Knowledge

7 Different Types Of Brides You Will Probably Meet

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The beauty of life is in variety and no two people can ever be alike. In fact, dynamism and uniqueness are part of the components that make the world. People have different ways they handle and deal with things seeing that intending brides are nothing but normal individuals with varying wants. It is odd to expect brides to want the same things and feel the same way.

Here are different kinds of brides you may most likely come across or have come across.

1. Angry Bird (Sorry, Bride)

This one yells at anything and anyone. She is just angry. They are obsessed with having a flawless day so anything that remotely looks like it intends to get in their way takes the heat. She stops at nothing to give herself the near-perfect wedding day.

2. Frugal Bride

Life after the ceremony is apparently very important to her and making sure she doesn’t exceed the wedding budget for any reason. She has winged her way through most of the preparations ensuring that she cuts costs as much as she can.

3. Spendthrift Bride

The direct opposite of the frugal bride. She wants to have the wedding of the century and doesn’t care whose ox is gored or whose account is in red. She just wants all the good things in all the expensive ways that they usually come. The word ‘budget’ is foreign to her.

4. The Unbothered Bride

She is living strictly off vibes and just wants to be happy in the end with no added stress. Can’t be bothered about the fit of her wedding dress, the number of people who turn up or the aesthetics of her cake. She just wants to get married and move on.

5. The Party Animal

She doesn’t mind sleeping through the formalities. She is sitting pretty waiting for the reception so she can party HARD! She is almost like the unbothered bride but in her own case, she is in for a super good time.

6. Prim And Proper Bride

She wants everything to be more perfect than perfect. Every single thing, from her hair to the table cloth on the guests’ tables and she is checking constantly to be certain that nothing is on the path to hitting the rocks.

7. The ‘Juliet’ Bride

Completely in la-la land. She can’t wait to just spend the rest of her life with her groom. Just wants love. love. love. She unabashedly shows this as she randomly keeps touching her groom.

The different kinds of bride you may likely meet are all interesting in their own individual ways and it is amazing to see. In the end, they all have one goal to have a beautiful wedding ceremony and an even better marriage afterwards.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Knowledge

Ladies! You Probably Didn’t Know These 5 Things About Changing Your Last Name

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When we meet ‘the one’ we are mostly carried by the tingly feeling and adrenaline rush oftentimes we forget how serious basic things about being married can be, like changing your name! This of course, is mostly faced by females.

Here are a few things every lady should know about changing her last name.

1. Every Tom, Dick & Harry wants a peek of your marriage certificate

A lot of people will want to confirm and affirm your new name against your former name as regards documents and forms. This requires patience, especially in some rather seemingly awkward situations.

2. Getting A New Passport Is An Absolute Chore 

A change of name comes with a lot of difficulties which includes having a new passport for travel purposes.

3. You May Have A Laugh At Your New Signature

Of course, after having a particular signature for years. It’s tough to come up with the perfect one in a short time. Basically, get ready to have a squirmish signature for a while.

4. You’d Miss Your Name In A Crowd

It will take some time to get used to your last name, this is a given. When you are being addressed by your surname or last name in a gathering, you just might miss it.

5. Are You Really You?

Your identity will be questioned so many times. Get strapped for that. This may have you carrying your marriage certificate around.

After a while, your new name will blend in smoothly like milk in batter. The second option is to hyphenate and bear a compound name if you are not minimalistic as regards names.

Photo Credit: VitalChek Blog

News

The Story Of This 32-Year Old Ugandan Woman Who Married Herself Will Leave You Tongue-Tied

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Lulu Jemimah, 32, was fed-up of her family lecturing her on settling down. She decided to ‘marry’ herself in a shoestring ceremony in Uganda this summer.

The Oxford student admits her parents were ‘a bit confused’ about her decision. The day cost just £2 (approximately, 956 Naira) – for her taxi to the pub venue – thanks to gifts from friends.

But marriage is the last thing on her mind as she undertakes a masters in creative writing at the prestigious university.

