Elegant Yellow Nigerian Wedding in Atlanta: Toju + Yori

When Toju, an accountant, relocated to Nigeria for the National Youth Service Corps, she was given a tour by HR of the investment banking firm she would be working for. She was shocked to find herself walking into the office of a mutual friend whom she had recently been introduced to. Yori, an analyst, welcomed her in and the two quickly discovered that they lived five minutes apart. So a carpool began. Feelings began to form and carpools turned into dates. For a few years, the couple was tested with long distance travel and they persevered.

When Toju’s mother began acting strangely before Toju boarded the plane back to Lagos, Nigeria, she suspected a proposal was near. Her mother picked her up from the airport instead of Yori, who claimed he was busy at the office. The car ride was just as peculiar as Toju’s mother did not allow her to pick up the phone, while she whispered and spoke Yoruba on the phone to distract Toju who was listening. Toju recalls, “I tested her by bringing out my makeup wipes and saying that I was about to take off my makeup.” Her mother promptly shouted, “No!”

Once they arrived home, Toju went to freshen up and when she opened her bedroom door, Yori stood before her, and a photographer standing in the room decorated for the occasion. “I screamed, ‘Oh my God’ and ran out of the room! My mom came up and pushed me back in,” Toju says. “He got on one knee and asked and I said yes.”

Yori and Toju had an elegant Nigerian wedding, Toju choosing an ivory mermaid dress with a sweetheart neckline, lace, and a belt for a pop of glam while many guests wore Aso-Ebi attire and were served with Nigerian pastries during the cocktail hour. Toju shares her favorite wedding accessory being her earrings made by Swarovski. She reminiscences about her favorite memory of the night, the father-daughter dance. “I burst out crying as my dad said to me during our few minutes together, ‘I am extremely proud of you my dear, you have become a great woman and you will continue to be a great woman, wife and mother by God’s grace, I love you.’ As I said ‘Amen,’ I lost it. And for the first time I cried when I was happy.” Here’s to many more tears of happiness.

Quick facts
Favorite item on menu: The cake
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen gifts: Custom coke cans
First dance song: “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri

Advice for brides
Hire a planner! Do not hire just any planner; hire one that you trust with your gut. An impressive planner has impressive vendor teams and when they work well together, you are doing yourself the greatest favor! Don’t get lost in wedding planning and tension! Take the time to go on dates and do things you both love. Take a day off wedding activities/planning once a week. Start planning early; the day is a lot closer than you think. Go to counseling! Have a budget!

This gorgeous yellow Nigerian wedding was planned by Coterie member elly B Events, with decor by Andy Beach & Co. and photography by Alakija Studios. This wedding is featured in our current Fall/Winter 2015 issue, available on newsstands now. You can also grab your copy here!

Vendors
Bride’s dress: maggie sottero
Bride’s reception dress: jovani
Bride’s shoes: kate spade
Bridesmaids dresses: dessy
Cakes/desserts: for goodness cakes
Catering: the ritz carlton hotel, atlanta + choprite for the nigerian cuisine
Ceremony: the ritz carlton hotel, atlanta
Event decor: andy beach and co.
Event planner: eliana of elly B events
Entertainment: mc: seyi brown; DJ: ecool
Artist appearance: banky w.
Flowers: andy beach and co.
Groom’s attire: mcmeka
Groomsmen attire: mcmeka
Hair: emma for ena styles
Makeup: makeup by jaytee
Photography: alakija studios
Reception venue: the ritz carlton hotel, atlanta
Stationery: bwedding invitations and khadine of ellyb events
Videography: imagine video productions