Wedding List of Things to Buy in Nigeria (2026 Checklist)

Updated 28 September 2026 · Wigmore Trading, Lagos

The master wedding checklist (ceremony and reception)

Use this table as your working list. The “who usually handles it” column reflects common practice, but every family and ethnic group does it a little differently, so agree on who pays for what early.

Checklist compiled by Wigmore Trading. Timings are practical guidance, apart from the 21-day registry notice (see below).

List of things a bride needs to buy for her wedding in Nigeria

Many brides tick off the ceremony items and then run short on the small things on the day. Split your list in two:

Big-ticket items

• Wedding gown (bought or rented), plus a second dress for the reception or after-party if you plan to change
• Traditional wedding outfit(s), gele and beads
• Bridal shoes (plus a comfortable pair for dancing), purse or fan
• Veil, hair accessories, bridal jewellery
• Make-up artist, gele tier and hair stylist, with a trial
• Bridal train outfits, if you are paying for them

Bride’s emergency kit (pack it the week before)

• Safety pins, needle and thread in your dress colour, small scissors
• Blotting paper, powder, lipstick, spare lashes and glue
• Pain relievers, plasters for shoe rubs, sanitary pads
• Phone power bank, tissues, deodorant, perfume
• Bottled water and a light snack. Many brides forget to eat.
• Cash in small notes for tips and “spraying” arrangements

What the groom needs

• Suit or tuxedo, shirt, tie or bow tie, cufflinks, belt, shoes
• Traditional outfit: agbada, senator or isiagu with cap, walking stick or fan where customary
• Engagement ring and wedding bands
• Items on the traditional list (with his family)
• Groomsmen outfits, if he is paying for them
• Transport and accommodation for his family, if the wedding is in the bride’s hometown

Traditional wedding list items

The traditional (introduction, engagement or “wine-carrying”) list comes from the bride’s family. It varies a lot between Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Edo, Efik and other traditions, and even between towns. Do not copy someone else’s list. Ask for your in-laws’ list in writing and go through it together. Items that often appear include:

• Drinks: cartons of soft drinks and malt, crates of beer, wine, schnapps or other spirits, and palm wine in some communities
• Food items: tubers of yam, bags of rice or salt, palm oil, kola nuts, bitter kola, alligator pepper, honey, sugar
• Fabric and clothing: wrappers, lace or george for the bride’s mother, and items for the bride
• Personal items for the bride: a box or suitcase of clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery, cosmetics, a Bible or Quran
• Bride price and money for family groups: set by the family. Some families keep it symbolic.

Drinks are usually the largest part of the traditional list, and the part most often faked. Our guide to buying original drinks for a wedding explains what to check. For beer pricing, see current prices of a crate of beer in Nigeria.

Court, registry and church wedding items

A statutory marriage (at a marriage registry or a church licensed to conduct marriages) gives you the marriage certificate that banks, embassies and employers accept. Your list:

1. Give notice early. The registry requires notice before the wedding, and the marriage can take place no sooner than 21 days after notice is given.
2. Documents: expect to provide birth certificates or age declarations, passport photographs, valid ID, and, where relevant, a divorce decree or death certificate. Confirm the exact list with your registry.
3. Fees: pay only through official channels and keep receipts. The Federal Ministry of Interior’s e-CITIBIZ portal prices each marriage certificate issued through licensed places of worship at ₦15,000. Registry fees vary between the Federal Marriage Registry and local government registries.
4. Witnesses: two adult witnesses with ID.
5. On the day: rings, a small bouquet, outfits for the couple and witnesses, a photographer, and light refreshments if you are hosting a small lunch afterwards.

What wedding items cost in 2026

Nigerian wedding costs vary enormously with the city, guest numbers and the vendors you choose. Rather than give a made-up “average wedding cost”, here are real prices for items that every reception needs, with dates, so you can build your own budget.

Sources: Supermart.ng soft drinks and water; Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems price tracker (September 2026); ElitePlanners.ng; e-CITIBIZ. Market prices outside Lagos, and prices from individual traders, will differ.

Prices for venues, caterers, photographers, décor and make-up depend almost entirely on the vendor. Get at least three written quotes for each, and ask exactly what is included: hours, staff, transport, service charge and VAT.

Ways to keep the wedding list within budget

• Fix the guest list first. Almost every cost scales with the number of guests.
• Buy drinks and water in bulk from one supplier, delivered straight to the venue, instead of making several market runs. See wedding drinks in Lagos and our wine distribution service.
• Serve premium water only at the high table. Our premium bottled water guide shows why imported brands can cost many times more per litre.
• Give the caterer the raw food list and buy staples yourself if your caterer agrees. Compare against the Lagos price tracker.
• Agree a returns policy for unopened drinks before you order. Unopened cartons are often the biggest waste.
• Paying from abroad? Read how to pay for a wedding in Nigeria from abroad.

Nigerian wedding planning timeline

1. 9–12 months before: set the budget, the guest numbers and the date. Book the venue and meet both families.
2. 6–9 months before: book the photographer, videographer, caterer, MC or DJ, and the planner if you are using one.
3. 4–6 months before: choose attire and aso-ebi colours, order fabric, and brief tailors. For fabric ideas, see our guide to African lace styles for weddings.
4. 3–4 months before: buy rings, book make-up and hair, receive and review the traditional list.
5. 2–3 months before: send invitations, order souvenirs, and plan transport and accommodation.
6. At least 21 days before: give notice at the registry, or confirm your church’s requirements.
7. 2–4 weeks before: order drinks and water, confirm final numbers with the caterer, and do your attire fittings.
8. Week of the wedding: take delivery of drinks, buy fresh food items, pack the emergency kit and brief the ushers.

How to avoid wedding scams and fake drinks

• Fake drinks: check seals, labels, batch codes and NAFDAC numbers, and buy from traceable suppliers. Be wary of spirits or wine priced far below the market.
• Vendor no-shows: sign a simple written agreement with each vendor covering the date, hours, deliverables and balance terms. Pay deposits to business accounts, not personal ones, and keep receipts.
• Aso-ebi sellers online: ask for a video of the actual fabric, and pay in stages for large family orders.
• Registry touts: pay official fees only through official channels. A 2021 ZAM Magazine investigation reported couples at the Ikoyi registry being asked for more than the official fee. Read the ZAM report.
• Fake suppliers using real company names: confirm phone numbers on the company’s own website. Wigmore Trading’s official contacts are on our safety page.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Buying original drinks for a wedding
• Crate of beer prices in Nigeria
• Bottled water prices in Nigeria
• Restaurant, hotel and event catering supplies

Sources: Supermart.ng soft drinks and water (September 2026); Lagos State food price tracker (September 2026); ElitePlanners.ng aso-ebi guide (June 2026 data); ElitePlanners.ng court wedding guide (2026); Federal Ministry of Interior e-CITIBIZ (September 2026); ZAM Magazine (June 2021). Prices are indicative and change often — confirm with the seller before paying.