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Tag: Bride

  • Six ways to honour your mother on your wedding day

    Six ways to honour your mother on your wedding day

    The Wedding day is, undeniably, a big day for most people. Thus, whatever you do and how you go about it, stays with you for a long time. For some people, it is until death or as long as the marriage lasts. And for women, when she gets engaged, it’s usually her mother who gets to hear about it first.

    The fact that women choose to call their mothers first each time anything important happens in their lives, says a lot about the relationship they share with them. Many women love the idea that they could announce to the world how grateful they are for all that their mothers have done for them.

    According to AmerikankiWedding, the day they get married often presents itself as an excellent opportunity. If you would like to make a touching statement on your wedding day about the relationship that you have with your mother, here are ideas on how to do it.

    1. Wear your mother’s wedding dress

    It can be a beautiful gesture to ask your mother for her wedding dress to wear on your wedding day, instead of picking up a new one. Many brides who try this idea get an expert tailor to have a few updates. Most probably your parents got married in 1980s, which means the style of your mom’s wedding dress differs a lot from what we see nowadays. In this case, you may use your mom’s jewellery and accessories.

    You can also adorn the stem of the bouquet with her scarf or the fabric from her gown or use some items that are dear to her, for example, your family heirloom. If your mother’s D-Day dress isn’t right for you at all, you may still consider wearing her veil. By incorporating an article of her clothing into your outfit, you will gain a special bond between you and your mom.

    2. Choose your mother’s outfit yourself

    Usually, once the bride chooses her wedding dress, she shows it to her mother. The mother, then, goes on to buy an outfit of her own to complement the wedding dress. Then, the groom’s mother buys an outfit to go with all the others. It could be a sweet gesture, though, for you to buy dresses both for your mother and your future mother-in-law, yourself.

    3. Your mother could give you away, too

    In the Jewish tradition, both the mother and the father walk the bride down the aisle. In the Christian tradition, though, it’s only the father. Admittedly, walking down the aisle with your father, brother, grandfather or other male relative had been a strong tradition for a long time. There’s no need to follow tradition to a tee. The convention could be bent a bit, though, if it would help honour your mother. You could ask your mother to join you and your father as you walk down the aisle. After all, both of your parents have to say goodbye to their little girl. However, it would be reasonable to know if your dad is ok with that. Sharing this special moment will be a great way to honour your mother at your wedding.

    Also Read: Housewife offers N120,000 bride price to quit five-year-old barren marriage

    4. The mother-daughter dance

    While it’s common for the bride to dance with her father at her wedding, a mother-daughter dance isn’t nearly as usual a sight. This could be a great place to change tradition. Mothers deserve dances, too. The choice of the song is one of the most important aspects of the dance since the song should be meaningful to both of you and it should be entertaining for your guests. Play her favourite song during the ceremony or opt for the composition that accompanied your parents’ wedding ceremony.

    If you choose the song, consider Mama’s Song by Carrie Underwood and I’m Every Woman by Whitney Huston. These are eternal compositions. Ask the officiator to announce the song and say a few words before you start dancing. Suggest that your spouse dance with both your mom and his mom too.

    5. Make a change to the traditional bouquet toss

    This is another great alternative to a traditional bouquet toss. Nowadays, in some weddings, brides choose to replace the traditional wedding bouquet toss with a bouquet dedication. She gives a little speech about her mother and dedicates the bouquet to her. If your mother doesn’t know about your plans, this is going to be a great surprise for her!

    You can say how important this person is for you without mentioning her name and at the end come up to your mom, hug her and give her your wedding bouquet. This gesture will show her (and everybody there) how important her support was over the years. Be sure, tears are guaranteed. You can also duplicate the wedding bouquet for your mom. Look through her wedding photos and give the picture to your florist.

    6. Re-create your parents’ wedding cake

    It can be a beautiful gesture to design your own wedding cake after the one that you see in your parents’ wedding photos. Try to reduplicate every prominent feature and detail of their wedding cake like colours and small decoration flowers. My mom would be just shocked to see the exact copy of her cake on my wedding table!

