Traditional wedding/engagement in 1 month - HELP PLS!

I'm pretty much ready for the white wedding january... but the traditional engagement/wedding is in august and I have no idea what I am doing lol

* GIFTS - we've got drinks, all the traditional stuff like kola nuts, bible etc etc...but at a friends engagement recently, they had placed each bottle in a basket and surrounded it with fruits and wrapped it with that florists cellophane and tied it with a bow!!!! We were just planning to hand the gifts over!!!!! dear lord... who knew it was all so specific... do you think this will be expected?!

* OUTFIT - need style ideas...have got the material - wax java print., its mint/turquoise green with purple and gold...i need shoes and have no time to shop - PLSSSS HELP!...

* HAIR - I have very little as shaved my head a few months back. I usually just comb it and stick a flower in or hairband... should i just tie my head with a gele or get a really nice hairband/flower?

* FAVOURS - I'd quite like to stay away from the whole personalised keyring/mug thing...any ideas that are cost effective. I had considered getting some fortune cookies personalised with our trad. wedding date on the back (of the little fortune note).. but then they eat it and its gone.. any other CHEAP ideas pls! ; )

* MUSIC - its a house/home affair... do i need a dj or will a good playlist on my ipod with decent speakers and a watchful cousin or 2 suffice?

* FOOD - being sorted by mum.

* DECOR - we're having a marquee put up in the garden as house will not accommodate our guest list of 75 (and rising!)... I dont want it to look like me just chucked up a tent at the last minute and would like to make a bit of effort with it, as h2bs seem to taking it quite seriously (a good thing, I am sure! ; ))...

we're thinking a few clusters of purple and gold balloons and red roses with maybe the odd purple flower if they exist.. any tips, greatly appreciated.


* CHAIRS - I am told the elders need special chairs to sit on, will our dining chairs do, if everyone else is just on fold-up chairs?

ok, i think that is about all - phew... over to you guys... plllllllllllllssssssssss plan our engagement and wait for the pix!!!! ; )


M
xx
:lol:

Hi Ibiduni for Nana,

haven;t been on here for a while and didn't want to read and run, you sound a bit frantic! I don't know that much about the engagement shebang but I gather it's as formal or informal as you want it.

For example we're not having gifts/favours for ours, but one thing that's quite popular now is the notebooks/pads, my mum got one from a wedding recently and really loved it. She used to hate all the tupperware as our house got a bit overrun with them!

For shoes, don't know where you are based but try Liverpool Street, it's expected to have matching shoe and bag similar to your gele colour. you know our people love to match!

Also with music, we're just having talking drums to welcome everyone as the Alagas will be talking through the whole thing anyway (that's the hosts from bride and groom side).

You could have back up music on an ipod if it;s going to be a party later, but the ones I've been to people just eat and drink and go home after.

Never seen the elders on special chairs, if anything its the couple that need special chairs.Nothing fancy just maybe a bit decorated to set the couple apart from everyone. if you buy any of the Naij mags, Event, Infinity, Vintage etc, then you'll get a better idea of what I mean.

From what I gather engagement is all about bringing the bride out to meet her new family and say goodbye to her family but not before they've got a LOT of money from the groom's side. Also really love it when the bride;s parents pray for her when she goes to say goodbye to them.
The last one I went to the dad got really choked up as he said goodbye to his daughter.

Anyway, just wanted to say don't worry make sure there's plenty to eat and drink and let the rest take care of itself. That's what people remember anyway.

I'm really leaving the planning of the engagement to my mum to be honest, so I'm sure your mum will know best. Enjoy! X

[Modified by: writergal on July 22, 2009 08:13 PM]