Allure 25102015

October 25, 2015

Wedding Edition

HERE COMES THE BRIDE...

25/10 Contents FAS H I O N

4

15

e m a i l : a l l u r e fo r t h e wo rl d @ v a n g u a r d n g r. c o m

8

FASHION 4

Wedding Trends Now

14 15

• The Wonderland Experience With Baileys And Bellanaija • Press Night For The Heineken LFDW 2015 • Media Icons Honoured • Grill At The Pent Hosts All White Soiree With Dj Caise

PEOPLE

COVER STORY

HERE COMES THE BRIDE...

Quotes...

“I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.ey have too many passengers”.

- Pietro Aretino

Editor’s Note

“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home... it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it”.

- Chuck Palahniuk

“In a relationship you have to open yourself up”.

- Neil LaBute

Weddings are romantic. And, we all love romance. This is why the Mills and Boons series was such a best seller.

Romance and weddings are synonymous; one leading to the other.

However, a lot of planning goes into having the perfect wedding which, by the way, is relative.

The woman owns the day. Hence, her personality is what determines how the wedding will swing. Weddings are ‘big business’ so, we are not allowing the train to leave us finger-wringing on the platform.

In partnership with online magazine, Bellanaija Wedding, we introduce, today, our first-ever wedding issue.

We tried to focus on the most critical issues facing the bride viz. designing the event, picking up the ring, what to look out for when purchasing invitation cards.

If you are planning to wed anytime soon, look no further for your D.I.Y. We’ve got all the advice. Just flip the pages.

For our cover pix, we thought it apt to celebrate the lucky brides who participated in the BBN Wonderland wedding experience, courtesy of Baileys. To all the beautiful brides, we say congratulations!

The wedding edition is a monthly. If you have what it takes to be our cover bride for November, call 08056180147.

On our fashion pages, Yemisi Suleiman features the latest bridal gowns. The bride has never looked any better.

COVER PHOTO: ATUNBI ADESANMI

TEAM

JEMI EKUNKUNBOR

PAMELA ECHEMUNOR

YEMISI SULEIMAN

FATIMA GARBA

EDITOR REMMY DIAGBARE DEPUTY EDITOR JEMI EKUNKUNBOR ASST. EDITOR YEMISI SULEIMAN STYLE REPORTER PAMELA ECHEMUNOR CONTRIBUTORS PRINCESS KATE EMIKO BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA JEROME CODJO-YAOVI ONIPEDE

CONT. EDITOR LATASHA NGWUBE COPY EDITOR DODOIYI WILLIAM-WEST CORRESPONDENTS FATIMA GARBA DAVINA AYODELE LAYOUT / DESIGN GREGORY OBI OLAYIWOLA AJAGBE PHOTO OSCAR OCHIOGU (08034746487)

Do enjoy our bumper package.

Have a great week!

CHIBOK GIRLS: 500 days and counting.

R.

Remmy Diagbare @ Vanguardallure1

Printed and published by Vanguard Media Ltd Vanguard Avenue Kirikiri Canal; P.M.B 1007 Apapa, Lagos.

For advertisement / enquiries, call DEBBIE: 08039675880, Office Auxiliary: EBERE OKOH

FAS H I O N

FASH IO N

WEDDING TRENDS NOW

Romantic Statement

by - Yemisi Suleiman

For Nigeria’s Mai Atafo, it is a gorgeous balance of sexy and traditional, this white lacey top gown with a slimming bodice shows just the right amount of skin.

Transparent Overlay This daring Inbal Dror dress combines strategic lace appliqué, a sheer corset and a totally transparent overlay for a look that is over-the-top sexy.

Reem Acra

Sheer Lace Bodice

Labanon

Mai Atafo 2015

Fashion has come of age and so has the bridal dress. The classic wedding gown fabric has been upgraded with very unique additions; stardust lace, jacquard and more. From fit and flare gowns with plunging necklines to sheer cross-body lace panels and a number of flattering sleeves, romance rules these styles.

So why settle for traditional, when you can pick a dress that will turn heads from every angle. These ultra feminine wedding gowns with delicate appliqué and sheer illusions are hot off the international and local Bridal Fashion Week runways and will definitely make any bride the centre of attraction as desired.

From ultra-feminine silhouette, amplified by stand-out lace details, sky-high slits to lingerie-inspired silhouettes, here are some of our favorite, sexy styles for your seductive side.

Inbal Dror dress

You don’t always need fluff and sparkle to make a deeply romantic statement. Lebanon body-skimming gown is pretty in a quiet way and would no doubt be easy to move in.

