4 Ways to Make your Bride Happy on her Wedding Day.

Inspiration - #TayoAndDoyin2014

Sometimes last year, i was coordinating a wedding and noticed one or two things, especially after studying different brides wedding psychology (trust me, ladies have a totally different psyche when it comes to weddings). I realized that making a bride happy on her wedding day can be easy even when things are not going her way.

The big day is here, and it is the bride’s day to shine. There are so many things that could go wrong, but with the support of her friends, loved ones or a wedding coordinator/planner mishaps and emotional breakdowns can be avoided, and the day can end with a happy bride who will be forever thankful.

1. OFFER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT: Every wedding ceremony is different, as is every marriage. Sometimes brides can have this perfect picture in her head, and while we all hope for the best, life happens – even at your wedding ceremony. Try to be by her side and support her through the day. If things don’t seem to be going right, share a story of similar circumstances that you may have experienced.

2. MAKE SURE SHE IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW: Take extra care to go above and beyond her expectations. Remember, this is the day she has been dreaming about for most of her life! Is she a bride on a budget? Why not give her a gift of pampering? This especially holds true for bridesmaids. You are her emotional ‘body guards’ on this big day! She has been under immense pressure up to this point and really need all the support she can to go through the day.

3. WATCH YOUR WORDS: Everyone has their own opinions of how a wedding ceremony should go, how the bride and groom should look.You have to remember that the wedding day is not the day to criticize, or even add a friendly suggestion unless it is asked for. Your comment, no matter how helpful you intend for it to be, could end up being the straw that breaks the camel’s back. 

4. KEEP THE PEACE. So maybe you don’t care for the choice she made for the maid of honor or whatever the case might be. Remember that there is a time and place for everything and this is not the time to throw unkind words to anyone at the ceremony. 

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Food for Thought Friday: The Sunday Wedding.

When you begin planning a wedding, one of the first things you’re going to choose is the date. While Saturdays have undoubtedly remained the most popular day of the week for a wedding, there’s a new trend emerging: Sunday weddings. Given how often sought-after venues are booked solidly on Saturdays for up to a year or more in advance, it’s no surprise that Sundays are quickly gaining in popularity. They offer couples an opportunity to choose their ideal wedding weekend without waiting an extra year or giving up on their ideal venue. 

         

Moreso, there are great ways to cut costs and stay on budget. Many venues offer discounts for the space rental when you book a Sunday wedding, but that’s not the only place where you’ll save money. Because Sunday is considered a less-in-demand day of the week, there are also a number of vendors who are available and offer discounts, such as DJs, hair and makeup artists, and more. Even your out of town guests may be able to cut costs by avoiding popular travel days.

Please note that when you’re considering your guests, also keep in mind that having your celebration on a Sunday may impact how many guests can attend and how late they will be able to stay, as many of them will have to work on the Monday morning as we wouldn't want them dozing off at work. Sunday weddings typically end earlier in the evening.

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Wedding Tip of the Week

Opinions

Be prepared: Everyone will have an opinion and suggestion about what you should do, when, who and how you should do this or that.

Be as gracious as possible, thanking them for their ideas for your wedding. Don't conclude on anything until you have discussed with your spouse and you are both okay with it.

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Deal of the Day: Bobo's Chops

Bobo's Chops specializes in all types of cocktails and small chops for indoor and outdoor events. 

Founded in 2013, Bobo's Chops is headed by Olusile Kehinde Femi, who says he decided to have a package for budget couples after many complaints and wishes of some of his clients wanting a variety at their weddings but could not afford it. Hence, his decision to have this package to enable budget couples have a taste of their dream wedding reception without being in debt afterwards.

  

DEALS

- SMALL CHOPS ( samosa, springroll, puff puff, peppered gizzard or stick meat)

- CHAPMAN 

Price-  N450 (for both)

ASUN

N25,000- 50 people

N30,000- 70 people

N40,000- 100 people.

