Do you anticipate a smooth wedding ceremony? Read here on what you must not fail to include in your list. Also, you can stay organised with a free download of ‘My Wedding Checklist of Items and Services’ template in PDF to use for your compilation. Click here.
Nigerian white wedding ceremony like any other formal ceremony requires careful thought, planning, evaluation and budgeting. A vital aspect of planning for the wedding ceremony is the listing of items and services you need for the event.
No doubt, you may have consulted with family and close friends who have their own taste of experience in listing and scouting for items.
Still, you may be apprehensive about those vital details you are probably forgetting to include. You have every reason to be fussed over those items and services you need on that day.
Read Also: 9 things to Consider when Planning a Wedding
After all, a smooth ceremony is what anyone would anticipate for their own wedding.
However, it can be disappointing when seemingly unimportant details are overlooked from the very start and later become necessary on the day of event.
For this reason, I have compiled a list below to provide guidance on essential items and services to bear in mind.
The details provided below take into consideration circumstances peculiar to wedding events-handling in Nigeria. The list is categorised under bridal accessories, groom accessories, wedding emergency kit, wedding key players’ accessories, ceremony items and services, reception items and services, and logistics and services.
BRIDAL ACCESSORIES
Certainly, brides are the most searched out and eye-catching celebrants in white wedding events. Can you imagine visiting a wedding ceremony without taking a keen glance at the bride?
A silent thought of dissatisfaction, curiosity and whatever you may call it would likely hunt you by the time you leave the venue.
Brides are quite iconic in white wedding ceremonies. No wonder a wise bride will take all her effort and time to cross her ‘t’s and place her ‘dots’ at the right places when it comes to beauty preparations.
The list provided below takes into consideration those details to give her the ‘glam’ look.
- Bouquet
- Jewellery set
- Wedding dress
- Bridal veil
- Weavon or Extensions
- Hair-do service
- Make-up accessories/service
- Hair accessories
- Bridal Shoes
- Manicure and Pedicure
- Tiara
- Bridal Hand fan
- Clutch bag
- Brides glove (optional)
Read Also: Five Places to Cut Back on Wedding Costs
GROOM ACCESSORIES
A well-dressed groom holds the pride of the family and close associates during the occasion. Therefore, it is expected that the groom maintains elegant grooming and demeanour.
This cannot be achieved without having at hand this list of items indicated below.
- Wedding Suit or Tuxedo
- Shoes
- Wrist-watch
- Pocket handkerchief
- Cufflink
- Waist belt
- Neck Tie or Cravat
- Grooms glove (optional)
- Waist coat (optional)
- Groom haircut/beard shave
EMERGENCY KIT
Most times, we never imagine that something could go wrong on a perfect day.
Unexpected mishaps such as a stained wedding attire, ripped cloth, stomach aches and so forth could steal your day, leaving you very uncomfortable.
At this instance, as the celebrant, you realise your limited freedom in moving around without causing distractions to the throng of guest who have their eyes constantly fixed on you. Having an emergency kit comes in handy at this point.
Of course, you need to entrust your kits to close persons who would always be reachable. So what do you need to include?
- Antacid
- Pain reliever
- Mouth spray
- Razor or Scissors
- A shrug or bridal cardigan
- Hanker chief
- Sewing Needle
- Thread
- Hair pin
- White chalk
- Wet wipes
- Make-up kit
- Safety pins
Read Also: 11 Steps to Plan for Wedding in Nigeria
Wedding Key Players’ Accessories
An exciting part of the wedding is also having the support of your close friends and family members as your key players.
They obviously play such roles as your parents, flower girl, ring bearer, bridesmaids and groomsmen and so forth. You wouldn’t want them looking shabby on your day.
Therefore, you need to offer support on what they may need or lack on that day. But always ensure that the following details are readily available for them.
- Flower Girl dress
- Ring bearer suit
- Maid of Honour Dress
- Best Man Suite
- Parents of the bride and groom attire
- Matching attires for family members
- Bridesmaid’s dresses
- Bridesmaid bouquets
- Flower girl basket
- Groomsmen suits/tux
- Wrist Corsages and Boutonnieres
CEREMONY ITEM AND SERVICES
The ceremony is the main core of the wedding. Sometimes, seemingly-unimportant items can be overlooked.