So, in a bid to get her parents off her back, she decided to stage a mock wedding and sent formal invites out to her nearest and dearest.

She hired a dress, walked through the venue to the traditional wedding march and even gave a speech to her guests explaining the lack of a groom.

Lulu admits her Ugandan parents are baffled by her decision – but said she feels it was the perfect commitment to herself and her studies.

Proud Lulu said: ‘I have a strong passion in life and I am committed to achieving my goals at becoming an academic.

‘But all my family wanted to ask me was when I planned to get married – which is very important back in Uganda – followed by when I would be having children and starting a family.

‘My father wrote my wedding speech when I turned 16. Every birthday my mother prayed for me and in recent years this has included a plea for a good husband’

Oh well! What can we say? We wish her the best in all her endeavours.

Photo Credit: Ebals

Marriage

Here’s Why This Canadian Based Nigerian Bride Is Making Rounds On The Internet

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The fight for gender equality has no end as every day women are sticking their guns to what they believe in regardless of what society thinks.

A newly wedded bride, Eniola broke the internet not too long when she announced on Twitter that she did not kneel for her groom and it was a unanimous decision by the pair.

She wrote: “Speaking of submission, during my Yoruba engagement, my husband and I told the Alagas to not use that word or ask me to kneel for him. Everyone told me it wouldn’t be possible because, culture. But guess whose knees didn’t touch the ground?

“My sister’s wedding was earlier this week and she also warned against using the term “ile oko” (husband’s house). Everyone is setting their house rules and removing the bs one act at a time. Looking forward to subversive “no wedding” family members lol.” She added.

This sparked controversy on Twitter of course.

Here are some of the reactions in the link below;

https://twitter.com/i/moments/1034150940616609792

Who are we to question what a bride and her groom prefers?

Photo Credit: @EniolaHu

Planning

6 Ways To Effortlessly Overcome Stage Fright On Your Big Day

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Stage fright is commonly defined as nervousness before or during an appearance in front of an audience.

This can happen to the best of us. Even the most bubbly person in the room has a high chance of getting nervous when asked to be on stage. Some people get cold feet before their wedding because they can’t imagine standing before an audience even on their big day.

If you are the shy type or for some reason have phobia for a large crowd, here are a few tips that can help you overcome stage fright on your wedding day.

1. Do Away With Flamboyant Entry

You don’t have to do all the drama that comes with entering the venue. You can cut out the music and replace it with a simple announcement about your arrival and be clapped for. It will feel even better if you are ushered in with your bridal train, family or friends.

2. Slash Your Guest List

The entire universe doesn’t have to celebrate this special day with you. Strictly invite your family, friends and people whom you are super close with.

3. Cut The Chase With Your Vows

Make your vows simple and straight to the point especially if you are writing yourself. No need to go all the way. Short yet precise will work for you.

4. Don’t Restrict Yourself

Having a special seat for just you and your spouse will definitely make you the center of attention. Seat at a table with friends and family. This will make it a lot more comfortable for you.

5. Simple First Dance

Your first dance does not mean you must have killer moves. Trying out anything major will only add to your stress. Do something simple with your spouse.

6. Unanimous Appreciation

Ensure that you and your spouse thank your guests together. Doing it while holding hands would be even better.

Your spouse is the most important person to you both on your big day and forever. Let your spouse know before hand that you have cold feet as regards crowd on your big day so together you can plan how to make the day as seamless as possible.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Planning

10 Ideal Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Make-Up Artist For Your Big Day

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Poorly done make-up is capable of ruining a perfectly good day. You don’t want anything raining on your parade on your big day. Neither do you want your groom to wonder about your weird transformation.

What are we trying to say? A good make-up artist who knows his/her onion is major.

Fixing a date for Q&A with your makeup artist before fully committing is equally important.

According to Weddingwire, here are a  few questions to ask before diving in.

1. Are you available on my wedding day?
This is the first question you’ll want to ask. Why? If the artist of your dreams isn’t available on your date it’s good to know sooner rather than later. Make sure to ask when they’re available for trials, as well!

