Dream Weddings II by Mai Atafo

Mai Atafo's 2013 collection is FIYAH!

Last year's 'Dream Wedding by Mai Atafo' was a royal theme headlined by former MBGN Munachi Abii and Uti Nwachukwu. This year featured a modern and contemporary theme and was a star studded affair with the likes of Banky W, Tinsel star Chris Attoh, Lynxxx, Yvonne Nelson, Seyi Shay, Isio Wanogho and Timi Dakolo gracing the runway turned aisle.

There were several soulful renditions from Mr Capable himself, Banky W, Timi Dakolo, Praiz and Waje. The event held at Landmark Events Center on June 13 2013.

Okay..  enough of the yapping , pictures are worth more than a thousand words, right?.

It's another Royal Wedding... Princess Madeleine weds Christopher O'Neill

The Swedish princess got married to her New York banker beau last weekend. She looked every inch the bride in a Valentino gown.

A sketch of the dress

 

 

Candelabra or Floral centerpieces?

I just got into an argument with my friends and decided to throw it open to you guys. Which would you rather have at your wedding? A calendabra centerpiece or the good ol' floral centerpiece? Check out some some swoon worthy photos to help you choose right :-)

This beautiful floral centerpiece is from the Amber Ridinger and Duane McLaughlin wedding

 

 

Another beautiful centerpiece

Did you notice the 'apples' in the flower vase? Great idea.


 

Below is a gorgeous Calendabra with a capital "G"

 

 

The effect of flickering candle and chandeliers in a well decorated venue is to die for

 

 

What about the combination of flickering candle lights and flowers? Totally Adorbs!

 

Decor by Oaken Events

 

Which is your favorite centerpiece?

 

We love... Vintage lace wedding cake

 

 

The lace details on this cake... One word.. Heavenly! We absolutely love.

 

Photo Credit: Bridal guide

 

Is Pink the new White?

Very feminine demure and elegant with a pop of colour, the blush pink wedding dress is definitely a trend to watch

The first celebrity bride I saw rock a pink dress was Gwen Stefani. It was a custom ombré dress designed by John Galliano for Dior. It was named one of the most iconic wedding dresses of all time.

 

Throwback Thursday: Dakore Egbuson-Akande with hubby

 

Don't know if this qualifies as a throwback post cos the wedding was just a little over two years ago. But i loves it and wanna share.It's Nollywood star, Dakore Egbuson-Akande's 2011 wedding to Olumide Akande. Catch the beautiful photos

 

WATCH: Nathalie and Omar Romantic Dubai Wedding

Nathalie & Omar - Blame it on Gili Islands from Deneemotion Wedding Cinema on Vimeo.

 

 

When you think about the word "romance" this wedding video embodies it. Shot on location in Dubai, the details in this wedding are definitely swoon worthy, from the decor, to the vintage style wedding dress, the something blue, something old and something borrowed... this wedding is reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour. If you are a hopeless romantic like me, you should watch this video

Details

Location: Ritz-Carlton Dubai ritzcarlton.com, Planner: Clare Ebbs theperfectmoment.com, Cinematography: Deneemotion deneemotion.com, Photography: Katarina Borszik borszikphotography.com, Florist: Wud Flowers Dubai wudflowers.com, Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham jennypackham.com, Shoes: Manolo Blahnik manoloblahnik.com

Music Theme: Fall at Your Feet by Boy and Bear (Universal Republic)

 

Thank you Deneemotion for sharing <3

 

2 in 1 offer. Get this Tadashi Shoji dress and give for a good cause

This Seagreen Tadashi Shoji dress, estimated at $500 is currently on auction

We are offering you a great chance to own a Tadashi Shoji dress (you know we are great fans of the designer) and also give back to people in need.Have you been looking for a chance to give to a good cause? We've got you covered.

The charity organization, The Women Project Theater has put this dress on auction on the charity site, charitybuzz.com. Bids are currently pouring in and there are still 6 days left for you to bid. Proceeds from the auction will go to charity.


The dress was donated by the designer himself and is estimated to cost about $500 dollars. So why not take advantage of this opportunity while you can.

For more details visit charitybuzz.com

 

Ideas we love: Caricature Save-the-date cards

We absolutely dig the idea of having a caricature portrait of the couple on the Save-the-Date cards and all the wedding favours and stationery

Miami Heat's Lebron James and fiance Savannah Brinson's Save the Date card.
The caricature portrait also features the couple's two sons

Founder of one of the wedding blogs I stalk aisleperfect.com used this caricature Save the Date cards 

Heart it?

Meanwhile who has an idea of someone in Nigeria that can do a good caricature? Do help a sister out.