NOTE: ANYWHERE OUTSIDE LAGOS ATTRACTS AN ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION FEE. 

Telephone no: 08133946847 // 08067060664

E-mail: boboschops@gmail.com

page: www.facebook.com/boboschops

Promo code- #just budget weddings

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How to Discourage " Plus One's " at your Wedding without offending anyone.

For those of you wondering what "plus one" means, it means bringing a date, I invite you and you bring another person, it could be a friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, fiancée/fiancé, sister or brother. 

QUESTION: "My guest list is adding up, and I do not have room to add on plus-ones for certain people, but how do I deal with the plus-one issue for my reception party? I don’t want to upset them, but I also don’t want them bringing a date that my fiancé and I don’t know as a couple." 

LA' HEIRESS ANSWERS:

If you are not comfortable with a member of your wedding party bringing their significant other to your wedding, it’s best to address the situation with her one-on-one. Keep in mind that it is 100% acceptable to request this, if they are newly dating or if they are in a long-term relationship or married. Be upfront and honest from the start. Don’t just rely on an invitation with the "plus one" warning, as people dont normally read thoroughly. It can cause unnecessary drama on the wedding day, if he or she brings a plus one and the security doesn't let them in.

Explain that you are trying to keep your wedding intimate and small. Stress how important her role is to your big day and ensure that she knows you appreciate her understanding.

In the end, it is your wedding and you and your fiancé should be completely comfortable and content with every single person attending. It’s understandable to want to please everyone, but, unfortunately, this is not reality when it comes to working with a budget or size restrictions.

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Sunday Specials: Mark Zuckerberg (facebook billionaire) Surprise Wedding.

The wedding announcement was classic Facebook: Zuckerberg simply updated his profile to: “Married to Priscilla Chan.” The news had almost 850,000 “likes” Sunday evening.

The couple pulled off the stealth nuptials by inviting not more than 100 guests to what they thought was a surprise party for Chan (his then girlfriend), who graduated from medical school at the University of Califonia, which also happened to be Zuckerberg’s birthday.

HOW DID THEY MANAGE TO PULL THIS OFF?

The surprise was on their friends: The wedding had been in the works for months. The ceremony took place in the backyard of the newlyweds’ home. The bride wore a white dress with a lace overlay and received a simple ruby wedding ring designed by Zuckerberg. (Awww.)

What’s most impressive (aside from Zuck’s suit) was that they managed to keep it under wraps. Celebrity weddings usually leak out from a guest or vendor. Chan and Zuckerberg used the classic bait-and-switch tactic employed by Julia Roberts for her Fourth of July marriage to Danny Moder in 2004: Invite all your friends for a party, then spring the wedding on them. All your loved ones in attendance, but no advance gossip.

And that's how they pulled it off!

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Food For Thought Friday: Expensive Weddings, is it really wise?

 You can look at your wedding in two ways:

1. A wedding day or

2. A first day of your married life.

If you look at it as the first day of  your married life, then you have to think in the best interest of your new family and set your family up from the first day for success as husband and wife and not sink your ship in financial debt.

Buying the most expensive items, looking at the weddings you have attended and following the same venue styles/size, food, expensive wedding cakes, dresses, professional video/camera  crew, entertainment, suits and more guests than anyone can handle. All of these items add up and the pressure cooker doesn’t rise until after the wedding day, when all the bills are sitting on your table and you have a headache like never before in your life. Then reality kicks in and you start to realize how you could have been wise on your wedding day and invested in the future of your marriage instead because trust me, it won't be fun with her if you cant put food on the table.

If you are in it for the long haul and not just for the financial benefits, then enjoy yourselves but keep everything in perspective and don’t look at others to have fun at your own wedding. You  will therefore have a more relaxed and enjoyable experience all together and you will still be a prince/princess for years to come rather than  just on that day.

I will end by saying, if you have the means for a lavish wedding and you are sure you will not starve after the 'one day event ', then you can decide to have an expensive wedding. But then again, is it wise?