2. What’s your standard rate and what does that include?
You’re going to have to fit your wedding makeup artist into your budget, so cut to the chase and ask about cost at the beginning of your conversation. Specifically, you’ll want the balance for pre-wedding trials, your wedding day services and any additional costs.

3. Can you travel for my wedding day?
This is a key question if you’ve planned something out of town. Wedding makeup artists aren’t always available to hop on a plane or train as they may have other obligations or clients to tend to. Ask your artist whether they are able to follow you to your destination right out of the gate. If not, it’s on to the next one. If you want to skip the hassle and cost of travel, look for an artist who already resides in or around your wedding destination.

4. Can I book a trial appointment?
No matter how much you trust them, you don’t want your first appointment with your makeup artist to be your wedding day. Request a trial run or two so that you can try out different styles and products to see what works before committing completely.

5. Do you have a portfolio?
Flipping through your makeup artist’s portfolio will give you an idea of their personal style and ability. If your artists looks like he or she cakes on the makeup and you want a more natural look for your big day, now may be the time to start looking at other options. Testimonials and references will also help you determine whether you’ve found “the one”.

6. What products do you use?
Anyone with problematic skin knows that the wrong product can wreak havoc on your face. You’ll want to get the lowdown on what products and brands your artist plans on working with so that your skin doesn’t freak out on your big day. Side note: If you care about things like parabens, cruelty-free brands or all-natural cosmetics, now’s the time to ask about those, too.

7. How can you make my look last and look good in photos?
You’re wedding day will be a long one, filled with emotions and probably a healthy dose of tears. Make sure your artist is up to the task of keeping you looking pretty no matter what the circumstances. Ask what they can do to minimize shine, lock on your foundation and keep those mascara tears at bay.

8. Are you able to do my bridal party’s makeup as well?
If you want your bridesmaids to have a cohesive look, having the same wedding makeup artist is key. Though one or two of them can probably do a killer job of applying winged liner, you don’t want to leave the others floundering around (that’s just asking for some makeup mishaps). Having your makeup artist handle your entire party means that you won’t have to put your faith in more than one person. After all, if he or she does a great job, why keep hunting?

9. What look would you suggest for me?
Having trouble picking out a look for yourself? Getting a few tips from your wedding makeup artist is a good idea.

There’s a good chance that your artist has worked on many brides with different face shapes, features and colouring – meaning they have an idea of what’s flattering and what’s best avoided on your wedding day.

10. Can I see your contract?
Asking to see a copy of your makeup artist’s standard contract should take care of any unanswered questions.

Their contract should lay out all pre-wedding day, wedding day services plus any additional fees that may impact your balance (like travel fees, parking, etc.). Once you’ve seen a draft, you’ll know exactly what you’re in for.

You are on way to looking like royalty on your big day. Let nothing stop you!

Photo Credit: LionessesOfAfrica, Shutterstock, Adomonline

Planning

Here’s What You Should Ask Your Prospective Wedding DJ

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No ceremony can ever be complete without good music and that’s where an excellent DJ comes in.

According to Wikipedia, a disc jockey, often abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays existing recorded music for a live audience.

Hiring a good DJ is just as tricky as hiring any other vendor for your wedding. Here are essential questions you are expected to ask before engaging them according to TheSpruce.

1. Can I meet the person who will actually work at my event before we sign a contract?

If you’re working with a DJ company who employs several different DJs, you’ll definitely want to make sure you’re comfortable with the actual person who’ll be at your reception. Do they seem cool, fun, and also respectful?

Are they listening to the questions you’re asking, and giving you thoughtful responses? Do they seem like someone you could have a fun time with?

2.Will you work with my playlist and my do-not-play list?
Wedding DJs love to have autonomy and play whatever they want. Since it’s your wedding, you should have input about what gets played and what doesn’t.
If you have some “deal breaker” songs, be sure to share them with your potential DJ and make sure he or she understands your wishes.

