The White Wedding!

wedding dressIt’s finally time to talk about the White Wedding! All of my other posts have led up to this moment and I hope they will help you understand my final post. The White Wedding is typically more extravagant and even more guests are invited. Although the bride and groom have been traditionally married, the union is not acknowledged till after the White Wedding. It is called the “White” Wedding because the bride wears the typical white dress in the wedding ceremony. So, sit back and relax as I take you on a journey through an extravagant Yoruba White Wedding!

nigerian-wedding-wendy-eddie-kbobbphotography36Like most weddings, the ceremony takes place in a church and it is a very serious yet joyous occasion. in some Yoruba weddings, only the closest family members and friends attend the ceremony itself while the majority only come to celebrate at the reception. At the ceremony, church hymns are sung, prayers are shared and blessings are poured upon the bride and groom. Many Nigerians are devout Christians, so prayers are a big part of the entire wedding process.  A pastor officiates the wedding and joins the bride and groom together.  After the ceremony, the pride and groom dance and/or sing down the aisle and are escorted to the reception.

At the reception, both families dance in one at a time beginning with the bride’s family. Once again, they are wearing matching fabric in order to show the union between the two families. The bride and the groom are then introduced and they dance their way into the wedding. In the white wedding there are bridesmaids and groomsmen and they lead the entrance in front of the newly wed couple.  From this point the couple and guests participate in regular wedding activities, such as the throwing of the bouquet and the removal of the garter. The White Wedding is very modern and it mimics Western weddings, which is why there are many similarities.

yemisi_fajimolu_ladi_taiwo-wedding-yoruba-nigerian_wedding_traditional_11-600x385Most couples choose to change after the activities and they change into traditional wedding attire and then re enter into the wedding. The bridesmaids and groomsmen change too  and wear matching fabrics called aso ebi. The fabric is the same, but the style of the outfits is chosen by the individual and many different personal styles shine through. In fact,  the outfits wedding guests wear have become a big deal in Nigeria and many Instagram pages, such as @asoebibella are dedicated to showing the different styles.

2bd0f303-f94a-4fbb-9a57-ebffc22f0681-rs_768In the traditional attire the bride and groom dance to traditional Nigerian music that carries a strong beat. The music is usually in the form of live entertainment and money is typically “sprayed” on the performer. The performer sings praises to the couple and their families and in return the guests and couple throw money on the performer and the band. This is called “spraying” and it shows appreciation for the craft. Spraying is also done by guests to the bride and groom and the groom can spray his wife.

After the dancing the bride and groom typically change clothes one more time to formal Western wear and the rest of the time is spent dancing and celebrating with friends. After this change, the reception becomes focused on the bride and groom and all of their friends, while the adults tend to leave the dance floor. The music becomes more modern and Western music is also played. At this point, it is the time for guests to dance and thoroughly enjoy the reception. It is a time to celebrate and dance it up on the floor and make sure to get footage for social media. As with most Nigerian events, the party has no set end time and it ends whenever people decide they want to leave. After the reception, the bride and groom are free to leave together and start their new lived together, because the marriage is now officially recognized.

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