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Wedding tip of the week.

From ressearch, guests remember two things the most from weddings- 

1. The food and 

2. The music

If you want your guests to be talking about your wedding for weeks after the day, then send them home with good memories.

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Wedding Budget Tips Wednesday: The FAKE Wedding CAKE

Having an artifical or fake wedding cake is the perfect solution if you want an elaborate wedding cake to show off as a stunning centerpiece. Many wedding couples still want their big dream wedding, so wedding cake rentals are now beginning to take off.

However, if you are planning to make one yourself, here's a little info for you; fakes cakes are made of soft foam called Styrofoam and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They either come in solid or hollow shapes. Some popular shapes are round, square, hexagon, heart shape, rectangular, singular, tiered, different sheet cake sizes, small cupcakes, oval and even lopsided whimsical tiered shapes. 

The fake cake is usually frosted with an icing that is made from gum paste and fondant and beautifully finished off and decorated with either fresh flowers or elaborate sugar artwork. 

If you are planning to have an elaborate cake and don't have the money for it, then this can be a good alternative.

 Pro tip:

- Another option is to have the entire bottom tier made with real wedding cake and tiered with fake tiers on top. 

It's your choice - you can rent, make or buy a fake cake.

Olamide~ The Heiress

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The difference between an Event Planner and an Event Coordinator

When it comes to event planning careers, many people outside of our industry get confused at the difference between an Event Planner and an Event Coordinator. Generally speaking, the planner makes the critical decisions regarding the what, when, who and how. She plans the event from conception to finsh, source for the vendors, organise them...

An event coordinator on the other hand, is responsible for making sure all the details are executed, and that each vendor shows up on time and performs appropriately. A Coordinator may decide to get to action a few weeks to the wedding or on the D- day.

Larger organizations may have two coordinators for every planner, while smaller operations might only have one coordinator that serves the needs of all executive decision makers. Now that isn't to say event coordinators have it easy. Most of them have the difficult task of organizing everything on-site with only a few hours before the event begins. This of course is when most problems occur, which is why a good coordinator needs to be focused, organized and resourceful.

Event Coordinators are normally cheaper to hire than Event Planners. You can decide to plan your wedding yourself (source for vendors, agree on a price that's within your budget) and hire a Coordinator to organise your vendors and the event, taking the stress totally off you on your wedding day. 

Olamide~ The Heiress

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Re: How to Achieve the N500,000 wedding in Nigeria; Comments and Replies

On Saturday, our breakdown of the N500,000 budget wedding appeared on Nairaland's front page and generated a lot of buzz! You can read the reactions here: http://www.nairaland.com/2188900/how-achieve-n500000-budget-wedding

So, to address some of the issues, questions and comments raised, we decided to post a response. Hope we got to answer all your questions. Read on...

Thank you everyone for your contributions and comments. Our company is all about low budget weddings in Nigeria and helping couples save wedding costs. We believe a wedding does not have to be expensive to be memorable. You can follow our blog on www.justbudgetweddings.blogspot.com to get regular updates on promos, great deals and wedding packages. You can also contact us directly on 08103193930


Its good to cut your coat according to ur cloth, but oga, invitation card na just. 1k u put oh, so na only sms we go use invite? * none of my friend be MC oh, even if they are, I am a business man and won't ask for freebies as its friends and familly that kill business.* wedding gown and accessories for 15k, wedding na once in a life time, na sow una go sow d gown? With d way dollar don run leave naira for back, 15k no go buy gown talk of shoe. 
LMAO! Yes, SMS alone is sufficient for the 100 guests. At the rate of N4 per sms, you would have spent just N400. You can use the remaining to resend or even call important people.
As for the wedding gown, we omitted the fact that it was rented. For N10,000 to N15,000 you can rent a very decent wedding gown.

