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Dailymail UK takes an indepth look on how the rich Nigerians spend tons on money just make a statement of wealth on their wedding day..However,the article titled Millon Pounds Brides has evoked a lot of questions from its readers. The full story airs in a documentary on Channel 5 in the UK, ‘How The Other Half Lives’, the hosts interviewed Betty Irabor of Genevieve Magazine and Elohor Elizabeth Aisien of Prive Luxury Events (they planned Tiwa Savage‘s Dubai white wedding) about lavish Nigerian weddings.
Every bride wants to look a million dollars when they tie the knot - and affluent women from Nigeria are spending just that to achieve it on their big days.
According to a London-based wedding planner, super-rich couples from the West African country can easily blow a small fortune on their nuptials, from spending £100,000 on a designer wedding dress to £150,000 on alcohol.
In-demand event maestro CEO and founder of Prive Luxury Events Elizabeth Aisien says London has become the destination of choice for Africa's wealthy elite when they tie the knot.'It is not unusual to spend a million. One of the weddings I planned spent £50,000 just on flowers,' she reveals on Channel 5 show Eamonn & Ruth: How The Other Half Lives.'It's a competition, people want something like "wow, she arrived by plane". The bride wants to look good and wear the best of everything.'
As a result, she said brides will pay around £100,000 for a bespoke dress by a designer like Vera Wang and £475,000 on diamond jewellery.
She added that it is not just the bride who will push the boat out on the gems they wear to accessorise an expensive outfit.
'The other women want to make a statement, "I wore this diamond, my diamond is bigger than yours",' Elizabeth explained.
She added that the venues of choice for weddings and receptions are up-market London hotels including The Dorcester, The Landmark Hotel and Claridges.
She added: 'Kensington Palace is another favourite for Nigerians now.'
According to the Historic Royal Palaces, prices for weddings at the Palace start from £12,500 exclusive of catering and VAT.
Elizabeth said after forking out to look her best, a bride will then spend a fortune wining and dining her guests - all three thousand of them.
She explained: 'They will spend the most money on Champagne as you have two to three thousand guests at a traditional Nigerian wedding and they will get a bottle of Champagne each.'This means at an average Nigerian wedding, £150,000 will be spent on booze.
And it's not just food and drink lavished on the guests. While at British weddings, attendees may get a token favour like a chocolate, at affluent Nigerian weddings, they will get a gift bag worth thousands.
Such a bag might contain a £345 perfume, a cashmere scarf worth £350 and a £5,000 watch.
With such luxuries being given out at weddings, it is perhaps no surprise that according to Tatler, every third pound currently spent in Harrods is by a Nigerian.
Nigeria is Africa's largest economy as the Niger Delta region in the south holds some of the world's richest oil reserves. A recent world wealth study found the number of millionaires in Nigeria has risen about 305 percent since 2000.
Many of affluent Nigerians are moving to London - helping the city become home to the most billionaires than any other city in the world.
Presenters Ruth Langsford and her husband Eamonn were tasked with investigated this uber-rich lifestyle for the Channel 5 show.
A model tries on a Vera Wang wedding gown worth £100,000, such dresses are in demand with Nigerian brides
The luxurious Dorchester hotel is a popular wedding venue for effulgent Nigerian couples
A room at the Dorchester decked out for a Nigerian wedding where thousands of guests are invited
The Landmark Hotel in London is another popular wedding venue for uber-rich couples
While Ruth went wedding shopping in designer stores with Elizabeth on behalf of her affluent clients, Eamonn was flown to meet Russian billionaire Emin Agalarov in Moscow via his private jet.
Eamonn experiences the super-extravagant lifestyle of an oligarch getting a tour of his $20m home, riding in his supercar and attending the extravagant parties he hosts.
But he learns it doesn't always buy happiness as Emin explains how he has to travel everywhere with security guards as those as rich as him are constantly in fear of being kidnapped and being held to ransom. Those with children are particularly at risk of having their offspring snatched.
Despite not being hard-up themselves, the celebrity couple admitted gaining an insight into the world of the super rich was like nothing they had ever seen before.
Ruth said: 'Getting into the world of the super rich in London has been a revelation to me. It reminds me of Harry Potter, there is the wizard world and the muggles - and that is what it it like, the international super rich and us.'
The artcle didn't go down with the British folks who believe the aid they provide to Nigeria is being spent on these lavish weddings, some of their comments below:
Daily Mail reported the quotes from the interview,
On Nigerian Weddings being a ‘Competition’‘It’s a competition, people want something like “wow, she arrived by plane”. The bride wants to look good and wear the best of everything.’ said Elohor.As a result, she said brides will pay around £100,000 for a bespoke dress by a designer like Vera Wang and £475,000 on diamond jewellery.‘The other women want to make a statement, “I wore this diamond, my diamond is bigger than yours”,’ Elohor Elizabeth Aisien explained.Out of This World Booze & Gift BudgetsElohor added, ‘They will spend the most money on Champagne as you have two to three thousand guests at a traditional Nigerian wedding and they will get a bottle of Champagne each.’This means at an average Nigerian wedding, £150,000 will be spent on booze.While at British weddings, attendees may get a token favour like a chocolate, at affluent Nigerian weddings, they will get a gift bag worth £6,000.Such a bag might contain a £345 perfume, a cashmere scarf worth £350 and a £5,000 watch.
Adonbelivit! How many of such weddings have Nigerians truly spent such an insane amount of money? They get their facts right please and stop putting us in bad light.
ReplyDeleteThey probably mean 1 out of 5,000 weddings.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wonder how that equates to “How the other Half lives”
£150,000 will be spent on booze.?
a gift bag worth £6,000.?
£345 perfume?
£5,000 watch.?
a cashmere scarf worth £350 ?
It's a big million pound lie please!
I shot a wedding at this place recently. It is such a simple and classic venue to shoot at. The coordinator was also such a pleasure to work with as well as the staff. Would recommend the Chicago wedding venues for any couple looking for an intimate wedding!
ReplyDelete