By Bamidele Kolawole

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The colour and flair of traditional ceremonies give brides and grooms a way to express a vibrant cultural heritage.
A cultural holdover from Nigeria, where significant life events were typically community gatherings open to close relatives and loose acquaintances. With such a big audience, a bride aims to impart regality, vibrancy and thoughtfulness in each of her bridal looks.
Bride would pose in traditional attire and matching geles, a scarf or fabric folded into an ornate shape atop a woman’s head.
The gele is standard in African women’s wear, although called by different names throughout the continent. A bride’s look is incomplete without it.
It is very important that you select something unique and colourful but also of quality, with overseeing the more logistical aspects of planning a wedding, also helps brides source fabrics and accessories for their ensembles from vendors in Nigeria.
The material also shouldn’t bunch or fade. There shouldn’t be loose threads and it should always feel good against your skin.
Material made of lace is also popular for many Nigerian brides across tribes, as are other textiles like silk and tulle, embellished with hand stitched beads, stones and pearls tailored painstakingly to a bride’s taste.
Many brides spare no expense in making what the Yoruba people call their aso oke or top clothes, made of a matching buba blouse and iro, a swath of fabric wrapped around the waist. A heavy sash of complementary fabric, called an iborun, is draped on one shoulder.
The bride’s ensemble is matched to her husband’s tunic and pants set, along with his agbada draping and fila hat.
But perhaps the most important part of any Nigerian bride’s look is her gele, a scarf or fabric folded into an ornate shape atop a woman’s head.