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How To Set A Budget For a Nigerian Wedding in America


In our previous post here, we introduced the idea of your wedding budget. We mentioned how that is the premiere step in your wedding planning process. 

The next question really is, so how do I set a budget?

Here are the steps we suggest:

1. Get together with your future spouse and decide how you are paying for this wedding

Is family going to help? Are you a military spouse and you get some sort of aid that way? Is someone else going to sponsor it? And make sure all of this is 'money-for-hand' and not all hearsay and empty promises.

If you are like the rest of us and you are solely responsible for moving this wedding ship along then move on to step 2. 

2. Figure out how much savings you have.

Yes, you both plan on marrying each other and eventually you will need to talk money so might as well start now. Both of you need to calculate how much money you each have in liquid savings in total today and potentially by wedding day. Then list out your immediate future plans (wedding, house, babies, school, etc.) and allocate a number to how much you would like to keep in your bank for other plans and expenses except wedding. 

Then subtract your emergency fund and however much you have left is your individual contributions to the wedding. Add those dollar amounts together and that's your wedding budget. 

3. Compare Your Budget To Wedding Prices In Your City

Now get on google and find out how much weddings typically cost around you. Is your budget more than this price? Congratulations things might be a bit easier. Is your budget less than this price? Don't fret, you can find ways to have a truly nice wedding but we will have to get creative. 

4. Ask for the Budget of Nigerians around who you recently got married

Don't be surprised if most Nigerians are being secretive about it because we have been raised with this toxic mentality of avoiding financial conversations. But keep asking people until you get a decent idea of ranges. It might also help to ask these couples about things they splurged on and wish that they hadn't or they didn't see the significance of in the end.

5. Decide on a Guest Count

Every head at that wedding has a dollar amount attached to it. So if you have a smaller budget, it might be wise to aim for a smaller wedding. 

Believe it or not, it is possible for a Nigerian to have a 50 people wedding. You will have to have a strong resolve, you might have to butt heads with your parents, but it is possible. And those who did not make the cut will understand (if they truly love you).

6. Make a List of Essentials

Both your spouse and you should each make a list of three things that you absolutely cannot compromise on having at/for your wedding. For one person it might be a DJ, a good photographer and good food. For another it might be real flowers, a violinist, and a hotel to get ready at. 

Whatever it is, no matter how superficial it seems, make that list. This will help you in the future after you are knee deep in wedding research and suddenly start to feel like chiavari chairs are non-negotiable. Hint, they are very negotiable and nobody notices the chairs... EVER!
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