3. Will your equipment allow you to mix one song into another so that there are no breaks in between songs?
One of the top reasons to hire a wedding DJ rather than just using an iPod is that they should be able to provide a seamless flow of music. If they can’t, it’s time to look elsewhere.

4. Will you take breaks? If so, what happens during the breaks?
Again, unlike a band or an iPod, a DJ should be able to have a seamless flow of music with no breaks.

5. Will you take requests during the wedding?
Some wedding DJs love requests, while others don’t like having to hunt for an obscure song or interrupting their playlist.

6. How many weddings do you DJ each year? Will you have another event on the same day? 
Since DJs often work corporate events, bars and birthday parties, you want to make sure he or she is comfortable with weddings and the higher level of sophistication required.

You’ll also want to make sure there aren’t any possible scheduling conflicts as a result of having multiple events booked for the same day.

7. Have you worked at our reception site before?
If he or she already knows the setup and staff there, it can make things more seamless on the day of the wedding.

It’s not necessary, but it’s nice to have that reassurance that your wedding DJ is familiar with the layout and setup.

8. What sort of equipment do you use? Do your prices include the sound system, speakers, wireless microphone for the toasts, etc?
You’ll want to make sure he or she has the necessary equipment required to fill your event space with sound.

Each of these extras can add up quickly. Your event space may already have them available, but it’s good to have backups in case of equipment failure.

9. What do you do if nobody is dancing?
If for any reason your guests aren’t feeling the musical selections, how does the DJ handle it?

10. How current is your music collection? 
Does he or she have access to the newest music? Do you want the newest pop hit played at your reception or do you just want to stick to your old favorites?

11. What if we really want to hear songs that aren’t in your music collection?
If for some reason the DJ doesn’t have some music or songs that you really love, will he be able to acquire it or is that not possible?

12. Will you advertise your services to our guests? Will you be discrete?
Your wedding is a job, not a networking opportunity. You want to make sure the DJ you’re working with doesn’t seem sleazy or slimy, or like he’ll be looking for his next job while in the middle of working your wedding.

13. What do you wear as a wedding DJ?
You’ll want to ensure that your wedding DJ is dressed appropriately for the formality of your big day.

14. Can I see a video of you playing at a wedding?
Ask to see footage of your DJ working at a wedding so you can get a feel for his or her style, personality, and character.

Answers to the above questions would let you know if you are on the right path as regards hiring a suitable DJ for your wedding.

Photo Credit: TheSpruce, Naija DJ Pool

Honeymoon

These 7 Lingerie Ideas That Will Leave Him Dazed On Your Wedding Night

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lacy negligee

Lingerie is derived from an old french word, ‘Linge’ meaning linen.

Lingerie is made of lightweight, stretchy, smooth, sheer or decorative fabrics such as silk, satin, lycra, charmeuse, chiffon or (especially and traditionally) lace.

These fabrics can be made of natural fibres like silk or cotton or of synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon. They are perfect undergarments for a wedding night.

One of the highlights of the wedding night or honeymoon is the bride rocking ideal lingerie for her man. Shopping for a nice and ideal lingerie may be almost as hectic as shopping for a wedding gown.

If your honeymoon is around the corner and you intend to strutt your stuff in front of him, then this is for you.

1. Lady In Red 

Red and lace are the perfect fit to getting your man’s undivided attention.

2. Teddy Lingerie

This looks like a bathing suit but it’s a short night gown that just falls past the waist.

3. Chemise

Chemise looks good on any body size. It’s a night gown with lots of lace and thin straps.

4. Lacy Negligee

Yearning to rock something free that night? No need for tees and baggy shorts. Just slip into a sexy negligee.

5. Garter Belts

Suspenders or suspender belts, also known as “garter belts” in the USA, are an undergarment consisting of an elasticated material strip usually at least 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) in width; it can be wider.

You can easily achieve a naughty girl look with these.

6. Robe

Robes are just right to clad on your wedding night. They ooze sexiness and style.