Skintight Sheer Silhouette This skintight Reem Acra dress with a plunging sweetheart neckline, sheer paneled bodice, and ivory and champagne hues is not for the faint of heart.

Off-shoulder silhouettes

Layers This season, designers continued to expand on their trade with layers and higher necklines, as in this lovely lace number.

Yemi Kosibah

Off-Shoulder silhouettes have been popular for a few seasons. Lela Rose’s gown is timeless, but trendy, thanks to a sleek cut and minimal embellishment.

Deep V lines

Vera Wang

/ October 25, 2015

Cutouts and Serious Slits With symmetrical cutouts and a slit, this Victoria Kyria Kides dress is in equal part bold, modern and perfect for a destination wedding.

For the brides who do not want to wear white, this asymmetric print dress by Kosibah flirts between being sophisticated and seductive.

VERA WANG

The only traditional accents on this two-piece Vera Wang wedding dress are lace and tulle. The miniskirt and corset crop top with an illusion neckline takes it to the next level.

KyriaKides

Lacy Corset Top and Mini Skirt

Ejiro Amos Tafiri

Oscar de la Renta

4

These were everywhere this season, but none felt quite as cool as Vera Wang’s tiered dress with choker detailing

Off colour

October 25, 2015 /

5

FAS H I O N

FASH IO N

WEDDING TRENDS NOW

Romantic Statement

by - Yemisi Suleiman

For Nigeria’s Mai Atafo, it is a gorgeous balance of sexy and traditional, this white lacey top gown with a slimming bodice shows just the right amount of skin.

Transparent Overlay This daring Inbal Dror dress combines strategic lace appliqué, a sheer corset and a totally transparent overlay for a look that is over-the-top sexy.

Reem Acra

Sheer Lace Bodice

Labanon

Mai Atafo 2015

Fashion has come of age and so has the bridal dress. The classic wedding gown fabric has been upgraded with very unique additions; stardust lace, jacquard and more. From fit and flare gowns with plunging necklines to sheer cross-body lace panels and a number of flattering sleeves, romance rules these styles.

So why settle for traditional, when you can pick a dress that will turn heads from every angle. These ultra feminine wedding gowns with delicate appliqué and sheer illusions are hot off the international and local Bridal Fashion Week runways and will definitely make any bride the centre of attraction as desired.

From ultra-feminine silhouette, amplified by stand-out lace details, sky-high slits to lingerie-inspired silhouettes, here are some of our favorite, sexy styles for your seductive side.

Inbal Dror dress

You don’t always need fluff and sparkle to make a deeply romantic statement. Lebanon body-skimming gown is pretty in a quiet way and would no doubt be easy to move in.

Skintight Sheer Silhouette This skintight Reem Acra dress with a plunging sweetheart neckline, sheer paneled bodice, and ivory and champagne hues is not for the faint of heart.

Off-shoulder silhouettes

Layers This season, designers continued to expand on their trade with layers and higher necklines, as in this lovely lace number.

Yemi Kosibah

Off-Shoulder silhouettes have been popular for a few seasons. Lela Rose’s gown is timeless, but trendy, thanks to a sleek cut and minimal embellishment.

Deep V lines

Vera Wang

/ October 25, 2015

Cutouts and Serious Slits With symmetrical cutouts and a slit, this Victoria Kyria Kides dress is in equal part bold, modern and perfect for a destination wedding.

For the brides who do not want to wear white, this asymmetric print dress by Kosibah flirts between being sophisticated and seductive.

VERA WANG

The only traditional accents on this two-piece Vera Wang wedding dress are lace and tulle. The miniskirt and corset crop top with an illusion neckline takes it to the next level.

KyriaKides

Lacy Corset Top and Mini Skirt

Ejiro Amos Tafiri

Oscar de la Renta

4

These were everywhere this season, but none felt quite as cool as Vera Wang’s tiered dress with choker detailing

Off colour

October 25, 2015 /

5

SPE CIAL REPORT

WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTRE - Ebunola Anozie

Ebunola Anozie

By - Jemi Ekunkunbor ucked away in Adeniyi Jones Street in Ikeja is Care Organization Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E), a cancer awareness network run by Mrs. Ebunola Anozie. In 1995, having lost both parents to different types of cancers, she gave up her career as head of Administration and Personnel to go set up C.O.P.E. It’s been 20 years since then. As the world marks Breast Cancer Awareness month this October, Allure sought out Mrs. Anozie, an Ashoka Fellow to find out what the journey has been like creating cancer awareness for the citizenry.

T

How has it been 20 years on?

