First of all, INTRODUCTION (the Yoruba Introduction ceremony).

Hello,

So, ML and I have been quite busy, so this is a late late late post..... lol

On 30 June 2018, I introduced ML to my family as my husband to be - based on Yoruba traditions. I  am Yoruba, while he is Benin - but I think the bride's tradition prevails.

So, months before the introduction, ML and I visited my parents and his; to announce our intentions to get married and ask for their blessing. Subsequent to this, we picked the date - 30 June 2018 cos it was right in the middle of the year and because we planned to write our IELTS on 7 July 2018.

ML and I are what you can call conservative people, and we (he especially) does not like plenty noise or senrenren; so we told my parents that we just want to have a small introduction in our sitting room - just our immediate family. My mother was like 'yes oooo - because ori o ti e gba ariwo' i.e. your head does not like noise (this kinda has a spiritual undertone, lol). We were happy that our parents were on-board with our 'low-key intro plans'.

Alas, I didn't know we were on our own with our low key plans. When I got to my father's house on Friday (on the eve of our introduction), I was shocked to see that my parents have repainted the entire house, rented canopy, chairs and tables. I saw family members preparing for parry and cooking orisirisi. I was so upset i wanted to tear my hair out - unfortunately, I couldn't scream down the house, as much as I wanted to do this. I was really upset, cos I felt betrayed - I thought we agreed on lowkey, (naive me, lol).

So, I whipped up my phone to gist my friend about my parents' betrayal, and how it would be weird for me to have so many people attend the Intro and not have anybody beside me.

Long and short of my story, 30th June 2018 came and our Introduction ceremony was awesome! It was beyond successful, we had to much fun. My friends came around to support me (a big surprise for me as I didn't even invite them), the food was delicious. 

I learnt something about planning parties, especially weddings, pick your battles (especially when it comes to your parents), don't sweat the little things and more importantly, enjoy the ride.

My parents paid for everything, so unfortunately, i can't give you an estimate of how much we spent. I do remember that my mom sent a list to ML's family of things to bring which were basically baskets of fruits, and at the ceremony, my parents presented a wrapped carton of biscuits to ML's family (don't ask me why, I honestly don't know)

We engaged an alaga (who is a family friend) to EmCee the event, so due to the fact that she is a Pastor, it was a very spiritual event (lol), so I don't even know if that is the normal thing sef.

Okay, see you later