nigerian Igbo weddings are distinct from Western weddings in several ways:

What should I wear to an African wedding?

Finding Your Style. You dont have to wear traditional attire if thats not really your style. Many African weddings now blend contemporary styles with traditional elements. A sleek dress with an Ankara print, for example, can be a perfect way to nod to tradition while keeping it modern, making it a popular choice for guests outfits at African weddings.

Incorporating African Elements. Even a simple accessory can bring an African touch to your outfit. You can wear a samplebacklessdress with a bold Ankara headwrap, youll be sure to make a fashion statement.

Understanding Dress Codes. African weddings can range from ultra-formal to more relaxed settings. Plus, if the wedding has a strict dress code your options might be limited, which isnt a bad thing if you prefer not to make a hard decision. But if the wedding has more freedom you can definitely decide to wear more traditional styles or modern silhouettes. Whichever you go for, in bothvariations theres an array of outfits in African prints to choose from. So, make sure to check the invitation for dress code specifics.

Is there alcohol at Nigerian wedding?

Alcohol. Depending on the type of wedding, alcohol can play an important, traditional role, a lively one, or none at all. Whether or not a Nigerian wedding has alcohol or not entirely depends on the religion and traditions of the couple. As mentioned above, Muslim weddings will not have alcohol available. However, other types of receptions, such as those following Christian ceremonies, are likely to serve alcoholic beverages. In that case, youll typically find red and white wine, the favored palm wine, Guinness (Nigeria is the second largest market for it), champagne, and other spirits.

One Nigerian wedding tradition you might witness actually heavily involves a glass of wine. The ritual ultimately is an attempt to get the newlyweds to drink palm wine out of the same glass. The bride is initially given the cup. Then, throughout the reception, she must go from guest to guest until she finds her husband and is able to offer him a drink. Once completed, the couple needs to figure out a way to drink from the glass together. This ritual can take a small amount of time or the entire wedding reception, as the bride and groom are likely to be constantly pulled away by friends and family members.

Dance and Music. At Christian weddings, deejays typically play tracks from the latest Afrocentric hits or international beats. Some of the dances may almost look choreographed, but are steps to popular hits that you can easily follow as you go. Consider it akin to the cha-cha-slide or cupid shuffle at American weddings. That being said, there will be empty seats aplenty as all ages head to the dance floor. Aside from the food, this is where youll spend the most time as a guest.

Can a woman wear black to a wedding as a guest?

As a general rule, wearing black is totally acceptable, as the hue is very versatile, says bridal stylist Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride. Make the shade work for you—at any type of wedding—with these ideas for choosing the right fabrice, length, and accessories.

Consider the Location. In the metropolitan Northeast—think New York and Boston—its very common to see women in little black dresses or evening gowns at weddings, Arons explains. In the South, however, its much less common, which is why she suggests wearing a colorful dress to a wedding in this region.

If youre lucky enough to attend a destination wedding in European or tropical locales, Arons recommends looking to the regions surroundings to inform your outfit: An oceanside event in the Bahamas, for example, calls for bright, punchy colors, while an affair at a castle in France might call for something regal, like jewel tones.

What should a female guest wear to a wedding?

Women wedding guests should wear full-length dresses, be it a ballgown, a sheath or an A-line dress. High heels are strongly recommended.

What color do Nigerians wear to weddings?

Nigerian couples choose what their guests wear by assigning a color for the brides family and a separate color for the grooms family. At Kevin and Leighs wedding, the couple asked the brides family to wear pink and the grooms family to wear white.

What are Nigerian wedding customs?

Prostration for Respect. Prostrating, known as dobale, holds immense significance among the Yoruba people, who place great emphasis on showing reverence to their elders. Consequently, during a traditional wedding ceremony, it is customary for the groom and his groomsmen to demonstrate their respect by lying flat or prostrating at the feet of the brides family. The groom is expected to perform this act of homage four times before the conclusion of the ceremony.

The List. In Igbo culture, the negotiation of dowry, also known as bride price, involves more than just a monetary exchange. It encompasses a lengthy list of items essential for the marriage rites, alongside the negotiation of a specific sum of money, typically not exorbitant. However, in certain regions of Igboland, this list can be subject to exaggeration, with villagers and kinsmen eagerly anticipating marriages as an opportunity for financial gain. The contents of the list can vary in both length and value, influenced by factors such as the wealth of the prospective family and the proximity of the spouses origins—whether from the same village, state, or country. This negotiation process reflects the cultural significance attached to marriage within Igbo communities, where tradition and practical considerations intertwine in the exchange of goods and monetary offerings.