Hair style inspiration for the Natural Bride

Singer Janelle Monae rocks this top knot to a T. Love her 

Have you noticed a recent attempt at emancipating black women to ditch the weaves and go back to rocking their natural hair? Unfortunately, many natural hair brides that have successfully transitioned will rather wear a weave on their wedding day- reason being that it is easier to style and is more sophisticated and feminine. While this may be true, it is also very possible to style your natural African hair in different feminine and elegant styles. Check out a few hair style inspiration for the natural bride.


This style is perfect for the bride that is still transitioning thus the ends of her hair is still relaxed while the roots is natural, you can use a braided or twisted extension like this bride to cover the relaxed ends.  Adding a little bling wouldn't hurt.

Eternal Bliss: Mathilda Izuagie weds Bugie Okhuemoi

If you are in doubt about how to go about a Christian courtship (you know the old fashioned way of informing your pastor of your intentions before the start of a courtship, it works) while keeping things romantic, please read Matty and Bugie's story of love. We head down to the ancient city of Benin to bring you this beautiful wedding. Read all about Matty and Bugie's story here-

The Meeting

Matty: Bugie and I are deeply committed Christians so it stands to reason that we met in church. He is involved in ministry just like I am. We became particularly close when were called to serve on several committees in church.

Bugie: As we got closer, there was a certainty in my heart the Matty was the one God had chosen for me. I did what we were raised to do- I spoke to my pastor about her. Considering the close relationship we both enjoyed with our pastor, she gave us a go ahead and we started courting.

The Proposal

Bugie: I had planned to pop the question on her birthday, April 19, 2012 and I wanted it to be the first thing I did on the morning of her birthday. I tried all I could to get the ring the day before (April 18th up till 1am on the 19th) so I could propose to her first thing in the morning before she went to work, but somehow the jeweler did not deliver. So I saw her that morning and only wished her a happy birthday.

All the scoop on Annie and Tuface's Wedding

The wedding has been aptly named the most anticipated wedding of the year and it sure is.

Wedding date: 23 March 2013

Venues: Jumeirah Beach Resort Dubai and an undisclosed private Island

Colors of the day: Red white and black

Wedding Dress: I DO by Tims. The dress has been named 'Annie' in honor of the bride

Guests: A lot of guests from the Nigerian entertainment scene, politicians and socialites honoured the couple. Some of them are Banky W, Don Jazzy, mentor and mother figure to the couple Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw and a host of others.

Highlights

Some beautiful personalized details:

17 years and going strong, see Omotola's touching tribute to husband

Omotola and husband strike a pose at the launch of her Reality show, Omotola: The Real Me last December

The couple with their kids

 

Would you believe Omotola and her Honey Boy have been married for 17 years? The Nollywood actress posted a touching tribute to her husband on twitter this morning. See the tweets

7 Ways To Personalise Your Wedding

Want your wedding to stand out? Personalise your wedding with this simple tips.

Use an aisle runner-
An aisle runner adds sophistication to your wedding. It is the easiest way to personalise your wedding because there are so many monogrammed options from. You can inscribe a favourite bible verse or a favourite quote. You can monogram your names or the official insignia of the wedding. Take note not to use it for an outdoor wedding as it can be an accident hazard. You don't want to trip while walking down the aisle.

Photo booth
This is the surest way of having  photos of all the guests at your wedding. It can also double as a video station where guests can say one or two words about the couple. Who needs a guest book when you can have a visual guest book?

Photo Booth at Tomi and Toro's Nigerian Wedding
Photo: E. Etomi Photography

You can make photo booth fun by adding empty frames, nerd glasses and other fun accessories

Photo of Annie and Tuface's customised Travel Guide. D'banj, Sound Sultan, Tony Tetuila and Faze among groomsmen

The Customized Travel Guide

The couple are sparing no expense to achieve their dream wedding. They are expecting about 250 guests in Dubai on Saturday, March 23rd to celebrate their day with them. Some of the groomsmen include former Plantashun Bois band mate Faze, Koko master D'banj, Tony Tetuila and Sound Sultan. Her dress will be designed by popular UK dress maker Yemi Osunkoya of Kosibah creations and we hear it costs N1.7 million.

Can't wait to see pictures.

UPDATE: Annie went on twitter this morning (March 21) denying that her dress was made by Kosibah. See her tweet

KOSIBAH did NOT make my wedding dress!would appreciate it if bloggers n d press get their facts ryt b4 publishing anythn!A vry talentd young lady did!

Wonder who this talented young lady is. I suspect Yvonne Nwosu of Vonne Couture but by Saturday we will be sure who the designer is.