    You can also incorporate her favourite sweets into your desserts such as chocolate cookies. Be sure, your mom will eagerly share her top secret recipes with you! You can think up a wedding menu after the one that your parents had. It’s not necessarily to pattern everything, but a few dishes taken from your parents’ wedding menu will definitely honour your mom and dad!

  • Online shopping: Beautiful bride

    Online shopping: Beautiful bride

    With growing awareness in technology and more exposure to western lifestyle, more tech-savvy Nigerians are embracing online shopping. The fad has several merits for shoppers, writes TONIA ‘DIYAN.

    Nigerians have embraced the digital age, brought about by mobile phone revolution. With the increasing use of mobile phones, the Internet and the social media, many, young and old, can now do online shopping from the comfort of their homes and offices at the click of a button.

    Many of them have become brand savvy and eager to experiment simply by visiting any online retail outlet of their choice to buy goods and services.

    A survey for PayPal, an online retail outlet,  in 2015, among 500 people, estimated that 65 per cent of the country’s 50 million Internet users have shopped online at least once, while 24 per cent plan to do so.

    The survey said people have gradually migrated to buying items more online with the introduced ‘pay on delivery method’(see and touch what you are paying for), which is introduced to convince the average  Nigerian  that nobody intends to steal from him.

    This method of operation gradually built trust in the minds of many who now shop for items online.

    According to a survey, of the over 40 million Nigerians who are online, a sizeable amount actually visit online stores, resulting to a rapidly growing trend in visits and purchases.

    It has also been noticed that a target group of individuals who have access to the Internet and are in the age range of 18 to 40 years shop more on line in Nigeria.

    Indeed, online shopping in Nigeria is a fast-expanding area of  business. According to  Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of online companies,  the challenges, costs and logistics of operating offline retail shops in Nigeria make the value proposition of online shopping very relevant.

    The CEOs said online shopping by urban consumers has more than doubled, noting that digital influence has been rapidly expanding to small urban towns and rural areas, thereby increasing the number of mobile users in the country.

    The retail industry is generally fragmented, with huge differences in pricing, but online shopping, according to experts, tends to be 10 to15 per cent cheaper than other retail options and prices are consistent.

    In five years of its existence, online shopping has become a price setter for electronic and other goods. People compare prices on the street with prices online.

    The online sector remains the largest e-commerce sector in Africa valued at $13 billion and growing rapidly at 25 per cent annually. This, of course, is driven by the increasing number of people getting connected to the Internet.

    As  at  2013, Nigeria emerged the country with the largest  Internet connectivity in Africa with more than 56 million Internet users. This growth is further reflected in the number of orders made online from major online retailing vendors, which increased from 1,000 orders per day in 2012 to 15,000 orders per day in 2015.

    What this means is that   Nigeria has a great potential of adopting online shopping.

    However, there  are concerns around the security of online payment, delivery time, product quality and Internet  usage costs.

    Despite the concerns, online retailers are still building trust and interest is growing.

    Generally, online stores are identified by how they sell themselves. This means that the quality of their websites and constant innovation on their user experiences, count.

  • Bride absconds on wedding day in Ondo

    The solemnisation of a marriage was at the weekend stalled in Ondo town when the bride allegedly abandoned the groom and moved to an unknown destination.

    It was learnt the duo were former students of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo and had been dating for seven years.

    Family sources said the wedding programmes, which were in two parts, begun on December 27, 2016, with the traditional introduction of families of the couple amid fanfare.

    The final wedlock scheduled for last Saturday was to be attended by dignitaries within and outside the town. This could not hold following the sudden disappearance of the bride in the early hour of the day.

    At the residence of the bride’s parents at Christ Land Area, Oka, Ondo, several visitors including the Ogunsua of Modakeke,Oba Festus Adedoyin, as well members of a Pentecostal Church from Lagos State were seen waiting endlessly for the arrival of the bride.

    Also,a cow and several food items were placed under an expansive canopy in front of the house. A lady said to be the twin sister of the absconded bride was seen wailing.

    A close ally of the groom, who identified himself as the “best man”, said arrangements had been concluded and the church service was to be held at Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Oka-Ondo before the bride suddenly disappeared.

    Also,one of the groom’s men at the ceremony, who craved anonymity, said all was well with the groom and the bride until Saturday morning when the bride disappeared.

