By Joy Essien
Imagine this scenario.
A busy location bustling with activities. Not so easy movement of vehicles in and out of the place because of the large number of people attending and no proper arrangement for logistics. Congestion and chaos are usually the hallmark of these gatherings. With no team in charge of coordinating at the venue, things are bound to be rowdy with people screaming instructions over people’s heads and emergency on-the-spot traffic officers being frustrated at how stubborn we can be as a people.
The event goes into full swing with over 10 photographers present but uncoordinated. All in front of the stage, trying to get their best shots and some others taking pictures of the guests.
Over 20 bloggers invited and paid to make the event trend online.
Then there’s also the vendors. Food vendors in particular, who seem to have favorites. So when they’re not hoarding food, they’re serving some and ignoring others. One thing is certain everyone is talking at once at the top of their voice and moving at the same time. Did I mention the music? Well, it’s at the loudest so if you want to be heard, you’ve got to scream, baby.
Then there are the asoebi girls. I call them the pepper dem asoebi girls, doing the most. Loud makeup, outlandish outfits and those very unladylike dance steps that never is in sync with their outfits. And the outfits, well, it’s usually a case of tight corsets with 89% cleavage shoved in our faces. Corsets so tight, it threatens to cut off oxygen supply. And the part that frustrates photographers is the endless selfies that always gets into their shots.
This, unfortunately, is what many Naija weddings have become. That is why Temi Otedola’s wedding to Tosin Ajibade (Mr. Eazi) felt like a true breath of fresh air. With its soft European minimalist theme beautifully blended with old-school Hollywood glamour, the celebration was flawlessly planned from start to finish—offering timeless lessons on how weddings can be done differently.
They went the old fashion way of eliminating bloggers and doing a Vogue exclusive. Pure class. And the locations for her wedding? Beautiful. In Dubai, it was in the backyard of her father’s mansion. In Iceland, the hills and the Hallgrimskirkja chapel looked like scenes from the movie “Damsel.” The civil wedding theme was practically singing the old song, “Just the 2 of Us.”
With that John Legend stunt, the loud music wasn’t missed at all. King Sunny Ade made an appearance, too. You know he doesn’t just show up anywhere. I didn’t see a bridal train, neither did I see asoebi girls scrambling for equal attention and visibility. But I saw family and close friends.
Did I talk about her wedding dress? It was sheer perfection. All of them. I’m yet to get over the Audrey Hepburn inspired gown by Fendi. Best part, she was all covered up. Girl knew what she wanted. It was a hit back to back.
The wedding didn’t do too much. Events like this should be a template for how better we can organise our wedding events going forward.
- Joy Mfon Essien is a Contributing Editor for Lagos Metropolitan