A peep into WED Magazine's new issue

The new edition features three Real Weddings

Looks like a very packed issue. It will be launched during the WED Expo which is starting this Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th of March 2013 at the Landmark Events Center.

See y'all there.

Cool FM Presenter Dotun and D'banj's younger sister, Taiwo are engaged

Hello guys, it's been a long short break but I'm back with a bang. :-)

Over the weekend  Cool FM OAP, Dotun popped the question to his girlfriend, Taiwo, who also happens to be popular international musician, D'banj's sister. It all went down in South Africa with Dotun being the romantic when he went down on one knee (don't let his mean scowl fool ya) and popped the question.. and of course she said YES.

We hear D'banj is overjoyed by the news. Note to the single ladies: D'banj is still a BACHELOR *wink

OAN:  Following Julius Agwu's footsteps I see... What is it with short man and model like girls?


Congrats to the couple

Photo of the day: Annie Macaulay Idibia receives Prado SUV wedding gift from Akwa Ibom State Governor

Annie receiving the keys of the SUV from the Commissioner of Information, Aniekan Umanah

The couple were promised a Prado SUV as a wedding gift by Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio. The Governor made the promise at their traditional wedding which held in Eket last Friday. The Governor also promised to sponsor 20 of their relatives to Dubai for the wedding which is to hold on March 23.

What do you think of the gift?

In the news: Benny Hinn remarries ex wife, Toke Makinwa and long term boyfriend Maje Ayida to tie the knot and more

I love this story..

Popular televangelist, Benny Hinn, has remarried his former wife Suzanne Harthen. The couple who divorced in 2011 remarried on Sunday March 3.  The wedding ceremony was officiated by Suzanne's father Roy Harthen, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke and Jay Hayford. All three officiants referred to the remarriage as "miraculous".

According to Bonnke "This is too wonderful. I see a river of the Balm of Gilead flowing to millions of broken marriages". Hayford said of the remarriage "It is a miracle of God's grace". Suzanne's father who also joined the couple at their first marriage in 1979 referred to the remarriage as "a miracle of restoration"

Very inspiring

In other news, if gist spreading around the blogosphere is to be believed, Media Personality, Toke Makinwa is set to tie the knot with long term boyfriend and fiance Maje Ayida this year. The couple already had their introduction ceremony.

Wedding style inspiration from the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards

As usual we never fail to bring you wedding style inspiration from the red carpet. We have previously brought you wedding style inspiration from the SAG awards, the Golden Globes and the Oscars.

This time, we are bringing it back home with the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and your favourite celebrities were dressed to the nines. The red carpet was filled with so many wedding style inspiration.

Check out some of 'em-

My best look of the night was Tinsel star Osas Ighodaro's style. She stood out in an embellished sheer dress with a train. She wore her hair in a side swept style. Her look is great for the modern bride.

Osas Ighodaro

Taking the Plunge, actress Genevieve Nnaji shone in this white number from Bridget Awosika. Very fitting for the daring bride. It is very similar to Charlize Theron's dress at the Oscars.

Genevieve Nnaji

She later changed into a marigold yellow dress designed by April by Kunbi. Very fitting for bridesmaids. Marigold yellow is currently an in-season wedding colour

First Photos of Annie and Tuface Idibia's Traditional Marriage

It's all going down right now at Annie's hometown in Akwa Ibom. Catch a glimpse of the bride and groom. Hopefully we will bring you more photos soon :-)

Annie is truly an African Queen

Introducing the Stylish Groom

This post is for the fashion savvy groom. You can deviate from the normal black-tie traditional look and create your own style at your wedding.

To get the fresh off the runway look at your wedding we advise you to incorporate the following tips into your wedding style


Navy blue suit, charcoal grey or dark grey

Suspenders/Braces very retro and chic

Benjamin Odufuwa and Asisat Adeyemi. Groom looks very stylish in red suspenders

Hats off to the groom

The Patterned Bow tie

Publisher of Wed Magazine Akin Eso wore a patterned monochrome bow tie at his wedding.

Forever Thine: Melody Iyeke weds Dipo Otutuloro

Today's real wedding feature should inspire to believe in true love and when you do find true love, to work equally as hard to keep that love. True love is rare. Read about Melody and Dipo's journey of love below

Wedding Date 

October 13 2012

The Meeting

Melody and Dipo met at her office in 2009 and guess what, she made the first move. According to Melody, "he comes around to help maintain our systems and I had been looking at him. One day I finally spoke and told him I liked him, he blushed (he is fair in complexion so I'm sure), he gave me his card and we started off talking. This was in May. By November he said to me "I want our time to be beautiful, no matter how short or long it will last, I just want it to be beautiful" and I tell you it has been beautiful ever since. Funny thing is, before I met him I didn't like light skinned men.

