BellaNaija Weddings presents 14 Fabulous Wedding Trends For 2014!

Bride Hamama. Wedding Veil & Dress: Hudayya Couture. Makeup: Mamza Beauty.

Hello BellaNaija Weddings Belles!

Hope you’re enjoying our wedding features so far this year – it’s only the beginning of great things to come.

At the end of 2013, we said farewell to the past year and reviewed the wedding trends we predicted. In case you missed them, Click HERE to see our BN Weddings Trend Watch articles.
It’s that time again – we’re ready to present – BellaNaija Weddings presents 14 Fabulous Wedding Trends for 2014.

Enjoy & as always, be inspired! ❤ 
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1. Brides With Embellished Veils/Scarves & Dramatic Headpieces

Bride Hamama. Wedding Veil & Dress: Hudayya Couture. Makeup: Mamza Beauty.

BN Bride Ebun. Fascinator: John 3v3. Photo: Jide Odukoya Photography

BN Bride Toyosi. Photo: RH Photo Arts. Makeup: Lyzadora

There’s nothing like a head turning headpiece!

Brides are upping their hair and accessory game with arresting headpieces, as well as veils and scarves. These accessories frame your face, so they deserve as much detail as your dress. This year, more brides will add drama to these accessories – sometime in favour of simpler dresses.

Bride Hamama looks absolutely stunning in her veil by Hudayya Couture. The makeup by Mamza Beauty highlights her eyes and matches the embellishments. For their white weddings, BN Bride Ebun went for a fabulous fascinator, while BN Bride Toyosi wore bejeweled hair jewelry that sparkled from all angles.

2. Outdoor Weddings 

Rukkaya & Usman’s Wedding. Photo: Alakija Studios. Decor: Newton & David. Location: Harrow Park, Abuja.

BN Bride Berry & Cakes. Photo: Demi O. Photography. Venue: Eko Tourist Beach Resort

These aren’t your aunty’s outdoor weddings lol.. We’re not talking canopies in the street – couples in Nigeria are celebrating at parks, beaches and golf courses, using nature as a backdrop for their beautiful weddings.

BN Weddings Tip: If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, schedule it during the dry season – November to March.

3. Return of The Princess Bride

BN Bride Ify – wedding coming soon! Dress: Ade Bakare Couture | Photo by Libran Eye

BN Bride Chioma | Dress: Enthsyt | Wedding coming soon! Photo by K. Lala

Ball gowns and dresses with dramatic trains have taken a backseat for brides these past few years but now they’re back with a bang! Brides will walk down the aisle in princess looks straight out of a fairytale.

4. Thoughtful Touches

BN Groom Ayotunde. Photo by Spicy Inc.

Photography by Abi. Wedding coming soon!

Ayotunde & Adewunmi’s Wedding – coming soon on BNW! Photos: Spicy Inc

Program: News Favour in the UK. Photo: Cristina Rossi

Photo: Cristina Rossi

This year, you will see more thoughtful touches infused in wedding ceremonies, especially the more intimate ones – custom programs, custom bags for the bride and bridesmaids, a Bible to highlight passages for the couple, etc.. Take the cue from BN bride Lola and groom Shola – even the cupcakes had “Eat Me” signs – so cute! Adewunmi and Ayotunde’s wedding was also adorable – watch out for it on BNW soon!

5. Using Black in Aso-Ebi

Beauty & The Beholder Makeover

Outfit by Ewemade of Shakara Couture – Makeup BMPro Lekki

Black – for a wedding?! Yes! Step into the contemporary age by infusing black into your wedding’s colour palette. As the saying goes, “black goes with everything”, so you don’t have to worry too much about picking a colour that’ll clash.

6. Aso-Oke Reinvented: Lace Embroidered Aso-Oke + Traditional Brides in White + What Next?!

BN Bride Adewunmi. Wedding coming soon! Photo: Spicy Inc.

BN Bride Lani. Wedding coming soon! Photo: AkinTayoTimi. Makeup: Banke Meshida-Lawal of BM|PRO

BN Bride Eniola Mofe-Damijo

Photo: Ebonix Pictures

Bride: Tiwa Savage. Photo: Seyi Charles George. Makeup & Gele: Bimpe Onakoya

Aso-oke is being taken to the next level this year! In 2013, sequin gele took the wedding scene by storm! This year, we see aso-oke being re-invented in two major ways:

• Lace embroidered aso-oke: To rock this trend right, the lace on the aso-oke should match the bride’s top for a more cohesive look – it should be the same colour and/or fabric.
• White is not only for ‘white’ weddings anymore, brides look angelic in white aso-oke and attire at their traditional weddings.
• What next?! – you tell us! 

7. Beads #OfLife

Bride: Buky. Beads: Coral Reef Jewelry by Banke Meshida-Lawal. Makeup: Banke for BM Pro.

Bride: Buky. Beads: Coral Reef Jewelry by Banke Meshida-Lawal. Makeup: BM Pro.

