Nigerians enjoy fashion, and this is evident in the way her ladies accessorize their dresses for engagement ceremonies. From one ethnic group to another, this attire is distinct. Ultimately, it is up to the celebrant to decide what to wear to the engagement party.
Before choosing an engagement dress, consider your personal style, your body type, and the party’s theme. Whether you opt for classic or modern style, the most crucial thing is to feel beautiful and confident on your special day.
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What is an engagement party?
It is a ceremony where the bride’s and groom’s families will officially meet and be introduced to one another. In order to inform the bride’s family of the purpose of their visit, it is also customary for the groom’s parents to speak or appear on his behalf. Engagement Parties or introductions as some call them are in this part of the world the first meeting opportunity for the immediate family of the groom and the bride-to-be. Usually, the engagement party is hosted by the family of the bride, and the man and his family are the guests.
The ceremony’s location is open to the groom’s relatives. The groom will formally meet the bride’s family during the ceremony, accompanied by his friends, peers, and family brothers.
The presentation of the bride price from the groom’s family to the bride’s family is a crucial component of the engagement ceremony. A list of items for the engagement that was sent to the groom’s family months before the engagement date includes the bride price. In exchange for surrendering their daughter to the family of the groom, the bride’s parents receive a bride price. Although the cost of the bride price differs from culture to custom, most of the items on the list are typically very similar. very little differences, possibly in size and amount.
In the early moments of the celebration, the bride is also missing. She will be in a room of the home of her dad with her friends and other young women from her family. The bride’s parent’s home or a nearby location is usually the site of the wedding. When the bride is to be presented, her closest friends accompany her as she enters the ceremony’s location. She is then introduced to the bridegroom’s family before settling into a chair next to him.
This routine is almost the same for all Nigerian cultures, although there may be little tweaks as we examine all traditions closely. Now let’s focus on their lady’s dress preferences.
Most Popular Dress Preferences
As we analyze the three main ethnic groups unique to Nigeria, we will concentrate on the three main outfits.
The Lace Dress
Northern Nigeria’s Hausa and Fulani people, particularly the Muslim ones, are known for producing particularly stunning brides. Brides from the Hausa (and Fulani) ethnic groups are renowned for their modest and regal attire. Their entire look exudes sophistication, charm, and style. In order to look stunning for their groom, Northern ladies are frequently lavished with humrahs, fragrances, flowers, make-up, and henna patterns on their wedding day.
Most Hausa brides can choose from a variety of fabrics, although lace is the most common among Hausa/Fulani women. The majority of brides choose to finish their looks with a hijab, while some choose to paint their bodies with gorgeous body art made of henna called laali. On the epidermis of the skin, henna tattoos leave a temporary tint.
The Aso oke Dress
A significant part of the wedding is also the clothes worn for the Yoruba engagement ceremony. The bride and groom are dressed in complementary Yoruba national garb called “Aso Oke“. They are artfully sown. The neatly sown brides “Iro and Buba” are adorned with a “Gele” headpiece. Along with matching shoes and a bag or purse, she also adorns herself with beads, bangles, a gold necklace, and earrings.
Aso oke which is interpreted as a top cloth is the most common Yoruba traditional engagement attire. However, on some occasions, brides might prefer a lace top or an Ankara lady’s dress.
The George Wrapper Dress
The term “George wrapper” or “Igbo George fabric” is another name for this customary Nigerian engagement attire. The Igbo people of southeast Nigeria are the source of this cloth. This fabric is renowned for its gorgeous needlework in addition to being soft and cozy.
Often, for extremely beautiful choices, gold and silver thread is used. Typically, a warm color range of fabric is embroidered with a gold thread, and a cold color range with a silver thread. Of course, there could be exceptions to this rule. There are more opportunities for fashionistas to enjoy as there are more selections available.