    He explained that traditional wedding was held in her father’s house located at Christ Land area, Oka, Ondo town “with pomp and pageantry last year December where the date of marriage was sealed”.

    It was learnt the bride’s mother slumped on hearing the news about the disappearance of her daughter. She was rushed to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital, where she was placed on treatment.

    As at the press time,the whereabouts of the bride was yet to be ascertained as efforts to reach her on phone was futile.

  • As Walter becomes new ‘bride’

    Fame fades with time, beauty blooms and dies, wisdom diminishes as folly increases, trust is sold in the market for 30 pieces of silver, but a man’s good name endures forever. So many men have come across as heirs apparent for the throne of integrity until riches bedeck their pate and they are exposed as charlatans who cannot resist being captivated by the ephemeral pleasures from luxury.

    Not so Walter Akpan, the man saddled with the onerous task of overseeing the growth of newly-established Providus Bank. Though blessed with wealth like his peers, he stands apart as one who would not engage in unbridled life of luxury.

    Walter’s modest ways appear to have turned into the beautiful bride now courted by all and sundry in the banking sector. Not one used to being the centre of attention, he has managed to shield himself from being lured in by friends with inordinate pleasures and ambitions.

  • THE AVANT-GARDE BRIDE

    THE AVANT-GARDE BRIDE

    AVANT-GARDE bridal dresses are now mostly preferred by a lot of today’s brides, judging from the rate at which traditional styles are going out of fashion.Wedding dresses usually have puffed sleeves and high-necked styling.

    Besides style, the choice of bridal colours has since become competitive.Making a fashion statement on one’s l-do day is now common. Nowadays, the brides’ dress doesn’t have to be white anymore.

    There are now so many alternatives. And the rule this season is the corset style which comes with a mostly-detachable lace top or chic jacket, which is removed immediately after the church service. Three things led to changes in bridal dress design; the church, taste of the society and money.

  • Bride writes exam on wedding day

    Bride writes exam on wedding day

    Which is the most important between a wedding and an examination? For Oluwatunmise Adejube, an HND 1 Accountancy student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, both are dear. On her wedding day, after she was pronounced a new bride, Oluwatunmise rushed to the school to write an exam. ENIOLA OLURANKINSE reports.

    It appeared like an Aro (a comic display) taken too far. All was silent in the examination hall as students prepared to write a tough paper. Then a lady, clad in a sparkling wedding gown, sauntered in, walking dazzlingly on the narrow path between the hall benches.

    Before invigilators at the Old Auditorium,  the exam venue, understood what was happening, the tension-soaked atmosphere became relaxed as the lady’s action elicited laughter from the stressed students, who thought it was all a drama. But, this was not a comedy, neither was it a rib-tickling stunt. It all happened at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State.

    The lady, Oluwatunmise Adejube,  was actually a candidate for the examination.

    After she said “yes I do” to her beau, Oluwatumise, a student of Department of Accountancy, hurriedly left the Owo Local Government Area, where she swore matrimonial oath, and rushed to the school for her Higher National Diploma (HND) 1 examination.

    She created a scene when she breezed into the examination hall in her flowing wedding gown. She was accompanied by a group of ladies, who formed her bridal train. They stormed the school in a convoy of three exotic cars.

    Barely an hour later, Oluwatunmise rushed out of examination hall to reception, where her husband and guests were waiting for her arrival at the ceremony.

    An invigilator, who spoke told CAMPUSLIFE on condition of anonymity, said Oluwatumise was allowed to write the paper despite her lateness for the exam because of her determination not to be carried away by the euphoria of her wedding.

    Speaking with our reporter after  writing the paper, Oluwatumise, who now answers Mrs Adesina, said she had no choice than to leave the court room to write the paper, stressing that her education was as important to her as her marriage.

    She said: “When the wedding date was fixed some months ago, nobody knew it would clash with my second semester examination. What appears to be a saving grace for me is that, both the wedding and examination are taking place in the same town. If otherwise, I would have missed the three-unit paper and carry it automatically.”

    The groom, Adesina, told CAMPUSLIFE that he was startled when his bride told him the examination timetable clashed with the wedding. He said he , Production Management, was considered the toughest and her spouse would be writing the paper on the day of their wedding.

