Wedding Dresses – the Nigerian way

The Joy of Weddings

I love weddings! I mean, what’s not to love about weddings? The food, the music, the laughter, the fashion, and the promise of enduring love.

There is something magical about watching two people stand before family and friends, choosing each other and committing to walk through life together. Weddings are filled with hope, joy, and the kind of optimism that makes even the most cynical among us believe in happily ever after.

There is usually so much joy at wedding ceremonies. It almost feels as though people deliberately leave their worries at home and arrive ready to celebrate. For a few precious hours, the focus shifts from life’s challenges to love, laughter, good food, and dancing. The atmosphere is often infectious; even those who arrive quietly find themselves smiling before the day is over.

The Evolution of the Dream Dress

Another thing I always look forward to at weddings is the wedding dress. The wedding dress has evolved from being the dream dress to becoming a collection of dream outfits. These days, brides often have a different look for each stage of the celebration. There is the elegant outfit for the civil ceremony, the stunning gown for the church or wedding ceremony itself, and then, of course, the reception dress designed for dancing, mingling, and making a grand entrance all over again.

Some brides even go a step further with after-party outfits and outfit changes that would rival a fashion show! Each look reflects a different aspect of their personality and allows them to enjoy every moment of the celebration in style.

And honestly, I am not complaining. Weddings have become a wonderful showcase of creativity, culture, and fashion, and I am always eager to see what the bride will wear next.

Searching for THE DRESS

The thought alone gives me a headache! Yes, it’s ‘headaching me’ 😂

If you know what I went through for my one dress! 🤯 Finding it was almost more difficult than finding the man. 🤭

My sister and I searched what felt like every bridal store in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia). We spent weekends trying on dress after dress, flipping through bridal magazines, and chasing recommendations from friends. When we couldn’t find “the one,” we even travelled to New York, convinced that surely the perfect dress was waiting for me there.

It wasn’t.

After countless appointments, endless fittings, and more opinions than I cared to hear, we returned to D.C. frustrated, exhausted, and very close to declaring a temporary ceasefire in our sisterly relationship! At one point, my sister and I were practically at each other’s throats. Every dress seemed to be either too much, too little, too expensive, too plain, or simply not it.

What nobody tells you is that searching for a wedding dress can become a full-time job. You start out imagining a magical experience filled with tears of joy and angelic music playing in the background. Instead, you find yourself standing under bright lights, squeezing into dress number thirty-seven, wondering if perhaps a nice bedsheet and a veil might do the trick.

Looking back now, it’s funny. But at the time, it felt like a mission impossible. And that’s why whenever I hear that today’s brides need two or three dresses, I smile, shake my head, and silently wish them strength. They’re going to need it! 😂

From Vera Wang to Nigerian Couture

We eventually found “the one.” It was sitting pretty in the Vera Wang showroom in Georgetown — a store we had actually visited before! Funny how life works sometimes. After all that searching, travelling, and frustration, my dream dress had been there all along, quietly waiting for me.

As it turned out, my sister Toyosi, who was getting married a few months after I did, also found her dress in the same store. Between us, I think I preferred hers to mine! 😂 But I still absolutely loved my dress and, after everything I went through to find it, I was determined to love it.

Having endured that marathon search for The Dress, I honestly cannot imagine having to find two or even three wedding outfits. And don’t even get me started on the financial implications! 😱 Thank God that wasn’t the trend when I got married.

Long before I was engaged — before there was even a fiancé in the picture — I was already dreaming about my wedding dress. I would pore over bridal magazines, admiring beautiful gowns and imagining what I would wear on my big day. Then came the internet age, and I graduated to spending hours browsing bridal websites, saving pictures and mentally compiling my dream wedding wardrobe.

Back then, the names that dominated the bridal world were Vera Wang, Pronovias, Badgley Mischka, Jenny Packham, and a handful of other international designers. They set the trends and captured the imagination of brides all over the world.

How times have changed.

Nigerian Brides, Nigerian Designers, Global Applause

Today, many Nigerian brides are choosing bespoke wedding dresses created by talented Nigerian designers, and I couldn’t be happier about it. There is something deeply gratifying about seeing our creatives receive the recognition they deserve. Nigerian brides no longer have to look beyond our shores to find world-class craftsmanship, exquisite designs, and attention to detail.