Oh well...Tell me how I can manage 200k
It all depends on how realistic you are with your expectations. And most importantly, your guest list. We specialize in Low Budget Weddings. Contact us 08103193930



Again I hope Nigerian youths take this number of guest thing very seriously,  nothing like mummy's list,  father in laws class mates,  brothers friend etc, STRICTLY BY INVITATION should be stressed in the bulk sms. 
Biko economy is hard 
EXACTLY!!!

The morale of this write up is not to limit anyone but to explain financial prudency as regards marriage spendings , 
I've always mentioned it that more than 25% of the expenses of every elaborate wedding is not needed , so with proper planning , you can always have a dream wedding without having to burn your purse.
E.O.T William CBT, Member IAeng, ASHM :)
This is exactly what we have been preaching!



Many facilities offer rental services for wedding dresses which I consider helpful. Why should you spend 100k on what you'd wear for a few hours only, except Ofcus you have the money The argument goes back and forth but if you can tent your dream car just for the wedding,  why not do same for your wears?
Many of us don't understand that even the westerners practise this rental services very often. wedding doesn't have to always be a luxury,  it's a necessity 


Just imagine, makeup for 30k, make my hair with 3500, ring for both of us  6500 and gown 15k. Mtchewwwwwwww.
My hubby will then wear a suit of 5k, sha na my houseboy or escort? :o
Op you try but that 30k is too much for makeup biko.
30k for makeup is actually a VERY good deal considering that professional makeup artists usually change from 60k up to 250k and above.


30k is cheap sef.... Hehehehe you've not heard of 250k?
Heard of Jide of stOla? Guy is gooooooooood but he's damn expensive..250k, minus accommodation ooo! And that must be provided!!
Exactly!!! Not even only Jide of stOla. All the big makeup artists in Nigeria charge similar prices; we have done our research.

Nice one but I bet you that I can offer you quality and presentable cakes far below that range. But OP u deserve an applause
We love low cost vendors, as long as they don't compromise on quality. Please contact us on 08103193930 and let's discuss on how to work together.

But (op) u need to tell us where to get those things at cheap prices like u listed, concerning the hall, chairs, tables and canopies. 
U can't get those things u listed at cheaper price in some towns maybe in villages will will get those cheap even decorations 
Please follow our blog at www.justbudgetweddings.blogspot.com We regularly list promos, deals and low cost vendors. Thank you


Why should I pay Usher 32k for what? My friends and my silbing are there to help....only appreciate them with TP money. BUT in all we need to budget it well not to overspend.
Yes, you can use friends/sisters, but family members might not do the job as effectively. (for example, their attention might be need for other things) Besides, for this particular bride, we were already using two of her sisters as event coordinators. Lastly, ushers add a touch of glamour, class and orderliness to your event. It is usually money well-spent.

850 for a plate of food for somebody working with a budget of 500k is way too much. 300-400 will get your guests good food.
If you know a caterer that can supply for at N300-400, please let us know!


Sweetie, I didn't get to see a picture of you on your profile.  :(

Nevertheless, a lady should get excellent makeup done, especially on her wedding! A MUST! Fantastic makeup is NOT about a display of colours on the face! You can get a natural look with makeup!

Also gurl, as regards what was spent on the bride and groom, it was their choice. The Bride's look is usually more expensive than the groom's, that's stale news.

I mean, guys get a hair cut for 1k (at least that's how much he spends on his cut) but the cheapest hair I can have done: the weave, (I'm sure you know how much a good weave costs) and the fixing will cost some five digits. Then you have others...

My headtie alone for trad costs 15k. Me I no even know the kind headtie! All I know be say, my mum in law to be insist say na that headtie I must tie and she buy am herself.  :P

So, it depends on the couple and what they can afford! What I won't tolerate is having big eye and long throat when you ain't got the bills. Don't start making elaborate plans and delude yourself into thinking there are people who are obligated to pay the bills. And also don't use up all your savings for your wedding! That's just being financially dumb!
Well said!