    He said: “I really praised her dogged determination. It was like a tug of war because she had to prepare for her exam and ran around for the wedding at the same time. Now that the confusion is over, I give thanks to God for making it easy for us.”

     

     

  • Trendy shoes for the trendy bride

    Trendy shoes for the trendy bride

    THERE is more to looking great on your wedding day than your dress; the right shoes are an essential part of starting your wedding day fashion off on the right foot. Step out in great style with your wedding and bridal party shoes that fit great. Plus, match your bridesmaids’ shoes and dresses perfectly. There are a few things to put in mind in finding the perfect shoe for your dress and your train.

    •Step one: Research Properly

    You really have to know about picking the right shoes so a proper research is necessary. You could surf the internet for the latest trends, get a stack of magazines, bookmark wedding blogs and also talk to your friends who have probably walk down the aisle also or who you know have a great taste for fashion. This fun research will help you get an idea of what’s out there.

    •Step two:  Shop for your shoes while you shop for your dress

    This will help you pick a pair of shoe that will coordinate well with your dress. You might just consider shopping at bridal shops that offer sales of both gowns and shoes. If it is impossible to find your shoe where you found your dress, you can take a photo of your dress and take it along with you while shopping for your shoe.

    •Step three: Consider your style option

    You really need to wear something you are comfortable with and so you have to take note of your style option. If you have been fond of flats, then you should go for flats but if you prefer heels you can stick with it. If a certain style of shoe appeals to you, look for a wedding shoe in that style. Maybe wedges, peep toes, platforms, etc. Just go for comfort.

    •Step four: Picking the right color

    The traditional color of wedding shoes is white or ivory but you can choose to go outside tradition. You can opt for a brighter color. Try to find a color that matches with the overall color scheme of your overall wedding to keep things coordinated.

    •Step five: Break them in before the wedding

    Once you have decided on your shoe and have bought the shoe, you can just try them on before then. Don’t wait until your wedding day to slip on your bridal shoes for the first time. Wear them around the house several times before your wedding day so they are stretched out and have adjusted to your feet. Then you will be ready for your wedding without a blister or ache.

  • Just like monkey business

    A weeping bride is certainly not a pleasant sight to behold. So, why is this beautiful gem in tears? She is crying because Mr. Right did not make it to the Church on their wedding day. After all the emotional and physical efforts that had been put in place, absconding with another babe is an unpardonable sin.

    “How can Femi do such a thing to me? Why did he allow me to go this far before running away? Where am I going to start from now? Questions and more questions. Listening to her side of the story was mind blogging and you are almost infected by her tears. Then as you probe further you discover the gentleman at the centre of this controversy walked into an emotional trap.

    “I met him at a party and it was a ‘love at first sight’ thing. We laughed, talked and had a great time together from the first day. He was always travelling, but each time we were together we had a swell time. Then I got pregnant and was scared he would ask me to go for an abortion, but he didn’t. We began to plan for the wedding and he showed great enthusiasm. I saw him the night before our wedding and he looked so excited.”

    Sadly, he left a note telling her that his heart was elsewhere. She just could not trap him with the pregnancy. A Yoruba proverb which says if you must catch a monkey, then you have to behave like a monkey, aptly captures the scenario. Characteristically, the monkey likes to be in charge, but once this is not the case, it would incite.

    If you, therefore, want a long-term relationship, desire tranquility, stability with the heart in your custody, please don’t get involved with an emotional monkey. However, if what you desire is fun, laughter, mingling and great sex, then you can jump into the love boat with the cheeky monkey.

    The monkey is not exactly in for the long haul when it comes to relationship. They are in one moment and gone the next. Its reputation is for being sprightly and quick-witted, always positive and entertaining as well as manipulative and cunning. They are independent, clever and wont freak out under pressure.

    Interestingly, they are the best type of hearts to have around when a situation puts you under pressure. They are often the life and soul of great connections; a great host one who is never at a loss for vibrant conversations (sugar-coated tongue). They would be there to lift your spirit, motivate you and create an aura of enthusiasm that could move you to the next level.

