Are you engaged and having a Yoruba traditional wedding? Congratulations!! Yoruba Traditional Wedding Checklist and Guide is specially created to seamlessly guide you and help you keep things organized while planning for your big day. For a wedding on a short schedule, just start at the beginning of the list and move as quickly as possible. You should consider creating a gift registry to get the right wedding gifts.
DISCOVER YOUR: White Wedding Checklist
6 – 12 months before
- The groom and his family visits the bride-to-be’s family to ask for their daughter’s hand in marriage.
- Determine wedding budget and how expenses will be shared among families and sponsors. See our How to save money on your wedding and #Funkesays: How to make a wedding budget
- (Optional) Set a date for a formal Introduction (“momi mo e”) and inform both parents, friend(s) and relative(s) who will accompany the groom.
- Collect the bride price list (‘Eru Iyawo’).
- Set the engagement or traditional wedding date and venue.
- Select a traditional wedding planner if you need one. See #Funkesays: Why you need a wedding planner, Questions for your potential planner and #Funkesays: Here’s how to pick a wedding planner.
3 – 6 months before
- Get a right-hand man/woman or assistant you can trust to help you through the wedding preparation.
- Pick traditional wedding colour(s) and attire (‘aso-ebi’). Also fabrics for the bride/groom attire and the family attire. See #FunkeSays: Choosing Your Wedding Colours.
- Take engagement pictures to be printed on souvenirs, invitation cards and to be used on social media.
- Meet a printer and start making arrangement for your invitation card, program, souvenirs etc.
- Research and hire a photographer and videographer. See our Tips to select your wedding photographer.
- Research and hire a caterer.
- Research and hire a decorator.
- Research and hire an Alaga (Yoruba Wedding MC).
- Arrange for music that will be played at the ceremony. This could involve securing a DJ, a solo artiste and/or a band. See our wedding song list.
- Research and hire a makeup artist and hair stylist.
- Start compiling a guests list.
- Make arrangement for transportation and accommodation.
1 – 3 months before
- Collect invitation cards and start distributing to guests.
- Order your traditional attires and family attires as well.
- Check with vendors to remind them and make initial payments if you haven’t.
- Start purchase of all the items on the Bride Price List (“Eru iyawo”).
- Order your traditional wedding cake.
- Confirm all transportation and accommodation plans.
2 – 4 weeks before
- Confirm details (arrival location, times, etc.) with all vendors (caterer, photographer etc.)
- Have final fitting and adjustment of traditional wedding attires and dry clean where necessary.
- Meet and discuss seating arrangement.
- Confirm that items on the bride price list are complete and wrapped.
- Compile and carry list of all vendors with contact information.
- Setup a meeting with both families and sort out details, seating arrangement, arrival time etc.
- Meet with the MC to discuss guest list and the program of event.
- Appoint an assistant to oversee vendors. Handover vendor’s contact information to him/her.
- Write or purchase engagement letter.
1 week before
- Make arrangement for a reliable person(s) to collect cash sprayed on that day.
- Have final beauty treatment.
- Make final payments or set aside remaining payments to be made to vendors on the traditional day in envelopes and hand over to the assistant.
- Go over details in case something has been left out.
Day before wedding
- Enjoy a time with friends and family.
- Get some rest and sleep early.
- Ask the assistant to contact all vendors to remind them and ensure they deliver as planned.
- Review any possible contingency plans.
- Handover the engagement letter to your assistant.
On traditional wedding day
- Have a good breakfast.
- Ensure the elders and families leave early to deliberate on the bride price list.
- Get dressed at least 2 hours before.
- Arrive 1 hour before the ceremony. Have fun, smile, be calm and dance. Make it memorable. It only happens once in a lifetime.
Post-wedding day
- Finalize outstanding payment for vendors.
- Follow up with family and friends.
- Send out thank you messages to your contacts and make thank you calls if necessary.