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Another evening is spent for the payment of the bride‟s price at the bride‟s compound when the groom‟s family hands over the money and other agreed prerequisites. The money and goods are counted, while relatives and friends are served drinks and food in the bride‟s compound. After all is settled, the traditional wedding day is planned. The wedding day is again at the bride‟s compound, where the guests welcome the couple and invite them in front of the families. First the bride goes around selling boilt eggs to the guests, showing to both families that she has the capability to open a shop and make money. Then, the bride‟s father fills a wooden cup (Iko) with palm wine and passes it on to the girl while the groom finds a place between the guests. It is the custom for her to look for her husband while being distracted by the invitees. Only after she has found the groom, she offered the cup to him and he sipped the wine, the couple is married traditionally. During this ceremony, there is also the nuptial Bride with Iko looking dance where the couple dances, while guests wish the newly weds prosperity by throwing money around them or putting for husband bills on their forehead. Nowadays, church wedding follows traditional marriage . During this ceremony, the bride‟s train, made up of the bride followed by her single female friends, enters the church dancing on the music, while the guests bless the bride‟s train by throwing money over the bride and her entourage. The groom receives the bride at the altar for the final church blessing by the priest. Sometimes, the traditional marriage is combined with the reception that is then preceded by the church ceremony.
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For more information, visit the website http://www.igboguide.org