Gish/Cultural Templates/Nigerian wedding
Cultural template · Nigerian wedding

A Nigerian wedding, traditional then white.

Two weddings, often on consecutive days. The traditional first — bride-price (where customary), prayers, family rites — then the white wedding for the broader celebration.

Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Edo, Efik and many other peoples each shape the day differently. The Yoruba engagement is not the Igbo igba nkwu; Hausa weddings carry a Muslim ceremonial frame. The template surfaces the most common shape and toggles for tradition.

01 · The ceremony at a glance

Two ceremonies, one celebration.

A common shape across Yoruba and Igbo weddings; Hausa Muslim weddings center the fatiha (Islamic ceremony). Tradition selection is the first toggle in the template.

Yoruba · Igbo · Hausa · Edo · Efik — pick your tradition
01
Pre-wedding
Introduction (Mọmi mọ ọ)
Yoruba: the groom's family formally meets the bride's. Igbo: iku-aka. The "knocking on the door" — initiates the process.
02
Pre-wedding
Bride-price & family list
Where customary, the groom's family fulfills a traditional list of items — symbolic and material. Specific items vary by tribe and family.
03
Traditional day
Traditional ceremony
Yoruba: engagement (Igbeyawo Ibile) with MC (Alaga), prayers, prostration by the groom. Igbo: igba nkwu, the bride finds the groom and offers the cup of palm wine.
04
Traditional day
Aso ebi reveal
Family and friends wear the coordinated aso ebi fabric chosen by the couple — Yoruba especially. The committee distributes weeks in advance.
05
White-wedding day
Church or court
Christian church service (in many families) or registry/court. Often morning of the white wedding day.
06
Reception
Grand entrance & first dance
Couple announced by MC. First dance often features a traditional song mix with Afrobeats.
07
Reception
Money spray
Guests "spray" the couple with cash as they dance — a public blessing. Money collectors (bridesmaids, family) gather it into bags or baskets.
08
Reception
Cutting, toast, after-party
Cake cutting, toasts from family heads, owambe-energy dance floor late into the night.
02 · Suggested microsite structure

Microsite defaults.

Pages

  • Home / countdownBride's and groom's names, both wedding dates.
  • Our storyHow you met, families' histories.
  • ScheduleTraditional + white wedding, with venues per day.
  • Aso ebiFabric reveal, colors, where to buy / pick up, deadline.
  • Travel & stayHotel blocks. Domestic + international guidance.
  • Registry / sprayMoney-spray expectation explainer, registry, charity.
  • RSVPPer-event for traditional vs. white wedding.
  • Cultural glossaryAso ebi, money spray, traditional roles explained.

Defaults & toggles

  • TraditionYoruba / Igbo / Hausa / Edo / Efik / Other — sets defaults.
  • Faith frameChristian / Muslim / Mixed — adjusts ceremony events.
  • Aso ebi committeeRoster of coordinators with contact info.
  • Color palettePer-day palettes — traditional vs. white wedding.
  • LanguagesEnglish + Yoruba / Igbo / Hausa / Pidgin English.
  • Diaspora modeFor weddings in UK/US/Canada — adjusts vendor guides and travel.
03 · Paper goods that fit

Bold, two-day, photo-rich.

StationeryTwo-day invitation suiteTrad + white wedding StationeryAso ebi swatch cardFabric color + supplier TabletopOwambe seating chartBold & readable TabletopTraditional rites programBilingual TabletopSpray-friendly money envelopesFor organized blessing FavorsAdire-print fansHot-day reception FavorsBespoke wrappers (gele/agbada motif)Sweets & chocolates FavorsCustom napkins (trad colors)Coordinated DécorWelcome boardsPer-day branding DrinkwareBranded calabash favorIgbo nuptial cup style
04 · Roles & honorees

A wedding run by named elders.

Traditional ceremony

  • Alaga Ijoko / Alaga IduroYoruba: the seated MC (bride's side) and standing MC (groom's side) who run the ceremony with humor and song.
  • Family eldersFrom both sides — present the bride-price, give blessings, accept the groom.
  • Bride's friends & cousinsIn Yoruba weddings: hide the bride, sing her in, demand gifts.
  • Igbo: Onye-isi (head of family)Receives the wine, presents the bride.

Reception & aso ebi

  • Aso ebi committee2–4 trusted people who choose fabric, coordinate distribution, collect payment.
  • Reception MC / hype manRuns the dance floor, calls out family for the spray.
  • Money collectorsBridal party with bags or baskets during the money spray.
  • Live band / DJOften a band for traditional, DJ for white-wedding after-party — or both.
05 · Gifting traditions

Aso ebi worn, cash sprayed.

Guests give

  • Aso ebi participationGuests buy and wear the chosen fabric — itself a financial contribution and a public showing of solidarity.
  • Money sprayCash, usually crisp small bills, sprayed on the couple during the dance.
  • Wrapped envelope giftsCash in an envelope, often for elders or distant family who prefer not to spray.
  • Registry or contribution to a major itemIncreasingly common in diaspora weddings.

Couple gives back

  • SouvenirsBranded keepsakes — fans, jotters, candle sets, mugs — by tier (general guest, aso ebi tier, VIP).
  • Aso ebi color group photosReception photo line organized by aso ebi color.
  • Food & small-chops takeawayLate-night packs for guests on the way out.
06 · Sample template preview

Microsite home page.

The wedding of
By God's grace — Adé & Bisi invite you

Adé & Bisi

14 · 15 · 11 · 2026 · Lagos
Day 1 · Fri
Traditional · Aso ebi
Day 2 · Sat
Church · Reception
Day 2 · Late
After-party
Our storyScheduleAso ebiGlossaryRSVP

Start an Occasion from this template

Pre-loaded Nigerian wedding structure. Pick your tradition, faith frame, and aso ebi committee in the next step.

Use this template All cultural templates