By 2024, experts predict that the average wedding event in Nigeria will cost between 4 and 6 million naira, or around $3,700 USD.
However, hosting a successful wedding is always possible and never happens by accident. Therefore, following a well-thought-out plan that has been meticulously drawn out by a planner in consultation with the intending couples is more important to the success of a wedding event than the amount of money the couples are willing to spend.
In planning wedding events, one can’t completely erase culture and tradition as well as budget and these are akin to a successful wedding event. For instance, no matter the size or type of wedding ceremony you wish to organize, you must be ready for its corresponding financial implications or else you aren’t ready yet. On the contrary, especially in this side of the globe, there are certain practices, or better put, erroneous beliefs, that certain trends must be adhered to for the successful execution of a wedding event. Unfortunately, these trends are among those things that create the impression that a wedding event must be organised in a certain way for it to be acceptable.
In this article, we will attempt to explore those common mistakes that won’t guarantee a successful wedding event. It is hoped that this will ultimately provide useful insights into the basic processes to follow for a successful wedding ceremony.
1. Over imposing trending wedding styles
Interestingly, following the latest trends might give your wedding a fashionable atmosphere, but they also frequently encourage couples to put the cart before the horse. It’s a way of impressing others at the detriment of their happiness afterwards.
Trending wedding styles are not a factor that determines the success of a wedding event; rather, it’s just a transient measure. One of the negatives of blindly following or overimposing trending wedding styles is that it bloats up the budget drastically and causes untold pressure on the couples.
It is now important for the wedding planner and the couple to strike a balance between modern styles and unique components that express their own uniqueness as a couple in order to make their wedding feel genuinely unique and unforgettable.
2. Focusing on quantity over quality
Planning a wedding with quantity above quality can have a big impact on the overall experience. In most cases, couples feel pressured to throw a lavish party with plenty of décor, lots of activities, and lots of attendees in the hopes that it will look more spectacular. But experience has shown that frequently, this results in a watered-down experience that is devoid of the important details and intimate moments that should have been present.
Focusing on quantity, in which ever case, will not determine the success of the wedding event; instead, quality should be the main focus. A carefully planned, small-scale event may offer close monitoring of vendors and service providers, concentration of the budget on quality event processes and leaving guests with enduring memories if every detail is executed with care and represents the couple’s vision.
3. Hiring only Popular Vendors
One erroneous assertion over time has been that hiring only popular vendors can guarantee the success of the wedding event. This is not true; rather, even if these vendors could be well-known, hiring popular vendors may add huge cost to your budget.
In addition, depending solely on popular vendors may eliminate the vibes and uniqueness that may be needed. This is because popular vendors most often work with pre-determined standards or formulars, making the experience non-exciting and without taste.
Couples and event managers can search out other unpopular vendors and/or service providers out there and provide clear-cut deliverables for them to follow.
4. Extravagant decoration over practical needs
Following the estimate that was given earlier at the beginning of this article, it might interest you to know that extravagant decoration may take up about 40 percent of the whole budget. Decorations are great because they create a good visual impact. But extravagant decorations over practical needs are way too loud and may be uncalled for, at least for many people.
Many years ago, a man I know so well got married to a woman who later rose to become one of the best ministers that Nigeria has ever had. But do you know what? They got married without any single decoration hanging in their wedding venue. No amount of decoration is enough to make your wedding successful. They are just an aesthetic presentation. However expensive they will only be relished for that moment.
But practical things such as good hospitality, great food menus, interesting entertainment, and logistics will contribute to the greater success of the wedding event. Hence, couples should promote the opportunities for their attendees to enjoy better values, so their experiences can linger for a long time.
5. Ignoring the Couple’s choices
Sometimes, parents become overbearing and do not respect the choices of the couples because they think they are more knowledgeable and better experienced. Although suggestions from friends and family are helpful, the wedding should ultimately showcase the couple’s individuality and choices.
When managers give greater importance to external viewpoints, the event could come across as unauthentic and impersonal. Prioritising the couple’s vision will help to ensure that their particular tastes influence the theme, décor, and overall flow of the day, making it a genuinely memorable occasion for them.
In conclusion, the success of weddings in Nigeria can be tied to following clear realities and personalized choices with a proportional budget. Having extravagant decorations, hiring popular vendors and other erroneous factors may not contribute significantly to the big day of intended couples.
