As a wedding planner, one of my most colorful and exciting experiences was organizing a Nigerian–Hungarian wedding in 2022, which included a traditional Yoruba wedding ceremony — a true rarity in Hungary
When organizing a multicultural wedding, not only must unique traditions be respected, but it’s also essential to find the right service providers. The first challenge was to find a Yoruba master of ceremony,known as Alaga who not only understands the traditions but is also charismatic and humorous. The best choice for this role was Bolu, who lives in Hungary and is well-versed in Yoruba customs. He represented the groom’s family as Alaga Iduro, conveying their requests to Gábor Herendi, who perfectly fulfilled the role of Alaga Ijoko, representing the bride’s family.
Traditional Yoruba Ceremony
The ceremony The uniqueness of the ceremony lies in the fact that it unites not only the couple but also their families. This requires not just following traditions, but also a dose of creativity and humor from both sides. The entire ceremony transforms into a theatrical experience, accompanied by an African drummer who adds rhythm and excitement to the event.
The Marriage Proposal: In many Nigerian tribes, it is customary for the groom to present a marriage proposal to the bride’s family before the wedding. This doesn’t mean the bride is being sold, but rather symbolizes the groom’s financial capability to care for his bride and their future family. It also serves as an expression of respect and appreciation for the bride’s family. The offering is typically money, but in some cases, it can also be goods or even livestock. Fortunately, in our case, Gábor only had to collect money, which the groom’s family presented.
If the bride’s family accepts the offer, the groom and his witnesses show their respect by lying flat on the ground in front of the family, receiving prayers and blessings for a long and successful marriage.
The Bride’s Entrance
Next comes the bride’s entrance, accompanied by her bridesmaids in a joyful and choreographed dance — one of the most visually captivating moments of the entire ceremony.
Wedding Attire
At traditional Yoruba weddings, women typically wear an iro and buba — brightly colored, often beaded garments — along with veils, shawls, hand fans, and gele, the intricately tied headwrap that often requires a designated stylist at the wedding. Men wear agbada, an oversized kaftan made from aso-oke fabric, with colors that complement the bride’s outfit. Couples often change outfits multiple times throughout the celebration.
Wedding attire holds great cultural significance, and this is true in Nigerian weddings as well, where aso ebi (family cloth) is created. Aso ebi refers to a specific fabric and color worn by the couple and their family to distinguish them from other guests and well-wishers.
Coral beads are a key part of Yoruba bridal and groom jewelry — vibrant, deep coral-colored beads believed to bring luck, protection, and fertility to the bride.
Men wear agbada, an oversized kaftan, always color-coordinated with the bride’s attire.
Following the colorful and cheerful Yoruba ceremony, a traditional Christian "white" wedding ceremony also took place, in keeping with customs.
Money Spray
A highlight of Nigerian weddings is the money spray, where guests "shower" the couple with money as a blessing. Live bands and DJs usually play a mix of Afrobeats, hip-hop, and traditional or contemporary music while the couple dances. Guests try to keep them dancing as long as possible, helping them collect a generous amount to start their married life. Bridesmaids are responsible for collecting the money during this part.
African Wedding Décor
As a wedding planner, I especially enjoyed co-designing the decor with the couple and our decor partner. The decoration featured rich floral compositions accented with woven accessories and bamboo elements to enhance the African theme. The African-style Bambara Hotel, which hosted the wedding, provided the perfect backdrop for creating a truly dazzling setup, making everyone feel as if they were at an authentic African wedding. The custom African graphics, seating chart, table numbers, and printed materials were all based on the couple’s vision.
You can watch the wedding video here:
https://youtu.be/cAkGKDaUdXs?si=z-rWsH2gqiehh41g
Team:
Photo: Dupla Expo Wedding Photography
Video: Tamás Bende
Décor: Fleur & Ballon Decor
MC, co-organizer: Gabor Herendi
Alaga: Bolu Olagoke
DJ: Tamas Paroczki
Audio-Visual: Eventech Solutions
Make-up: Delia Gajarszki-Meszaros
Venue: Bambara Hotel
Wedding planner: Eszter Benya