This is because most Nigerian white wedding ceremonies often take place at a different venue from the reception were more is expected to happen.
Most times, a great deal of planning is focused on the reception were guests would be entertained.
So as the bride and groom to be, your input is just as vital and in-depth as a hired wedding planner if you anticipate a smooth wedding ceremony. So here are the basic items you should consider for the formal ceremony.
- Ceremony Venue Fee
- Marriage License
- Seats
- Aisle runner
- Ring plate
- Small fancy cloth for ring or a ring bearer pillow
- Wedding rings
- Officiant fee
Read Also: Court Wedding; The Cheapest type of Wedding Ceremony to do in Nigeria
RECEPTION ITEMS AND SERVICES
A lot happens at the reception. When listing items for the reception, you would have as priority your guest, the activities after the formal ceremony and most importantly ‘item six’ i.e. food and drinks.
Items on this category are usually rented. Here is what you need to include:
- Reception Venue Fee
- Car parks
- Canopy
- Dance Floor
- Dishes
- Drinking Glasses
- Chairs
- Table cloth
- Chair cloth
- Tables
- Food
- Salt shakers
- Snacks
- Table cloth
- Cake Knife
- Cake spatula
- Wine
- Cock screw
- Drinks
- Water supply and storage units
- Paper Napkin
- Serviette
- Disposable plates and cutlery
- Toothpick
- Souvenirs/favours
- Gift for parents, officiant and other service staff
- Place cards
- Cake bags
- Serving trays
LOGISTICS AND SERVICES
Organised logistics and services is the framework of a successful and smooth wedding ceremony. Major issues of concern such as transport can overshadow seemingly minor needs.
Even when hiring a planner or event service to carter for some items, its wiser that you have backups in case of disappointments especially as regards to light, water, sanitary maintenance and so forth.
Sometimes, catering services are handled by family members and close friends. That being the case, you need to arrange for kitchen wares on ground to ease in food preparation.
However, you will not need to do so if you were to hire a catering service since they would usually have their own wares. The same goes for decorating services.
Under logistics and services, you would consider items and services for decorations, photography/videography, bakery, catering service, ushers/attendants accessories, signs and posters and other essentials.
Decorations
- Altar piece
- Ceremony and reception venue decorations
- Bridal and Grooms Chair décor (Reception)
- Bride’s and groom’s car decorations
- Table and chair decorations
- Flowers
- Curtains
- Centrepiece
- High table decorations
- Car ribbon
- Room Air Fresheners
- Wedding Decorator Service Fee
Photography/Videography
- Wedding Photographer Service fee
- Bridal portraits
- Videography service fee
Bakery
- Service Fee
- Wedding Cake
- Cake Topper (optional)
- Cake Sparklers (optional)
Catering service
- Kitchen facility
- Large cooking
- Cooking pots and pans
- Basins
- Dish Washing Agent
- Serving Spoons and Spatulas
- Measuring cups
- Mixing Bowl
- Stove/Cooker
- Fuel for cooking
- Kitchen utensils
- Catering service fee or favours
Ushers/Attendants
- Uniforms and identifying tags
Signs and Posters
- Wedding direction signs
- Reserved Seating signs
- Easels for signs
- ‘Just married’ sign for the couple’s vehicle
Others
- MC (Master of Ceremony)
- Entertainer (optional service)
- Toilet facility
- Garbage bag and Dust bin
- Hand towels
- Toilet fresheners
- Toilet Papers
- Water Storage Unit
- Recharge card
- Security (service fee)
- Emergency Unit
- Lightings
- Generator
- Adaptor and cable extensions
- Fuel for car
- Vehicles (Car and bus Transportation for the bride, groom and groomsmen, bridesmaid, parents, elderly relatives)
- Guest room (lodging arrangement for distant and important guest)
- DJ service
- Sound system
- Microphones
- CDs of wedding music
- Ice blocks
- Coolers
- Programme
- Invitations
There goes the wedding checklist! With all these in mind, you have something to think about while planning and preparing. Ensure you have all what it takes to make your wedding day run smooth and successful.
Do you know of any other items to be included? Feel free to share on this platform.