Say it with me: wife.
I’ve been saying it out loud for a while now, and it still makes me grin like I got away with something.
My husband, my wedding, my whole entire wife era. It’s real, it happened, and I’m still floating.
So pour yourself something nice, because I’m about to take you through the most beautiful experience of my life (so far, because I plan on there being many more).
The Nigerian bride starter pack
If you’re not Nigerian, here’s the deal:
One wedding is never enough. Every bride gets at least three.
The court wedding, the traditional wedding, and the white wedding (or maybe the church wedding). Three outfits (at least), three vibes, three chances to cry in your makeup.
And yes, I did all three.
Wedding number one: the court wedding
This one was quick and straight to the point. Sign here, say this, congratulations, you’re married.
No fuss.
And we didn’t do a whole-ass photoshoot session. Just some really good car-vibing all the way to and fro.
What I loved most was what came after. We took ourselves out and giggled about everything.
- That we left our first hotel in search of something cooler only to get an expensive upgrade.
- That we didn’t really have a lot of food options around our hotel area because the taste of most was just quite poor.
- That we came into my parents’ hometown (it was a week before wedding number 2) and they won’t stop asking if they should bring us food.
- That we’ve checked out 4 hotels only to return to the first one because it was better than the rest.
- That I’ll start saying “my husband” and how very weird it sounds compared to “my boyfriend.”
We were just two people who had just done something very official and very grown-up and couldn’t quite believe it.
That day was soft and silly and ours, before the big days took over.
Wedding number two: the traditional wedding
The traditional wedding happened a day before the white wedding, and listen, it was everything.
My outfit. My makeup. My husband’s look. The decor. The food. The photography. Every single piece of it was a literal dream.
I kept looking around, thinking, “Is this real? Are we doing this? Am I really going to be someone’s wife?”
I was nervous and happy and nervous, but mostly happy.
Our culture knows how to throw a celebration, and being at the center of one was something I’ll never forget.
Wedding number three: the white wedding
Okay. Please. Clear the runway.
I was THE BRIDE.
Capital T, capital B.
When I saw my pictures afterwards, I almost cried at how gorgeous I looked. Not in a “cute, I guess” way. In a “wait, that’s me?” way. The kind of moment where you feel seen, and you’re allowed to feel proud of it.
The event decor was breathtaking. And of course I had to feature sunflowers in my bouquet, because it wouldn’t be my wedding without them.
The plot twist: we planned all of this in under two months
Would you believe me if I told you we planned this wedding in less than 2 months?
Here’s the timeline:
Sam proposed at the end of February. We got introduced at the start of April.
And I had from then until the start of June to plan everything. All three weddings, the outfits, the decor, the food, the photography, the whole production.
Why so fast? Honestly, two reasons.
1. I know myself. Even though I hired an event planner, I’m an overthinker and a perfectionist.
So whether I spent two months planning or twelve, I was going to obsess over every detail. And I figured two months of overthinking and perfecting is a lot easier than twelve months of the same.
2. I didn’t want to be apart from HIM any longer. We lived in different cities, and I’d had enough of the distance. I wanted to start our life together, sooner rather than later.
Was it fast? Absolutely. Was it the most beautiful experience ever? You can bet all your money, boo! Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
Where I am now
I got to marry my best friend in three beautiful ceremonies, surrounded by people who love us, in a season of my life that I’ll look back on forever.
Whatever else is happening in my career or my life, that day, those days, were pure joy. And I’m holding onto that.
I’m a whole wife now. And it’s the best title I’ve ever had.
Want to celebrate with us?
If you’re pumped about supporting our union, the sweetest way you can do that is by buying something from my shop for your own personal growth. The resources are made for anyone who wants to get honest about their life and start building one they love. Shop the templates.
And if you want to keep up with me, my thoughts, and my life as I figure it all out, join my weekly newsletter, The Content Folder. It lands straight in your inbox every Tuesday, and I’d love to have you there.
Thank you for celebrating with me. I’ll be over here, still floating.
