Nigerian Wedding Traditions

14 December 2021 / Caius Symboll®

Nigerian Wedding Traditions

Nigerian wedding traditions are a beautiful mix of old and new. From the traditional nikah nama to more modern pre-wedding parties, Nigerian weddings have plenty of unique aspects that set them apart from other cultures' celebrations.

14 December 2021 / Caius Symboll®

If you want to know what it’s like for Nigerians to tie the knot, read on!

About Nigerian Wedding Traditions

From the colorful dresses to extravagant food, Nigerian weddings are always full of life and color. The people who attend these events come from all over for one reason: love! Whether you’re visiting as a guest or partaking in your own nuptials with an invited guest list that includes family members (brothers-in-law), friends, community leaders — there will be many moments worth noting if only so we can remember how happy everyone was during this time together celebrating new beginnings while also remembering what binds us together through shared memories past ones sad moment present and future.

Double The Fun | Traditional vs. Western Ceremonies

The eclectic blend of traditional African wedding traditions with American customs is a beautiful reminder that our cultures are not so different after all. The lavish Nigerian weddings incorporate many components to make them memorable, but one thing they all have in common is respect for each other’s roots and heritage.

Introduction Ceremony

The exchange of gifts and knowledge is a common way for newlyweds to be introduced. The ceremony continues with an introduction party, where both families come together for the first time – possibly after many years apart or meeting them only once before then cutting ties with their extended family due to circumstance.

The tradition requires that each guest bring something special: jewelry; clothing crafted by hand from locally sourced materials (skins); traditional foods such as yam soup made in clay pots called ochida which are still used today when food isn’t available at home because they’re easier than cooking pottery over open fires). You might also offer sacrifices like chickens or goats.

The Dowry

In the past, a list of items was presented to the groom before their marriage. These included clothing and food for both parties in order to ensure that they were well-dressed throughout all occasions during this new life together as one family with two heads; however if there are extended education on behalf of bride then it will come at an additional cost including tuition fees or books from school – these may not just be things like art supplies! If everything goes smoothly enough then congratulations should soon follow but only after some final requests have been made by either party which could include anything ranging anywhere between gold jewelry pieces down towards something more practical such as furniture sets rather than extravagant cars or house pieces.

Proper Wedding Attire

One of the most unique wedding traditions in Nigeria is wearing a dress called “asu oke”. Asu okes are traditional dresses that originated from ancient times and were made to be durable. These days, it’s not uncommon at all for people wear them on special occasions such as weddings because they can last longer than some other types of clothing out there! One important thing you should know about these attires? They will always have long sleeves with wide cuffs so your arms stay uncovered while also making sure no skin shows through when bending down low or using any type hands gestures during ceremonies where protocol dictates we must show humility by bowing our heads down.

The outfits that the Nigerian men wear during their traditional wedding are called “buba” and set them apart from other cultures. The bride’s bouba consists of a light blue skirt, top with matching pants; it is worn over an oversized robe decorated at neckline (known as ‘agbada’) which can be found in different colors for each person who belongs to this big day – there will probably only ever be one outfit per family member you get dressed up too! After hanging around your shoulders like some kind of heavy shawl or cape comes another piece: fila hat made out rice flour dough dipped then into melted wax before being painted on its surfaceweith nkwo seeds and calabash pulp added to make it look more beautiful. The final touch? A hole in the center of the hat which is probably for your hair braid, however there are alternatives such as a feather or something else you might find around home.

Money Dance

For many cultures, throwing money at a wedding is an opportunity to wish the newlyweds well. The tradition began in ancient times when weddings were often held for financial gain rather than love and due to this reason guests would throw cash as they witnessed their loved ones marry off into wealth or prosperity with good fortune upon them! In addition to Mexican & Filipino based cultures where it’s quite common to see people doing so during dances; Money Dance can also be found all over Europe especially among Germanic tribes.

Elder Sibling First

In the Igbo community, marriage follows seniority; younger brothers are expected to put off their weddings until all older siblings have married. The same tradition applies for women as well and they will often be given away in exchange where there is no groom available who can afford it or wants them enough – even if that means remaining single themselves!

Lifting the Bride

The bride carries her groom over the threshold and he’s not alone. Just as in a Western wedding, this traditional act of showing modesty by letting go means so much more than what it seems because she’s leaving something important behind for good; however there are some differences between how other cultures do things when they get married or have their weddings Hinduism-style! You see Nigerian grooms will often carry both themselves and his new love into their life together while those practicing Islam know that its time to make an impression on Earth but only after making peace with all living creatures first which takes place during Islamic rituals such as nikah before the bride is lifted into her new home.

Nigerian Wedding Food

The bride and groom are relieved of the responsibility for catering their big day. The mother-of-the bride takes care of it all, making sure that guests are happy with what they eat on wedding reception!

Remembering Your Nigerian Wedding

Most wedding photographers are good at taking pictures, but not necessarily telling stories.

At Symboll we believe that every person deserves to have their story told. We don’t just want you to get some pictures and videos of your day; we want you to get timeless memories – your wedding memories that you can relive again and again for years to come. Same style, same quality, same storytelling, and thought behind it all. It is your day; but it also tells a story about everyone who has come there with love in their hearts for you – family members, friends, or colleagues who wanted nothing more than wishing you happiness on this special day. It is a day that has a start and an endpoint which means there’s an obvious beginning as well as an ending where two people share vows before celebrating together with all those around them. This is exactly what our packages are designed for – give us one shot at making sure these moments stay forever.

Nigerian Wedding Traditions