What’s even more exciting is that the admiration is no longer one-sided. Brides from other parts of the world are now commissioning dresses from Nigerian designers, drawn by their creativity, skill, and unique perspective. It is a beautiful reminder that excellence has no postcode, and that Nigerian talent continues to make its mark on the global stage.

Here are my absolute favourite Nigerian wedding dress designers.

Alonuko Bridal

If I had to choose a wedding dress designer for a vow renewal, it would be Alonuko. How I love their dresses!

Alonuko is owned by Gbemi Okunlola. Gbemi exercised her creative mind and taught herself to sew from the age of 11. She began creating gowns from home and since then became an expert in luxury women’s fashion and bridal wear. She established Alonuko in 2013 as a Luxury British Bespoke brand.

N.B her corset and bridal robes are a must for your collection 😉. Thank me later.

Sheye Oladejo

Sheye Oladejo is not new to the blog.

Sheya launched her bridal and ready-to-wear brand in Nigeria in 2018. The brand’s Bridal design approach is a personalised client-to-designer experience. They have been creating exclusive masterpieces interpreted by the best hands as can be seen in the gallery below. An absolute bespoke experience.

IdiolNupo

Moye Idiol Nupo is a Nigerian Bridal Wear and Wedding Reception Dress Fashion Designer based in Lagos Nigeria. The brand is one of Africa’s Foremost off-the-rack Couture brands.

Imade Iduso

Imade Eduso Bridal is a Lagos-based brand founded in 2017 for brides who want a minimalist but edgy design for their weddings. Their pieces are whimsical and sophisticated and are a reflection of the personality and individuality of every bride the brand works with.

Elizabeth and Lace Bridal

Founded in 2016 by creative director Idu Onumonu, the brand has designed and created unique couture bridal gowns for many brides with distinct and individual styles consecutively for 4 years. The brand blends modern styles with vintage-inspired details in creating timeless wedding dresses for the contemporary bride.

Mazelle Bridal

Mariam Afolabi Badmus is the founder and creative director of Mazelle Studio, a luxury couture brand established in 2017. Originally trained as a lawyer, she later pursued her passion for fashion and design, building a brand renowned for its sophisticated bridal creations. Her designs beautifully blend rich West African heritage with contemporary couture, incorporating traditional fabrics such as Adire and Aso Oke alongside modern silhouettes, corsetry, and intricate embellishments. Through Mazelle Bridal, Mariam creates bespoke wedding gowns and occasion wear that celebrate both tradition and modern elegance.

Yemi Shoyemi

Inspired by three generations of dressmakers, Yemi grew up to a tradition of design, style and luxury garment making. Yemi earned a diploma in fashion design from the Creative Design School, UK and embroidery at the London Embroidery School, UK.

Xtrabrides Lagos

Founded in 2020 by Oyetomiwa Elizabeth Daniel, “XBL is a leading fashion brand in Lagos. The brand has a presence in Abuja, Turkey and the United Kingdom, with Lagos as its headquarters.

Xtra Brides Lagos caters majorly to bridal needs, the brand is also involved in designing the right dresses for all kinds of occasions.

VeeKee James

Veekee James is an award-winning Nigerian fashion designer and founder of the luxury fashion brand Veekee James. Known for her breathtaking bridal creations, she has become one of Africa’s most sought-after wedding dress designers. Her gowns are celebrated for their intricate detailing, flawless craftsmanship, and ability to beautifully accentuate the female silhouette. Through her creativity and commitment to excellence, Veekee James has helped position Nigerian bridal fashion on the global stage, dressing brides across Africa and beyond.

Off to plan a renewal 😏

With these few images of mine, I hope I have been able to convince you that a Nigerian brand is the way to go for your dress 😉.

Now I’m off to plan a vow renewal, someone please tell Mr Adewoye that he has to ‘tun mibge‘! Oh Yes, from proposal to engagement, civil wedding, church, reception, honeymoon and all. I want it all 🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️.

Singing – 🎶Lulu’s going to the alter, she is gonna get married 🎵💃🏾💃🏾.

Aunty Lulu

Credits;

https://www.instagram.com/alonuko_bridal/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/elizabethandlacebridal/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/sheyeoladejo/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/yemishoyemi/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/idiolnupo/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/mazellebridal/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/imadeduso_bridal/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/xtrabrideslagos/?hl=en