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Sunday Specials: Uche Jombo's Intimate Wedding

Celebrity Weddings are not so easy to keep out of the media. As a foremost Nollywood actress, her face is a constant feature in movies, magazines and red carpets. But somehow, Uche and her husband Kenny had managed to keep their wedding intimate and small.

In 2012, Nollywood actress Uche Jombo got married to her sweetheart Kenny Rodriguez at a beautiful wedding ceremony at Mariot Courtyard, Marriot Isla Verde Beach Resort in Puerto Rico.

With Celebrity weddings regularly taking the limelight, people were shocked that Uche opted for a quiet wedding. In Uche's words, she explains why she opted for a quiet wedding ceremony away from the lens of the media: "We kept it hush hush because it wasn't totally about me; it was about him getting used to this path I have chosen. This was about taking control of my private life."

THE WEDDING PLANS

The wedding plans were simple: have a quiet, beautiful wedding at the Mariot in the presence of close friends and family. There were no hassles over aso-ebi or what musician to invite for the after party or how many cows to slaughter. It wasn't a public jamboree. It was a merging of two kindred souls.

It was mostly Uche's dream wedding. She wanted a beach wedding. She saw a wedding happening at the resort when she was on vacation and it was beautiful and she decided that she would love her wedding to be like that.

To brides out there, if a celebrity can have an intimate wedding, so can you!

Photo Credits: Wow Magazine

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The N495,000 comprehensive wedding package.

If the cost of weddings in Nigeria has been freaking you out of getting married, then you really don't have an excuse anymore. With our N495,000 BUDGET WEDDING PACKAGE, we have taken care of the most important items, condensing the best deals and promos from different vendors into a delicious package, without compromising on standard quality. Believe us when we say you won't get this anywhere else! Read on to get the details:

FOOD (250 guests)
Jollof Rice / Fried Rice / Moin Moin / Meat
One serving stand

WEDDING CAKE
3-tier wedding cake

BRIDAL MAKEUP
Engagement & Wedding (Just Bride)

HALL DECORATION
Table covers, Chair covers, Lighting, Stage, Red carpet walkway,
Backdrop, Wall drapes, Sofa for couple

DRINKS
Soft drinks and water (250 people)

USHERS
5 ushers for the reception

INVITATIONS (50)
Printed Wedding invitations for 50 people and bullk SMS for 200 people

PHOTOGRAPHY
Pre-wedding shoot, Engagement Ceremony, Wedding & Reception, One 3D Photobook, DVD of photos, One large frame

EVENT COORDINATION SERVICES
We bring all your remaining vendors together to make sure they deliver on the event day.

Note: This package is only available to couples getting married in Ibadan and Ogun State. Weddings in Lagos and other places will attract a small additional costs. To book or make inquiries, call 08103193930 or PIN:5155FEF3. 

Photo Credits: All photos by Xtrm Creations

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7 Tips on how to choose the Wedding Ring

1.WHAT MATERIAL IS RIGHT FOR ME?

Wedding rings comes in different metals, silver, gold, platinum, titanium, wood. A number of factors will determine the options available to you.

2. BUDGET 

Silver, wood and titanium rings tend to be priced at the lower end of the spectrum. 9ct gold rings tend to come next and then 18ct gold, with 22ct gold and platinum rings fetching the highest prices.

3. DURABILITY

If you’re looking for a wedding ring to sit alongside an engagement ring, a practical choice would be to select a wedding ring in the same metal as your engagement ring. Some metals are softer than others, and wearing a softer metal next to a harder one can mean that the softer one is worn away over time.

4. COLOUR

If you decide you’d prefer a ring in a white metal, you can choose between silver, steel, titanium, 9ct or 18ct white gold, palladium or platinum. When it comes to white gold, you may decide to have your ring rhodium plated, which gives white gold a whiter appearance. If you like the colour of yellow gold, bear in mind that 9ct yellow gold is a paler colour than 18ct. And when it comes to rose gold, 9ct is a deeper colour than 18ct, which has a softer tone.

