Nigerian Wedding Reception Program Samples
Nigerian wedding reception programs are planned carefully just like the main wedding event. This is because the Nigerian wedding reception program is very important for a wholesome wedding party. There is hardly any Nigerian wedding without a good Nigerian wedding reception program, that is if there is any.
After the church wedding, comes the wedding reception. The wedding party may come as a separate event or with the traditional wedding program. Wedding parties are graced in Nigeria majorly because of the entertainment that comes with the event.
The details of the events in a Nigerian wedding reception program for a Yoruba Wedding reception programme and the Muslim wedding reception programme of events are a bit different, because of the tons of dances and Aso Ebi that take place during the occasion.
A good wedding reception program of a Nigerian Church wedding comes after the oaths of marriage have been taken in church. The wedding reception program takes place at the church reception or any event center close by. The newly wedded couples, their families, and friends feast on the wedding rice and other available merriments.
In organizing your wedding reception, you can plan the occasion on a high or low budget. Nigerian weddings are planned on an average of a ₦500,000 wedding budget list. For a Nigerian wedding reception program, cover and sample, then you should take a look at the details below.
Nigerian Wedding Reception Program Samples And Cover
The order of events to be followed when handling the wedding reception program is as follows:
1. Arrival Of Guests
A typical Nigerian wedding reception is marked by a high number of guests. The arrival of guests is usually the first on the program of events for a Nigerian wedding day. This is because, regardless of whether it is out first on the list or not, the guests arrive at the wedding venue before the newlyweds.
2. Ushering Of VIPs To The High Table/ Introduction Of Special Guests
After the guests and the couple comes to the high profile personalities. The MC handling the wedding program ushers the VIPs to the high table. Sponsors of the wedding program, Dignitaries, and other very important persons in the society are recognized to take seats at the high table.
This is because they would be best served seated there. Some members of the family and friends are also ushered to the high table. It is also at this section of the wedding program that the Master of ceremony tells the guests how long the wedding occasion would be lasting.
3. Introduction/ Welcoming Of The Bride And Groom
While the guests are still coming in, the couple is introduced to all the guests and officially welcomed into the occasion. The couple may dance for 15 minutes as people capture the moment.
4. Opening Prayer
The wedding occasion is commissioned into the hands of God in prayer at this section of the wedding reception program. The prayer can be made to a priest, pastor, a man of God, or even the central planning committee chairman.
5. Opening Remark By Chairman Of The Occasion
An opening remark of a Nigerian wedding reception program is made by the Chairman of the wedding ceremony.
6. Introduction Of The Bride And Groom
Here, the bride and groom are marshaled out to their respective seat amidst heavy entertainments such as dancing. The DJ and MC take full responsibility to make sure that the couple entertains the guests fully. Disco music is usually played as the couple dance to their seats.
This introduction is mainly to showcase the newlyweds to the guests. This is because most guests at Nigerian weddings hardly even know the couple, except the occasion was strictly based on invitation. There are wedding guests who attend Owambe for the Wedding rice, to party and just to have fun. This I why the guests must know whose occasion they are at.
7. Item 7
Item 7 on the Nigerian wedding reception program is the time for serving food and drinks at the wedding party. Sometimes it may not be the seventh item on the list, but item 7 is a cliché used in Nigeria for food time and the wedding program refreshments.
Sharing of food in Nigerian wedding reception programs usually causes an uproar. It had been noted that on average, a Nigerian wedding cannot be planned without having an excess of guests. This is to say that most wedding guests in Nigeria outnumber the refreshments that were planned for the occasion.
It has slowly become a norm that when planning a wedding, most people organize their very important wedding guests under separate canopies and tables, to ensure that they don’t enter into the bad lists of their dear friends and well-wishers. When the guests are sectioned this way, the main guests can be attended to, while the other well-wishers can be spared with the extra food and wedding rice.
Entering the list of the VIPs at the wedding reception program is quite favorable because you get the best pack of refreshments and souvenirs.
8. Cutting Of The Cake
At this juncture, the caterer that prepared the cake is called upon to explain his or her masterpiece by presenting the cake. Details on why each of the flavors and colors was chosen are given. Even though wedding cakes are normally very large, only a small portion is sectioned for the wedding guests, while a larger portion goes behind the scenes.
The MC chooses the words to be pronounced as the bride and the groom cuts the cakes afterward. The couple is made to feed themselves with the first slice of the wedding cake to show how they would both feed and take care of themselves in the marriage.
9. Wedding Toast
Under the Nigerian wedding reception program design, the bride and groom make a toast to their happy union. Wine is used to make the toast to signify the sweetness of marriage.
10. Couple’s First Dance
This is one major thing that should be included in a wedding reception program. The couple is made to dance alone on the wedding floor to avoid congestion of the wedding floor. The couple takes the dance floor by picking a song that they can both dance to.
After this, the father & daughter and the mother & daughter dance may ensue. However, this section of the Wedding reception program is entirely optional.
11. Tossing Of The Bouquet
The Bouquet and garter toss is usually the most fun part of the wedding reception. It is fun because all single ladies in the event are filed out, while the bride tosses the bouquet. The lady that catches the bouquet is believed to be the next lady to get married.
Also, the groom removes the garter from the bride’s leg and tosses it to the crowd. Whoever catches it next, is the next person in line for marriage.
12. Dance Dance Dance
In a typical Nigerian wedding, this dance section is very fun. The guests set the dance floor on fire along with the couple, as his music is blasted by the DJ. This is by far the longest section of the wedding ceremony and may last for over 39 minutes.
13. Presentation Of Gifts To The Couple
The newly married couple is gifted by family, the committee of friends, and well-wishers. The gifts given to the couple are essentially for them in to start their family.
Wedding gifts such as refrigerators, plate racks, washing machines, gas cookers, plates and pots, kitchen utensils, and mattresses, among others are usually gifted.
14. Vote Of Thanks
The vote of thanks is given by the chairman of the occasion or a member of the couple’s family. Closing prayer and departure follow after the vote of thanks. The dance continues in the wedding reception program as wedding guests file home.
Nigerian Wedding Reception Program Of Events Samples And Cover
Conclusion: How Do You Host A Wedding Reception Program
Whether a wedding would be a flop or not is measured by the organization of the wedding reception program. If not properly aligned, the guests and even the couple would not feel content about the occasion. Basically, a wedding reception is not expected to exceed 3 hours, but who am I kidding, we always have provisions for African time.