    Monkeys, like their emotional counterparts, wither under routine and regulations. They dislike being bored because they like their freedom. They hate having hearts that take a delight in looking over their shoulders or one who loves to breathe down their neck. This explains why a monkey’s imagination knows no boundaries and would never follow your reasoning pattern. As you journey romantically with your monkey, you would discover that he or she is filled with magnificent ideas but they would turn out to be impractical, lavish, ludicrous and outrageous.

    Whatever type or class of monkey that you run into would determine how far you can go. From the chattering chimpanzee, aggressive and destructive baboon, clever ape or the silent and strong gorilla.

    In the affectionate arena, the issue, obviously, is not control but having a dynamic connectedness. Love, like the universe, is in constant motion and change. You must, therefore, learn to adapt and move with it.

    Perhaps, it is better to identify your comfort zone and stick to it to avoid any emotional disaster. Food for thought, indeed. The truth of the matter is that the comfort zone for many is just an illusion. In your heart, you imagine that this is the place to be; the place that would make your world go round. But as you move further and take a bend you get a better picture of the zone. It is a zone without any comfort and as you desperately move on, you are likely to step on emotional stones, thorns, nails as well as serpents. Here, you just have to run for cover, running with your heart in your mouth.

    The phrase ‘win some, lose some’ makes us understand that love, like life, should not be a do or die affair. This probably explains why many would go to any length to win and conquer a heart, celebrate the conquest and then shortly afterwards dash only to the emotional lavatory to be purged of ‘love’ that has been recycled to waste.

    The best efforts in winning a heart are not a some-time thing. It should be an all-the-time thing. In matters of the heart, you don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right all the time. Winning with a heart that you love and cherish should be a habit; something that comes naturally and nobody needs to be forced or coerced.

    Unfortunately, this same logic appears with losing. For all you know, the heart that you have been crying for, wasting precious time and energy on may not be as good as you think it is. It is indeed nothing but monkey business.

  • A new beginning in style

    A new beginning in style

    Planning for a wedding can be exciting as well as hectic. Yetunde Oladeinde looks at how the bride can maximise the opportunities available without stressing herself.

    THE bride steps out of the posh car looking regal. The handsome groom comes over smiling happily, looking classy and he is also the cynosure of all eyes. As a pair, they look good together but as you take a look around, you discover that they are a selfish pair. All the other details that should have made the day grand were not in order. Unfortunately, this affects the event and takes away the shine from what should have been a wonderful outing.

    That is why you need to have a list and work nicely around it to have a wonderful day. Of course, you do not need to overstretch yourself in the process. All you need to do is to delegate the assignments and get people to monitor the process for you.

    It is a day when the couple must rebrand themselves. When you have a special event or date, then it is important to make sure it fits. There are so many choices but it is better to pick the design that will be most appropriate for the event and your mood.

    This would definitely help to coordinate your total outlook with other elements of this special day. To stand out, it is better to opt for something that is the exclusive. For a design that speaks class, it is better to make use of matching accessories that would make you carve a niche as well as complement your outlook.

  • Exotic hairpieces and tiaras

    Exotic hairpieces and tiaras

    Every bride wants to carve a niche for herself as she walks down the aisle with her sweetheart. Yetunde Oladeinde takes a look at the tiara and other hair pieces that the bride can make use of to achieve that memorable effect.

    IT’S not unheard of for either the bride or groom to get cold feet before the wedding. Of course, we all know that some pre-wedding anxiety is perfectly normal and natural, as virtually everyone experiences such anxiety to one degree or another. However, you can reduce the anxiety by making adequate preparations before this special day.

    To look colourful and glamorous the bride must be creative when it comes to putting every piece together. Once the details are properly assembled, then you can be sure that this sophisticated bride would be the cynosure of all eyes.

    One great way to look different and unique is to go for accessories that are classics. Here the hairpieces, veil and tiara which are the first points of attention can really make a difference. In the collections, you would find designs made with precious stones like Swarovski which would bring about the unique effect required.

    Sometimes, they may not be totally new and may just have historical attachments depicting continuity with the bride’s family and the past. It could just be a ring or a piece of jewellery that has been passed down through the family from generation to generation.

    These days there is so much emphasis on the quality and the aesthetics of the design when it comes to making a choice. . A number of these accessories are richly designed and they all make it a wonderful day to remember.