5. WHAT PROFILE AM I LOOKING FOR?

The term ‘profile’ describes the shape of the cross-section of a ring. A ring with an ‘oval’ profile will be slightly rounded on the inside and outside. A ring with a ‘rectangular’ section will have a flat inside and outside, with straight edges.

6. WHAT WIDTH WOULD SUIT ME MOST?

Some hands are most flattered by a narrow ring, and others suit chunkier, wider styles. It’s only by trying on different rings that you’ll get a sense of what suits you best.

7. WHAT FINISH AM I LOOKING FOR?

From rings with a rough, hammered, organic finish, to those with a fine texture, to those that are highly polished. It all really depends on what you want or prefer, like they say, one man's meat is another man's poison.

8. WHERE CAN I GET AFFORDABLE AND NICE RINGS?

- Rings N Bands  

 32, Opebi Road, Ikeja Lagos.   

08132987938

- Riana Collection   

Shop B28, Adeniran Shopping Mall, Surulere Lagos.   

08128248910/ 08034815434

- Franchy Bridals   

2nd floor, 46 Balogun Street, Lagos Island.   

08033351658/ 08036645946

You can also try the gold markets at Ilorin, Kwara State; Tejuosho, Yaba; Oshodi Market.

Do you know any other place one can get rings? Please tell us in the comments. Thank you.

Olamide ~ The Heiress

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Deal of the Day: Wedding Catering Deal by Infusions Catering Services

Infusions Catering Services is a boutique catering outfit geared towards creating, preparing and serving up wholesome and delightful meals.
They have a broad selection of items on their menu with local and foreign influences. They cater to a wide range of events including weddings, anniversaries, meetings, birthdays as well as luncheons and festive parties. They've also been known to make home deliveries of delectable meals to clients who don't have the time to spend in the kitchen.

Founded in 2013, Infusions Catering is headed by Arinola Adesina. A self-professed food enthusiast with a passion for dreaming up and creating and serving up delightful, lip-smacking goodness. She'll be quick to tell you that she LOVES food: the visuals, the flavors, the textures and the taste! She believes that food is sacred and each ingredient must be treated with the utmost care and respect in order to get the best possible results in any meal.

In their experience with working with clients, they've come to realize that quite a number of people, particularly brides want catering services which offer them the best value for money; delicious fare on the menu without having them break the bank what with so many aspects of a wedding which also require a portion of a tight budget. Hence their offer of the budget catering package tailored to meet this precise need at a price that's just right.

THE OFFER FOR WEDDINGS

For the price of N900:
- A meal of rice, amala or semo
- Rice: Jollof, fried, moi moi, salad, chicken and fish.
- Swallow: Amala, efo elegusi or ego riro, chicken and fish.
- A bottle of water and a bottle of soda for each guest.
- Minimum of a hundred (100) guests.

Also a Chinese meal package for N1,200
- Chinese fried rice, Chinese noodles, shredded beef sauce.
- A bottle of water and a bottle of soda.

Any of the four meals can be combined in quantities to make 100 guests.

Infusions Catering Services can be reached on the numbers 08026929460 and 08038086289 (calls, SMS and whatsapp), BBM 534D1188 or email infusionscatering@gmail.com to find out how they can bring your
catering dreams to reality.

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The Best Way to Deal With a Bridezilla + Video: Dolapo Oni is a Bridezilla!

Most people in the wedding planning business can probably attest to the fact that planning and executing a wedding is a very stressful process, even for professionals. And it’s this pressure that causes many brides to transform into Bridezillas.

In fact, after my personal experience and watching series of episodes of bridezillas gone wild, I’ve found that some brides can turn from sweet to evil overnight. So before you accept bridesmaid duties, know exactly what you might be getting yourself into.

Let me first say that I’m a romantic at heart and I enjoy seeing two people in love get married. But there is something to be said about a bride who treats her wedding like a dictator running a third world country. And by the way, bridezillas don’t affect only the maid of honour. No, no, no, my friends, it seems that everyone- Bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents, vendors, flower girls (yes, even little innocent children) must fear the wrath of a bridezilla about to walk down the aisle.