It’s been a wonderful ride, sometimes, overwhelming but because COPE was born out of passion, that is what has kept me going.

With your background, do you get scared?

No. I just do what is right; do my medical check up yearly, have my breast examined and just generally be on top of your game. Women should endeavour to have their breasts examined so that if there is anything, you have a very high chance of curing it.

Early detection is what we advocate.

6

/ October 25, 2015

So we miss that chance of survival when detection is not made on time?

Yes and this is because they are either going to one herbalist or one pastor or just keeping it to themselves because they don’t want someone to know. By the time you keep it to yourself, you don’t ask for help, it will continue to grow and spread.

What cancer situations do you face in this centre?

Late presentation is what we usually see here and when it is late, the next thing, they are asking for assistance. But if they come early at least in stage one or stage two, then there is a very high chance of them surviving it. But when you come when it is at stage three or four, there is very little that we can do to help.

At what point is it still safe?

When it is stage one, you just say thank God. Stage two is still okay but when it is stage three, its 50-50 chance. When it gets to stage four, there is really nothing anyone can do than administer palliative care and sadly, most cases I see are of people who are far gone and then they want you to perform miracles. We’ve seen a case here that maggots were coming out of the breasts.

So many people are coming down with cancer in recent time. Does it have something to do with our diet or lifestyle?

Lifestyle is definitely a reason. A lot of the processed foods that we eat have a role to play. We tell people to avoid processed foods because some of them have preservatives that can trigger cancer.

Let’s go back to the way we used to live and eat; eat fresh fruits instead of drinking juice. Then we should try as much as possible to cook our foods fresh. If you have to eat out, let it be occasionally.

Drink plenty of water and form good lifestyle where we go for medical check up regularly.

Having done this for such a long time, how do you deal with the emotions involved in this type of work?

It could be very emotional I must confess to you.

I have loved and lost quite a lot of people. I have been involved in taking care of them and then they die. I think that alone changed my lifestyle. At this point, I am praying so hard that President Buhari will pick a minister of health who has blood flowing in his veins; someone with compassion. In the name of God, I appeal to the president to give us a comprehensive cancer centre where you’ll have all the specialists; oncologists, radiologists and surgeons under one roof. Cancer is not a death sentence. We are the ones making it look like a death sentence. Go to the hospitals and see the machines, today they are working, tomorrow they are not working. Some of my survivors here had to go all the way to Benin to get radiotherapy treatment because the one in Eko hospital broke down; the one in LUTH broke down, same for the one in UCH because of the volume of people using them.

Have you thought of quitting at any point?

Yes, many times. It could be very overwhelming.

I sit here and hear gory stories that survivors tell of how some doctors attempt to take advantage of them even in their condition. And this happens because there is no proper comprehensive cancer centre. It’s very disheartening and sometimes gets to me. There are times I go to my chairman, Professor Osato Giwa to say I am not doing again, I just want out. Just put somebody else there. But he would not hear of it. He would encourage me, himself and his wife. He has been a wonderful father. To be fair, members of the board have been so good to me.

If I have a scare and I walk in here, what would you say to me?

I would allay your fears and do a clinical breast examination on you. To probe further, I would ask you to come on the third Saturday of the month that is when we do proper screening. Once you come, the radiologist would check you to find out what is happening there. And if we are not too sure, we probably might ask you to have a biopsy done depending on what the doctor says. And for those with family history of cancer, we could ask you to go for mammograms and if we are not too sure, we could ask you to go for breast MRI. Life is in stages. I would like to thank Skye Bank for their support. They gave machines and generator to power it. They are not just talking, they are committed and they take on patients too.

I N T E R VI EW

Why Baileys Celebrate Weddings - Ufoma Udjoh By - Debbie Igbinoba Baileys is a brand synonymous with celebrations. -UfuomaUdjoh, Brand Manager Baileys Nigeria spoke to Allure on the marriage of fun and fancy.

Tell us about Baileys and its affiliation to women?

Back in 1974, we set out to create a drink specifically made for women. Fast forward to 2015, we have the world’s bestselling liqueur and an entirely new category. Baileys is the original cream liqueur made from Irish cream. It is one of Diageo’s finest spirit brands and also one of the most successful brands launched in the last 50 years. It issold in over 160 countries.

Our vision is to be the spirit brand most loved by women around the world. We believe the world is a better place when women are free to be their brilliant selves and we exist as a brand to inspire and enable women to shine. We believe that women bring out the brilliance in each other and great female friendships are fundamental to women being all they can be. So it’s your sister,friend,mother, grandmother(family); women whose lives inspire you.