Hugz, kizzez and cupcakezzz (a'la tonto dikeh) lol

Wedding Bargains! 15% of Mori Lee and Allure Dresses by Imani Swank Bridals, Discounts on wedding cakes by SayCheese Cakes

The bargains I have for you guys today is out of this world-

Imani Swank Bridals is offering 15% off all purchased dresses from bridal designers Allure and Mori Lee between now and 31st of May 2013. To redeem this discount, print out the gift card above and go with it to the Imani Swank Bridal Store located at 23A Emma Abimbola Cole Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. You can also call 08170038986 or 08174694857 or visit www.imaniswank.com


Let's eat CAKE...

SayCheese Cakes is also offering an unbelievable promo on wedding cakes for people getting married between May 2013 and May 2014. There are 3 packages:

Package 1: N68,000
-3tier wedding cake(6", 10"&14" fruit cake)
-1tier trad cake(12" RedVelvet or Chocolate Cakes, or a combination of RedVelvet and Chocolate cakes)

-240 cutups(fruit cake cut outs)

Package 2: N93,000
-4tier wedding cake(5",8",11"&14" fruit cake)
-2tier trad cake(8"&12"RedVelvet or Chocolate Cakes, or a combination of RedVelvet and Chocolate cakes)
-300 Cutups(fruit cake cut outs)


Package 3: N120,000
-5tier wedding cake(4",7",10",13&16" fruit cake)
-2tier trad cake (8"&12"RedVelvet or Chocolate Cakes, or a combination of RedVelvet and Chocolate cakes)
-360 Cutups(fruit cake cut outs)



Offer ends on 31st of May 2013 but can be utilised till 1st of May 2014 when booking is secured. Contact SayCheese cakes on 01-2912524, 08139407530 BB Pin: 279D26A8

So what y'all waiting for? You've still got 11 more days, so pick up your phones and start dialing.

Did I hook you up or what?

#Throwback Thursday: Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith

Yesterday I saw the 1996 movie Set it off.  That movie is a classic... go see it again if you have the chance. Jada was such a cutie, like soft with feminine features (how did she get so hard?), Vivica Fox was so beautiful before the nose job- she so didn't need it, Queen Latifah and Kimberly Elise look pretty much the same, just older. Black don't crack  ladies, lay of the surgery and enhancement we don't need it. Just eat right and exercise.

Well, the movie inspired today's throwback post. So honoured to share Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith's wedding pictures. This couple have been going strong for more than 15 years. That's a milestone in Hollywood, really proud of them.

Culture Spotlight: Igbo kwenu

Lately I've been so enamored by our Nigerian culture and how rich it is. We often concentrate on the elaborate western church wedding that we forget how rich our culture is in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Nigeria has about 371 tribes with 250 ethnic groups and all of these tribes and ethnicity have their peculiar culture especially with regards to marriage rites.

The traditional marriage is the real marriage as far as i'm concerned while the white wedding is just the blessing of the union. They are both important for sure.

The Igbo traditional marriage is called the 'igba nkwu nwanyi' which means literally " the wine carrying of a woman" and is loosely divided into 3 stages-

Ikwu-aka (the knocking) this the equivalent to the introduction ceremony though it is a much smaller event. the groom to be comes to knock on the bride's father's door accompanied by his dad or uncle or any other older male member of his fanily ,to make his intentions known.

Ime-ego- This is the payment of the bride price

Igba nkwu-  is the ceremony proper. Most people have the ime-ego and the igba nkwu on the same day.

Before the igba nkwu, a list is given. This list is a pre-requisite for the groom to take his wife

Photo of the day: Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's 5th Wedding Anniversary

5 years after and Mariah still looks smitten by Nick
The couple with their kids Morrocan and Monroe

Our photo of the day is Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon wedding anniversary photo. This is their 5th "I do" as they renew their vows every single year. Last year's was at the Eiffel tower in Paris so I was wondering what she will do this time around. The couple decided to shut down Disney land in a fairy tale themed ceremony on 30th April. Mariah must be like me- very crazy about weddings, lol

Shoesday is here again!

Hope y'all are enjoying your shoesday Tuesday. It's been a crazy day at work but I just had to find the time to post while feigning a bathroom run *wink*

Have you ever worried about how you will cope with wearing heels at your wedding.. I mean standing and dancing in heels while making sure a smile is plastered on your face? I've found that most bridal shoes almost always never fit maybe it is because you get them new so they are always a little tight, also high fashion designers like Christian Loubotin shoes come out really small. I wear a UK 6 in other shoes but for a Loubotin I have to go up a size to 7.

So I peeped this Giuseppe Zanotti wedge sneakers and thought it'd be cool for a bride to rock. It's really comfy and stylish and you don't have to fuss about your heels getting caught in your dress throughout the wedding.

Celebs like Ciara, Beyonce and Charlize Theron are huge fans of the wedge sneakers

Croc skin Giuseppe Zanotti sneakers

I'm in throes of shoegasm!

