Destination Nigerian Wedding in Málaga, Spain

Lauren Megerdichian
May 12, 2023
Categories: Cultural Beauty, Real Weddings, The Blog

[section title=”The Planning”]

[field title=”Wedding Colors”]At the Nigerian Ceremony, family members donned traditional gowns decked in festive blues and reds. To embrace the vibrant summer weather for their special day, they chose a marvelous maroon-gold-ivory palette to bring out the beauty of their wedding day.[/field]

[field title=”Design / Vibe / Vision”]Tobi and Jenn have planned the most exhilarating destination wedding – all the way in enchanting Spain! They kicked off their festivities with an incredibly special Nigerian ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends, followed by a festive rehearsal dinner the venue’s beautiful terrace. On the big day they celebrated a romantic outdoor 3-course Spanish feast accompanied with lots of music & dancing.[/field]

[field title=”Proposal Story”][/field]

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[board_carousel title=”Getting Ready”]

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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Flat Lays”]

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[section title=”The Fashion”]

[field title=”Wedding Gown”]FROM THE COUPLE

Jenn: I found my wedding dress at Seng Couture, a boutique in New Jersey, not far from where I grew up. My mother and I were on the hunt for an elegant, form-fitting dress. I wanted something that sparkled but wasn’t too heavy which seemed to be the challenge with other beaded or sequined dresses that I tried on. My Kitty Chen dress was the first dress that I tried on that day, and my mother and I knew instantly that it was my dress!

Tobi: I had my tuxedo custom made by a tailor in my hometown of Lagos, Nigeria called Kimono Kollection. I wanted a classic black tuxedo for our black-tie wedding.

To honor Tobi’s Yoruba heritage, we also celebrated our Nigerian Engagement Ceremony, a traditional celebration of our families coming together and becoming one. We had custom outfits made for this occasion. Jenn wore a gold, beaded lace dress. Tobi wore a blue agbada with gold stitching. Our friends and family wore our family cloth called, “aso ebi,” which was hand-dyed in Nigeria and made into custom outfits for our guests.

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[field title=”Bridesmaid Dresses”]Jenn’s bridesmaids were dressed in stunning maroon dresses that complimented their stunning pink and maroon bouquets![/field]

[field title=”Groomsman Attire”]The groomsmen wore black tuxedos, the perfect addition to a classy wedding celebration.[/field]

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[board_carousel title=”Bridal Party”]

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[board_carousel title=”Ceremony”]

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[board_carousel title=”Cocktail Hour”]

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[section title=”The Details”]

[field title=”Food & Drink”]In typical European fashion, we had an amazing, multi-course meal at their reception, including traditional Spanish meat croquettes and jamon serrano paired with amazing cheeses.[/field]

[field title=”Florals & Decor”]An array of vibrant hues maroon, pink and ivory flowers. Bouqets composed of roses and calla lilies provided a stunning contrast.[/field]

[field title=”Wedding Cake”]Tobi and Jenn celebrated their special day with a classic European wedding cake, decorated with red and pink roses.[/field]

[field title=”Readings, Ceremony Music, Reception Songs”]As the evening went on, we heard heartfelt toasts from friends and family, including a picture slideshow from the best man illustrating some of the history that had brought us all to Spain for this celebration. Once the dancing kicked off, it just didn’t stop! We left the party after midnight, and the guests enjoyed themselves for hours more.[/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #1″]Nigerian Ceremony – I loved that both the bride and the groom got a grand entrance. During these entrances, I was introduced to the Nigerian tradition of “money spraying,” where cash is literally thrown over the bride and groom. The wedding parties danced their way into the engagement ceremony, under a shower of cash. Jenn and Tobi’s parents prayed over their children together. Their families affirmed their support

of their engagement with great enthusiasm! Tobi and his groomsmen laid facedown before Jenn’s parents as he agreed to provide and care for her. And lastly, when asked for Jenn’s dowry, her mom responded “My daughter cannot be bought,” a truthful and modern twist on an outdated custom.[/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #2″]The Spanish countryside featured rolling hills, while the venue landscaping and architecture offered gorgeous trees, neutral walls, period architectural detail, and intricate ironwork. The walls of the wedding chapel echoed centuries of rich history and deep faith, a fitting setting for Jenn and Tobi. The cobblestone courtyard of the Convento de Magdalena was dressed in bistro lights and the dance floor was coming together as we arrived to photograph details.[/field]

[field title=”Special Detail #3″]Honeymoon – We spent six amazing nights at the Ritz-Carlton resort in the Maldives. We were able to do a little

travel hacking and booked half our stay on points which enabled us to be a little indulgent with all

the activities and amazing food experiences that the Ritz-Carlton Maldives has to offer. For the

first day and a half, we took it easy relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, and enjoying room service

and the amazing view from our overwater villa, after the excitement of the wedding. From day two

it was one activity or culinary experience after another. We enjoyed seven different amazing

restaurants on the island and their sister resort, went hoverboarding, met other couples at wine

and whisky tastings, enjoyed a couples massage, did a honeymoon photoshoot, and experienced

a bit of Maldivian culture at the resort’s Maldivian Night event. Did we mention that the food was

amazing? We even had a private dinner on the beach that looked like a date you would see on

the Bachelor. Everyone at the resort was so kind and accommodating during our stay and that

made it really hard to leave. It was wonderful![/field]

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[board_carousel title=”Couple Portraits”]

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[board_carousel title=”Reception”]

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