Baileys is constantly inviting women to celebrateall they are to each other, to raise a glass and say–Here’s To Us! We recommendthat womenenjoy Baileys responsibly at everyday occasion; whether it is a defining moment or simply a regular mixed group hang out or just relaxing with the girls. It is all about choosing what we want especially at those moments when girls get together inspiring one another to be the best versions of themselves.

Baileys has established a strong presence in the Nigerian wedding industry, especially with Banke Meshida - Lawal as the Brand Ambassador. Whyweddings?

A wedding and everything that leads up to the big day have become one of the biggest adventures

for ladies as a group. It is friends rallying around a friend to make her dreams for her wedding come true. From the proposal, to the bridal shower, shopping for a dress to the main event, there is a story to tell and every lady wants to tell hers.

Old or young, everyone loves the idea of love.

One person is in love and another in love with the love they see other people share. It is a special moment for girls whether you are a bride, mother, sister or friend. As a brand, Baileys is all about inspiring women to shine, and weddings is just one of the occasions we want to be a part of that women share.

Banke Meshida-Lawal represents what it means to follow your dreams; not taking an expected path in life. She has created fame for herself out of her passion, which is beauty and makeup - inspiring lots of women. She encourages women to see their inner beauty on the outside, whichalignswith Baileys’ campaign for women.

In what ways does Baileys celebrate brides and how does Baileys create memorable moments in weddings?

Baileys celebrates the journey of brides and not just the big day. Every lady about to get married has a story to tell. The story is made even better by the support system (friends and family)all the way to the big day. Baileys facilitates these key moments whereby bonds are formed and made stronger; those special moments where we are nothing but thankful for these moments.

Baileys creates experiences and in doing this, we try to make the wish of a bride come true – be it as it relates to the main wedding (honeymoon make-up, photography) or the journey to the wedding (bridal shower).

Ufoma Udjoh

The Making of an Iconic Wedding Photo!

Wedding photograhy lasts a life time, and the man behind the lenses determines how beautifully your love story is told. Multi-award winning photographer, Atunbi Adesanmi talks us through some of his iconic photos of brides and how he pulled it off!

Lola has been my good friend for years. During the bridal preparations for her traditional wedding, we asked her to lift her veil for a quick shot just before she was called out.

Japari was my first bride - the daughter of the former deputy of Adamawa state, then her sister, Jagila. What an amazing dress it was! It was only right to capture the work her bridesmaids put in to fit her in. It is important to tell candid wedding stories.

Tope Mafe was such a beautiful and friendly bride. This shot was taken at the wedding reception, while taking a short break before dancing in. I suggested all sorts of poses and this was one of the beautiful images created.

There is so much passion in the shot.

October 25, 2015 /

7

COVER

COVER

5

Defining Your Invitation Style

Today’s weddings are characterized by one-ofa-kind stylized details. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter weddings, it’s now all about incorporating as much of your distinct styles to every aspect of the event and the wedding invitation is no exception, as it sets the tone for the day to come.

With numerous inspirational images and an array of styles, it can be quite a task to define your invitation style.

Bolanle Koya, founder of The Wedding Store, a leading stationery store that has crafted quality and exquisite invitations for over 20 years, shares 5 tips to define your invitation style.

1

8

/ October 25, 2015

What’s the wedding theme?

This is where it all begins! The invitation is the first glimpse of the anticipated event, and we all know first impressions matter! The wedding theme should run cohesively across all touch points to give your guests a holistic experience. If you are going for a wedding with lush florals and textures then opt for a romantic invitation style that infuses lace.

2

3

4

5

An inspiration board is a must!

Compile pictures that resonate with you. It should not be restricted to invitation images it can be anything! Shoes, a painting, flowers etc.

Inspiration is in everything and anything.

Know your colours Colour has an important role to play. For a classic style, ivory or cream is always a good call, for a contemporary style, monochromatic black and white will bring it home. To achieve a cohesive look infuse it to the rest of your wedding stationery like the programme and menu.

Fonts matter No detail should be overlooked. Your fonts should complement your wedding style. For a formal wedding (think a wedding in a grand ball room), traditional fonts like Georgia or Book Antiqua are timeless choices that set a dignified tone. For an informal garden wedding, choose a typeface like Comic Sans or Courier New. Budget should not be a limitation Yes, setting a budget matters, but does budget determine style?