The Go-With-The-Flow Approach

For me, the easiest way to handle a bridezilla is to simply go with the flow. Just do anything and everything she wants without complaining. I watched a rehearsal dinner once, where the bride told the bridal party, “Just go with the G-d damn flow, people!” This bridezilla was so intense. Her attitude also affected family relations. As I watched this bridezilla devolve into an unmannerly tyrant over the wedding planning, I was thankful not to be directly involved, but then, I will encounter many bridezillas in my Wedding Planning journey (so help me God). After my personal experience, I realized that, going with the flow is the best way to go. There is really no point arguing with a bride on her wedding day. After all, it's her 'wedding' day. 

On a lighter note, enjoy the video below, of Dolapo Oni transformed into a bridezilla. Share your experience with us. E-mail: olamide@la-heiress.com

Olamide ~ The Heiress

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CofoundHER found me.

Photo Credits: @olanshile

Sometimes last week, I woke up to an e-mail from CofoundHER (an organization that inspires, celebrates and promotes female entrepreneurs in Africa), which read thus, "You are receiving this mail because you are one of Africa's female entrepreneurs we admire and we would like to show our appreciation by promoting you and your business." I was elated! And this was how I was promoted today, March 8th, 2015. (International Women's Day). 

I am still in awe and I really don't know how to express my gratitude.

For the female entrepreneurs out there, follow CofoundHER on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and be inspired!

Instagram: @cofoundher

Twitter: @cofoundHER

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cofoundher

Thank you cofoundHER, for promoting Budget Weddings in Nigeria. Once again, happy International Women's Day.

Olamide ~ The Heiress.

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Happy International Women's Day.

All around the world, International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.

Make It Happen is the 2015 theme for the internationalwomensday.com global hub, encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women. Each year International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8.

Happy International Women's Day to all the WOMEN in the world! We MAKE IT HAPPEN!

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This couple is allowing BRANDS sponsor their wedding. Would you?

How far would you go to save cost on your wedding?

A Florida based couple is trying to save money by pitching it as the ultimate out-of-the-box sponsorship opportunity for corporate brands.

Photo Credits: SponsorOurWedding.com

When they got engaged, they sat down to analyse the cost for their wedding and realized that they will not be able to afford a small wedding nor a big one. Hence, their decision to pitch the idea of Companies sponsoring their wedding as a means of advertisement for the companies. So far three companies have come to their rescue. Lucky them!

Tell us: Will you be willing to have a company sponsor your entire wedding in exchange for covering all of the costs?

Olamide ~ The Heiress

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Video: Save Money by Doing Your Wedding Makeup Yourself!

Gather up, budget brides! This is the first in our Do-It-Yourself (DIY) series. We stumbled on this video on YouTube and it is an excellent way to learn how to do your wedding makeup yourself. Easy as ABC!

With the services of professional makeup artists ranging from N30,000 to N400,000, this is the perfect opportunity to cut costs and save some hard cash.

This would take some practice though. But no worries; you are in good company. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, did her wedding makeup herself during the great Royal Wedding of 2011. If royalty can do it, so can you! Anyway, let's not digress. Watch the video below and get started!

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The Importance of a Pre-Wedding Consultation.

If you have asked yourself what wedding consultants actually do, you really should be asking when it comes to weddings, what do wedding consultants NOT do.

A wedding consultation is a meeting to discuss your ideas, budget and expectations and help in putting an actual plan in place. They also help you in defining a timeline structure for your wedding day that incorporates your exciting plans and they provide helpful bridal resources such as wedding checklists for budget planning, photography, caterers, makeup artist.... Providing as much information as possible to a wedding consultant can help them meet your expectations. This meeting helps them understand the style you would like to achieve.