Dipo says about their first meeting, "I had just come off a relationship and was going through a phase where I just dropped drink and cigars and needed something more. I (literally) heard a voice in my head or mind that said- look in places you wouldn't normally look and that did it. Truth is, before I met Melody, I wouldn't normally go for a "big" girl.

The Proposal 

Melody: We had talked about marriage in different ways. I've even had a previous proposal that was pure fantasy but it was from the wrong guy. So for me I wasn't particular about the kind of proposal. So there we were, crossover service had just ended and we were walking towards the car, he was gonna drop me off at home. I was trying to open the car door when I saw someone on his knees fumbling to get the ring case from his tight shirt pocket saying "baby will you marry me". I jumped on him, we kissed then he put the ring on my finger. We walked back into the church amidst congratulatory messages from people that witnessed it.

How did you know he/she was the one

Melody: I wasn't sure at first but he was every inch a comforter when my dad passed. He warmed his way into my family with his down-to-earth-ness and was ultra affectionate with everyone. It was then that I started dreaming. We've had our rough times but my mom always told me- " if you meet a man that has love stored in his account, stay with him, everything else will come. His love will sustain you" so here we are, married, still facing challenges but he never fails to wrap his arms around me at my slightest discomfort and he will will say to me "baby we will get through this, we'll make it" and I believe

First look at Annie Macaulay and Tuface Idibia's Traditional Wedding Invitation

The Traditional marriage will hold on 8th of March 2013 at the bride's hometown. While the white wedding will hold in Dubai later this month on the 23rd of March 2013.

Congrats to them..

Mother-In-Law Wedding Drama

I walked into my office and saw my friend sitting at my desk waiting for me, her face screwed over.

"Kemi! this one you came to see me this early morning wetin happen?" I asked dropping my bag on the table.

She sighed heavily then said "Imagine my wedding colours are now carton brown and leaf green".

WHAT???

Kemi and I had gone shopping for asoebi at Balogun market last weekend and she had already made a deposit of N150,000 for a peach and gold damask fabric that was to be her official wedding asoebi. It had taken us hours to finally settle for this fabric. I just couldn't believe my ears.

"But we've already paid a deposit for the peach and gold na" I asked quizzically, obvious shock on my face.

"It's Abdul's mum o! she said she can't wear peach and gold that it is not strong enough and would look dull in the wedding pictures".

By this time I could see tears forming in her eyes. she cut a sorry picture with the back of her hand supporting her chin. Her wedding was in 5 weeks and she had stress creases around her eyes.

"Kemi, calm down. Just tell her that you have deposited for the peach and gold fabric".

"I did, I already told her that but she insisted that her side of the family plus her visitors and friends will be decked in leaf green and carton brown".

It was too much to take in

I thought about the long hours Kemi and I had spent poring through bridal magazines, all the inspiration boards we had created on pinterest. The many visits to different wedding sites. The unending questions on wedding bee discussion boards. The calls I had to make when I saw an idea I thought she would like. I mean, she had already picked out the gold chandeliers that would hang from the ceiling, she had ordered  her peach infused bouquet, drapes and center pieces. She had picked out her golden cutlery, stationery and glassware. I wanted to cry with her.

Kemi had always wanted a peach and gold wedding from the get-go.

As if reading my mind she said "but you know how I've planned a peach and gold wedding for years. I even just paid the lighting guy yesterday".

This brings me to the crux of this post.

About 45% of the brides I've asked admitted that they had to deal with MIL drama when planning for their wedding. The stories range from the MIL who thinks she is the bride thus she wants to get the utmost shine at the wedding to the MIL that wants to make a decision on what dress you will wear, the MIL that makes the wedding all about her- that won't  let you get your first dance with your husband but would rather her son danced with her. I've heard about the MIL that will not allow your side of the family have their own shine at the wedding, that will control the caterers so that your side of the family and your guests will not have food to eat. The ones that will tell the photographers to concentrate on her and her guests. The stories are numerous.

What are the limits which a MIL should get involved in wedding planning? How can you prevent the drama that may occur while planning your wedding without causing any problems? How do you let her know that as much as you really love her and know she is a big part of her son's life, you still are the bride and it is your OWN wedding. What are the duties of a mother-in-law during the wedding planning? how much of a bride's plans is she obligated to share with her mother-in-law. Does the bride always need her approval for every step?

Let's talk. Let's help Kemi. Looking forward to your opinions.



Photo Credit: Real Simple you can click on their link to learn some valuable tips on dealing with in-laws.



FYI- For my non Nigerian readers, asoebi literally means "Family Cloth". It is usually worn by wedding guests to add colour and uniformity at weddings. 

There is a slight inclusion of the Nigerian pidgin in this post.