7. Boyshort Panties

Boyshort panties are comfy and totally sexy.

Certain colours like black, red and white go a long way too. You can never go wrong in these jaw-dropping lingerie ideas on your honeymoon.

Photo Credit: Hitched, WeddingServices, Otto, WeddingNetwork

Planning

8 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring A Caterer For Your Wedding

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Catering is an integral part of any ceremony especially a Nigerian wedding. In all you do, ensure your catering is topnotch or assign a trusted person to do so.

 

Here are a few relevant questions you need to ask before hiring any caterer.

1. Are you booked on my wedding date?

If the caterer is not available on your date, it’s a no-NO.

2. Have you ever worked at my venue before?

Some venues only allow approved caterers to work on their premises.  Whether or not that’s the case, it’s a good idea to find a caterer who is comfortable at your venue, though not a deal-breaker.

3.  Can I take a look at a sample menu?

Start by telling the caterer about your wedding – your style, the guest count, how you visualize the food, etc. and ask to see a menu from a wedding that’s similar. You’ll get a sense if you and the caterer are on the same page in terms of style.

4. Do you allow couples to customize their menus at all?

If you have specific requests or dietary restrictions, it’s important to find a caterer that’s flexible. Find out if the caterer would be open to preparing family favorites, if that’s important to you.

5. Will there be a pre-wedding tasting?

If so, is there a fee involved? Having a pre-wedding tasting is an important part of the planning process. Find out how the caterer’s tastings work – are they done before or after the contract is signed? What is included?

6. Do you provide rentals like tables, chairs, linens, etc.?

If the answer is no, your venue should be able to assist you with finding a rental company to work with.

7. What’s your typical ratio of servers to guests?

This depends on if you’d having a buffet or sit-down dinner. Usually sit-down dinners will have around a one server to 20 guest ratio or less, while for a buffet the guest count will be higher.

8. Who will be on site on my wedding day?

You’ll want to be sure that you meet the coordinator who will be at your wedding beforehand.

Whatever you do, make sure everything is 95% in order in the catering department.

Photo Credit: Cruise Africa, Bella Naija

Planning

You Should Avoid These 7 Foods A Night Before Your Wedding

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‘The wedding diet’ is as real as rain and also very important. You would not want an about-to-be-married you running down the aisle as a result of stomach upset or the like.

In a bid to avoid any drama between you and your stomach, you should be mindful of the meals you have a few days or a night before your wedding

Here are 7 meals you should stay away from ahead of your big day:

1. Junk Food

Apart from trying to banish food-induced baby bumps, you never can tell when junk food might upset your stomach. It is better to be safe than sorry.

2. Beans

Bacteria goes to work breaking down the food and causing serious amounts of gas and bloating when you eat beans. It’s wise to stay off this a night before your wedding.

3. Artificial Sweeteners

These can be referred to as ‘proxy’ sweeteners and are a no – no. Most times, they contain sugar alcohol, which can cause bloating. It’s best to cut down on sugar altogether.

4.  Salt

Salt causes the body to retain water and bloat around the mid-section. You may want to avoid meals with too much salt at this time.

5. Diary Products

Dairy is made up of an enzyme called lactase, which is responsible for lactose intolerance in 75% of the world’s population. The digestive system struggles to break down dairy, and indigestion causes gas and bloating. If you don’t want to feel stuffed on your day, avoid dairy products.

6. Soda

Carbon dioxide is the root cause of the bubbles found in soda, beer and champagne. Taking fizzy/soda drinks means ingesting those gases, which cause bloating and expansion around your mid-section.

7. Gum

No one would have guessed, right? A lot of chewing gums use sugar alcohols in production. As with artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols cause bloating – furthermore, single stick of gum can pack five calories and up to six grams of sugar.

You may be tempted to want to take some of these before your big day but you definitely do not want to feel any sort of discomfort on your wedding day. Replace fizzy drinks with water and avoid the rest of the above for a couple of days and you will be just fine!

Photo Credit: Cherbs.org