Budget Lagos Wedding

Venue

The single biggest cost driver. Same 300 guests at a church hall in Surulere vs premium event centre on VI = N200K vs N5M. Location sets the financial floor for everything else.

💡 Book 8-12 months ahead for Saturday dates. Weekday weddings save 30-40%. Ask if venue fee includes chairs/tables/generator or if those are extra. December is peak — venues charge 20-50% premium.

Catering

Food is what guests remember most — and talk about after. Per-guest cost ranges from N3K (basic jollof + chicken) to N25K (multi-course with open bar). Guest count x per-head cost = your biggest variable expense.

💡 Serve one protein option instead of three to save N400K-N800K. Cocktail reception instead of sit-down saves 40%. Skip the open bar — soft drinks + water + limited beer keeps guests happy at 1/3 the cost.

Photography

Pre-wedding shoot + traditional + white wedding + reception coverage. The photos outlast the day — this is not where to cut corners.

💡 Book a photographer whose style matches yours — view 3 full wedding albums before committing. Pre-wedding shoot is usually separate (N100K-N300K extra). Ask if edited photos include printing rights.

Videography

Same-day edit video + full ceremony recording + highlight reel. Often booked together with photography for a package discount.

💡 Drone footage adds N50K-N150K but creates stunning venue shots. Same-day edit (ready by reception) costs extra but wows guests.

Decor & Flowers

Floral arrangements, table settings, backdrop, aisle, lighting, draping. Transforms a plain hall into a dreamscape — or costs more than the venue if you let it.

💡 Choose in-season flowers — imported roses cost 3x local alternatives. Reuse ceremony flowers at the reception. LED uplighting (N100K-N200K) transforms any venue cheaper than flowers.

DJ

Sound system + DJ for reception (typically 6-8 hours). Controls the energy of the entire party.

💡 A great DJ is worth more than a great band for most weddings — they read the room and control energy. Ask for a playlist meeting 2 weeks before.

Live Band

Fuji, highlife, or juju live band. Considered essential by many Lagos families. The money-spraying moments need live music.

💡 A-list Nigerian musicians (Davido, Burna Boy for private shows) start at N5M. Shuga Band and similar professional wedding bands charge N300K-N800K. Budget separately for DJ coverage before/after the live set.

Wedding Planner

Day-of coordination to full-service planning. A good planner saves more than they cost by negotiating vendor rates and preventing budget creep.

💡 Day-of coordination (N150K-N400K) is the minimum — someone MUST manage vendors on the day. Full-service planners typically save 10-15% on vendor costs through relationships.

Bridal Attire

Wedding gown (white), traditional outfit (aso-oke/lace), reception outfit, shoes, accessories. Many Lagos brides have 3-4 outfit changes.

💡 Renting a gown (N100K-N300K) vs buying (N300K-N2M) saves significantly. You wear it once. Custom aso-oke from Aso-Oke Couture or similar costs N200K-N800K for a full traditional set.

Groom Attire

Suit (white wedding), agbada/traditional outfit, shoes, accessories. Less outfit changes than the bride but still 2-3 looks.

💡 A good tailor makes a custom suit for N80K-N200K — better value than buying off-the-rack at N300K+.

Aso-ebi

Coordinated fabric worn by family and friends. Couple selects fabric, sells to guests at markup. A coordinator manages sourcing, cutting, distribution, and payment collection. The asoebi economy is uniquely Nigerian.

💡 Aso-ebi is optional — the N500K viral Lagos wedding skipped it entirely. If you include it, per-set cost to guests ranges from N25K (ankara) to N80K-N220K (aso-oke/lace). The couple typically subsidizes 30-50% of fabric cost and recovers through guest purchases.

Wedding Cake

Tiered fondant or buttercream cake. Size depends on guest count — but many Lagos weddings use a display cake (smaller) plus sheet cake served to guests.

💡 A beautiful 3-tier display cake (N150K-N350K) + sheet cake for serving (N50K-N100K) saves 40% vs a massive 5-tier cake for all guests.

Makeup & Hair

Bridal makeup + hair styling for 2-3 looks (traditional, white wedding, reception). Often includes bridesmaids.

💡 Trial session (N20K-N50K) is essential — do it 1-2 months before. Ask if price includes touch-ups between ceremony and reception.

MC / Host

Master of Ceremonies — keeps the programme running, introduces speakers, manages guest attention. Celebrity MCs charge premium.

💡 A great MC is worth the investment — they keep 300+ guests entertained for 5-6 hours. Ask for videos of previous events.

Transportation

Bridal car, groom car, bridal train vehicles, guest shuttles. The bridal car photo is one of the most shared images.

💡 Rent a luxury car for photos only (2-3 hours, N100K-N200K) instead of all day (N300K-N500K). Guest shuttle from church to reception saves parking headaches.

Invitations & Stationery

Printed invitations, RSVP cards, programme booklet, table numbers, place cards. Digital invitations are becoming acceptable for younger Lagos couples.

💡 WhatsApp broadcast + digital invite saves N100K-N300K. Many guests prefer digital — they can save the date to their calendar directly.

Security

Venue security, bouncers, traffic management, VIP protection. Essential for large Lagos weddings where uninvited guests appear.

💡 Budget N5K-N10K per security officer per day. A 500-guest wedding needs 6-10 security staff minimum. VIP protection for high-profile guests costs extra.