There are beads. Then there are beads of life! This year brides and #AsoEbiBella will stun and sparkle with breathtaking beaded necklaces – trends to look out for are double brooches and necklaces with multiple colours of beads.

Bride: Seun. Makeup: Banke Meshida Lawal of BM|PRO. Beads by @tolubally_lamodecouture on IG

8. Breathtaking Bridesmaids + Wearing White!

BN Bride Bisoye’s Bridesmaid | Dress: April by Kunbi | Photo: Alakija Studios

BN Bride Bisoye’s Bridesmaid | Dress: April by Kunbi | Photo: Alakija Studios

BN Bride Bisoye’s Bridesmaid | Dress: April by Kunbi | Photo: Alakija Studios

BN Bride Bisoye’s Bridesmaid | Photo: Alakija Studios

Bride Dami’s gorgeous bridesmaids in Peridot and Ruby

Beautiful bridesmaids in White by Vera Wang – via @TheObsidianWay

Beautiful bridesmaids in White by Vera Wang – via @TheObsidianWay

BN Bride Estelle’s Maid of Honor Wore White

Bridesmaids will look so elegant and ravishing in weddings this year!

For this trend, it’s all about ‘the dress’. The fit, fabric and colour has to be flattering on all bridesmaids to really pull off this look. Dami’s bridesmaids (pictured) look amazing in blush mermaid asymmetrical dresses with tulle trains by Peridot and Ruby, while BN Brides Bisola and Ify’s Bridesmaids shone in April by Kunbi. Top the look off with fabulous hair, makeup and accessories and you will have your girls smiling beside you throughout the day.

P.S: A huge trend to look out for in 2014 is bridesmaids wearing white! Stay tuned.

9. Back To The Roots

BN Bride Obis. Wedding coming soon! Photo by DuduGuy.

Maria & Ekene. Photography: K. Lala

Bride Nka wearing mgbete in Eleme, Rivers State. Photo: Spicy Inc.

Brides nowadays are researching their traditional attire to make sure they follow it to the letter. Even when slight modifications must be made – for example, a modern bride can not go bare chested, expect lots of beads and authentic headpieces this year.

10. Wedding Guests Taking It To The Next Level

Amara

Steph Olize at Bez’s Wedding

BN Bride Badriyya’s Wedding. Photo: Dimeji & Moyo

BN Bride Jane’s Wedding | Photo: J Gates Visuals

BN Bride Lani & her friends! Bride’s Makeup: BM Pro | Photo: AkinTayoTimi

Photo: AkinTayoTimi

Nowadays guests are on their #BNWeddingFlow! They get their hair and makeup professionally done for weddings, and rock sparkly attire and designer duds. You can’t blame them – after all, you never know who you might meet 😉

11. Creative Wedding Dances

BN Groom Kingsley. Photo: Keno Photo.

Pre-Wedding Party Dance. Video: Red Carpet Films

Video: SammyDigital Productions

Oya Limpopo! Bye bye boring wedding party entrances and wedding dances! You don’t have to hire performers to entertain your guests, when you can do it yourself. Show off your dance skills with a choreographed entrance or first dance as husband and wife.

12. Creative Proposals & Eye-Popping Bling

Bride-to-be Tari. He proposed on the plane ride to Dubai! Check out her amazing ring!

Bride to be Ij got proposed to on New Years Eve. What a beautiful start to the New Year. Love her ring!

Ima was proposed to at the beach during sunset!

Ade was proposed to amidst flower petals and candles. So sweet!

Grooms-to-be are really putting a lot of thought into picking the ring, the proposal AND capturing it all on camera.

13. Next Level Decor! Novel Tablescapes and Centerpieces

Plush Chairs for Guests – Oaken Events

Novel Table Arrangements – this one for a 25th wedding anniversary – Oaken Events

Reception Location: Unique Floral Event Center | Decorations: Unique Floral | Photo: Steven Adusei

Cake: Chocolate Love. Decor: Imani Swank. Photo: Libran Eye Photography

Sequins? Check. Sparkle? Check! This year decorators will take weddings to another level with never before thought of decor – there will be more than chiavari chairs and the regular table arrangements – expect X shaped table arrangements and more, for better guest interaction.

14. Wedding Photo Props

BN Bride Adanna – Wedding Coming Soon! Photo: SharpShooters Photography

BN Bride Yawa and Groom Yaw. Photo: Leslie Marie Photography

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, with some wedding signs, you can make it priceless. Need we say more?

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With that, we conclude BellaNaija Weddings presents 14 Fabulous Trends for 2014!

Hope you enjoyed the article – if you were inspired in any way, please share with future brides. We can’t wait to see what predictions come true.

For now, let’s leave you with this fabulous couple – Maria & Ekene, until our wedding post tomorrow …

Maria & Ekene | Photo by KLala

xoxo

Uche & Ink

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