If you are wearing a long flowing dress like a ball dress, you don't have to worry about it showing but heck! its Giuseppe Zanotti so pull up your dress and flash it for the cameras. Remember comfort is key.

Mellow-Yellow!

Well not so mellow... 

One of my favourite colours in the world is Yellow. It's just so bright and beautiful like the sun and it also looks really great on dark skin tones. So lately I've been considering using yellow as one of my wedding colours but I was wondering if I could pull it off. My sis thinks yellow is too loud but I've seen a couple of yellow wedding ideas that I've fallen in love with. Yellow, when done right is beautiful!


Yellow and Purple

Yellow and Black decor

Yellow and Red

Our Cakes by MizVuitton bride, Tolu Runsewe, used yellow and red as her theme.
One word to describe it "heavenly"

How to do "boudoir" tastefully

I just saw a video by Waje for the song "I Wish" (now that girl has pipes for daysss), there was a boudoir-like shot of her, she seemed nude but then she wasn't.  She had a head wrap with tribal beads on and nothing else. It was pretty, sensual with a covert sexuality. The shot was indeed tastefully done.

Screen shot from Waje's "I Wish"

Now some boudoir shots are just borderline sleazy. The purpose of a boudoir shoot is to bring out a woman's sensuality and femininity.  It is more sensual and sexy than raunchy and tacky- so if your shoot comes across as offensive, then you have crossed the line.

I for one view boudoir as art- the kind that celebrates the female form. A boudoir shoot can be done as a gift to your husband on your wedding night or on your anniversary to show him you've still got what made him fall for you in the first place. So how do you do a tasteful boudoir shoot?

A boudoir shot should focus on the details- You can incorporate some of his favourite things into the shoot like his favourite tie. You could slyly cover yourself with his duvet or wrap his favourite team's t shirt loosely around your body.

Who wore it better? Audrey Hepburn v. Nigerian Bride

I'm such a fan of the tea party length but it's almost a taboo to wear a non-traditional wedding dress in my household- I can picture my mum giving me the side eye. It was therefore such a delight to see a Nigerian bride rock a tea party length, a la Audrey Hepburn. I particularly loved the way she chose to wear it- she kept it really understated and girly. She wore a traditional, long, flowing wedding dress for the wedding ceremony and changed into a tea party length dress for the wedding reception. Best of both worlds innit!

Below- Nigerian Bride(left) Audrey Hepburn in the movie Funny face (right)

Between the Nigerian bride and Audrey Hepburn who wore the tea party length better? Would you rather keep it simple like the Nigerian bride or make it more of a classic traditional look like Audrey Hepburn?

Do share

We love... Tadashi Shoji

Octavia loves her some Tadashi Shoji

So I was checking the internet for comfortable and stylish reception dresses and crept upon the designer, Tadashi Shoji. I knew I had heard about this particular designer and then it clicked, it was from the 2012 Oscars, Octavia Spencer had worn a beautiful Tadashi Shoji dress when she received her Best Supporting Actress award for the movie, The Help. The dress just fell and draped over her curves effortlessly and beautifully. Tadashi Shoji designs are indeed forgivable to the curvy woman. I was totally sold!


The good thing about Tadashi is that he seems to love a woman with curves on her. He uses more of draping that will hide a stomach bulge and disguise the hips, while creating a beautiful feminine silhouette

Go on a swoon-fest with some of their reception styled dresses-

Amber Ridinger weds Duane McLaughlin

Where: Puerto Rico

Date: April 6th 2013

Who: Amber Ridinger, daughter of famous internet retailer, Loren Ridinger, got married to Duane Mclaughlin in front of friends and family including celebs like Lala Anthony, Khloe Kardashian, Maxwell, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Amber Ridinger owns her skin care line Lumerie de Vie.

Who designed the venue? Preston Bailey created a magical venue suitable for the lavish wedding

What she wore?- the bride sparkled in a blinged out J'aton Couture gown. She completed her look with  a double-stranded diamond tiara which cost a whooping $16 million (gulp!). The tiara was designed by Jacob and Co Jeweller.

Other details: Mary J Blige and Marc Anthony took to the stage to belt out romantic songs for the couple

The official hashtag of the wedding was #DNAROYALWEDDING so go searching on all the social networks for some of the wedding scoop

Throwback Thursday: Victoria and David Beckham

Lemme refresh your minds. Victoria and David got married in July 4 1999. Their wedding ceremony was witnessed by 29 close friends and family. The couple later hosted a lavish reception for about 239 guests.

The bride shone in an ivory wedding dress designed by Vera Wang and wore a crown on her head. Their ring bearer was none other than their 4 month old son Brooklyn. How cute.

Check out the beautiful throwback wedding photos