At La' Heiress, we know that each couple is different and deserves a different service based on their own needs. Isn't it a relief to know that you can get great packages and deals that incorporate the areas concerning photography, decorator, DJ, videographer and MC? Our wedding consultation period is to simplify details that go into your big day, inspire you with wonderful innovative ideas to personalise your wedding celebration, instill confidence in you to bring off a memorable ceremony and reception party and more importantly, for you to have some fun while doing it.

Our package also comes with our wedding idea brochure, designed for the "Do-It-Yourself" bride.

Many brides have dreamt of this day and already have some preconceived ideas of how they would like their weddings to look. A good wedding consultant will help a bride achieve all her preconceived ideas flawlessly.

Olamide~ The Heiress

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How to Achieve the N500,000 Budget Wedding In Nigeria

"HOW MUCH IS NEEDED TO PLAN A SMALL WEDDING IN NIGERIA?"

I get asked this question a whole lot. I personally think that it is a wrong question to ask. Why? For one, I don't know how much you earn and do not run your accounts. Instead, I will suggest you ask something in line of: I have X amount, how can I make it work for a wedding?

One thing you should know is that no matter how much you have, you can still have a great wedding if you are realistic on your expectations. You can't have it all but you can have it great.

First thing first,come up with a budget. Read my article here on "Creating the wedding budget" for tips on how to create the wedding budget.


THE N500,000 BUDGET WEDDING IN NIGERIA

The first thing is to have a realistic guest list. You can't have N500,000 and want to host 500 people unless you don't want to feed them. Read here on how to trim your wedding guest list.

For the N500,000 wedding, the bride had prioritized what was important to her, which was her makeup and the feeding. The couple agreed on 100 guests. I did not plan the wedding, neither did I coordinate. WHAT DID I DO? During the consultation, which took place about 6 months to the wedding just after their introduction, I advised them on how and where to cut costs and also introduced some vendors to them. The good thing was, they were open to my opinions and it made everything much easier.

Here is the breakdown for the N500,000 wedding

WEDDING DRESS AND BRIDAL ACCESSORIES- (N15,000, all rented from La' Heiress Rentals).
WEDDING SHOES- she wore a silver shoe she already had. (She didn't change into a reception dress)

WEDDING RINGS (bride and groom)- N6,500. (You can always buy more expensive rings after the wedding when you have more money)

GROOM'S OUTFIT- 5,000 (wore a suit and shoe he already had, so he only bought a shirt and tie)

BRIDAL HAIR AND NAILS- N3,500 (permed her hair and styled it into a tight bun, the doughnut way)

MAKEUP (just bride)- N30,000 (IMADE Beauty Makeovers)

INVITATION CARDS -BULK SMS- N1,000

RECEPTION VENUE (open field) -N50, 000

RENTALS OF TABLES, CHAIRS AND CANOPIES- N20,000

DECORATION- N40,000

DJ- N30,000 (They didn't use a live band. The DJ played all kinds of songs even for the older generation)

CAKE- N30,000 - 3 tiers of cake

FOOD- N85,000 (N850 per plate, jollof and fried rice, amala, moin moin and 2 pieces of meat; with 5 servers, chaffing dishes, plates and cutlery) Caterer: Incredible Edibles

DRINKS- N30,000 (water, soft drinks, with drums and ice blocks)

PHOTOGRAPHY- N80,000 (full event coverage, one photobook, pre-wedding shoot, one DVD of all the pictures) Photographer: Xtrm Creations

MC- friend of the groom N0.00

SOUVENIRS- N25,000

5 USHERS- N32,500 (La' Heiress Hostesses)

EVENT COORDINATION (N7,000)- La' Heiress trained two of the bride's sisters on what they needed to do a few weeks to the wedding and also on the wedding day.

TOTAL COST- N490,500

Was it a successful wedding? Yes! Trust me when I tell you that it was hell getting some of the vendors that were willing to work with the prices but that is our job and that is where we come in.
‎
Olamide~ The Heiress
08103193930.

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