Absolutely not! There’s a misconception that certain styles require a reasonably larger budget to create, this is not the case. Any style can be achieved with a modest budget but you may have to compromise on some details...e.g., forgoing the invitation box for an envelope

Ways to Make your Wedding the Most Talked About

In this day and age of social media sharing, a hash tag is a must-have. Your guests get to post their own photos and videos of the wedding, capturing moments that even your photographers don’t have access to.

Here are some tips to create a great hash tag - Think outside the box. For example, use nicknames, pet names or a joint name - e.g. #Brangelina is catchier than #AngelinaAndBrad. If you have two common names, add the year, or use your middle name instead. I can bet you a lot of ‘Ada and Emeka’s’ get married. Find a way to stand out!You also have to make sure all your friends and vendors use the hash tag, for it to really take off… I also have a tip to make sure the hash tag never dies off - more of that later.

Know Your Diamond Shapes There are several shapes diamonds are cut into but about ten of them are exceedingly popular. Ronke Nedd, celebrity jeweler & founder ringsandbands. ng, talks us through the top 7 most popular engagement ring shapes as well as their pros and cons.

The Round Brilliant Diamond

MARIA AND KEV

Hire Trendy Vendors If you have the budget to spend, hire the most in-demand and most followed vendors on Instagram. Brides and grooms are just fawning over them - they are usually the best at what they do, and by extension, the priciest. Bonus points if you get them to use your wedding hash tag when they post a photo of you.

Outfit Changes are Never Enough Feel free to change as many times as you wish. In fact you can just wear some outfits for a mini-photoshoot before the wedding, you don’t have to wear them at the ceremony. In addition, you can do a post-wedding shoot with alternate outfits you didn’t get the chance to wear at your wedding.

Take a Hot PreWedding Shoot Ready, pout, pose!

Your pre-wedding shoot must be ‘on fleek’, and you have to do a theme that people haven’t done much of. BellaNaija Weddings featured an epic underwater shoot from Ugochi and Nnamdi, a very brave and athletic couple that people DOLAPO ONI still can’t stop talking about. Even if your pre-wedding shoot is in a studio, nowadays it’s not complete without a professional makeup artist and at least two outfit changes.

Food and Drink Must Flow Now the wedding is here, you cannot ‘dull’.

‘Shepe’ must be in the system for all your guests to truly say they had a good time, and food and drink must not finish. Here’s a tip: always try to get 150% of food/guest. If you have 500 guests, get food for 750. In Nigeria, it’s not a stretch. More people than you invited will show up, be prepared!

This is by far the most common shape you will ever come across. It also sparkles way more than any other cut as it has 57/58 facets on it. (Pro-tip: Facets are the little table like cuts you see on a diamond). If you want a ‘bigger’ look, a round brilliant cut is a must! Brides who favor this cut are traditional at heart. This cut has an incredible ability to look bigger than diamond cuts of equal carat weight. If she has big and not so long fingers however, you may want to pass on a round brilliant cut diamond.

The Princess Cut

If you are looking for a traditional look with a bit of an edge, the Princess cut diamond it is. It’s four pointed corners ensure that face up, this diamond looks much bigger than other cuts of the same carat weight. It’s an excellent choice for the bride who has a traditional taste with a little bit of an edge.

Lastly, back to the hash tag - continue to use your hash tag throughout your honeymoon, pregnancy, baby shower, birth and baby dedication - your wedding must live on!

The Cushion Cut

This cut is pure elegance. Sometimes referred to as the pillow or modified brilliant, because the edges are October 25, 2015 /

9

COVER

COVER

5

Defining Your Invitation Style

Today’s weddings are characterized by one-ofa-kind stylized details. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter weddings, it’s now all about incorporating as much of your distinct styles to every aspect of the event and the wedding invitation is no exception, as it sets the tone for the day to come.

With numerous inspirational images and an array of styles, it can be quite a task to define your invitation style.

Bolanle Koya, founder of The Wedding Store, a leading stationery store that has crafted quality and exquisite invitations for over 20 years, shares 5 tips to define your invitation style.

1

8

/ October 25, 2015

What’s the wedding theme?

This is where it all begins! The invitation is the first glimpse of the anticipated event, and we all know first impressions matter! The wedding theme should run cohesively across all touch points to give your guests a holistic experience. If you are going for a wedding with lush florals and textures then opt for a romantic invitation style that infuses lace.

2

3

4

5

An inspiration board is a must!

Compile pictures that resonate with you. It should not be restricted to invitation images it can be anything! Shoes, a painting, flowers etc.

Inspiration is in everything and anything.

Know your colours Colour has an important role to play. For a classic style, ivory or cream is always a good call, for a contemporary style, monochromatic black and white will bring it home. To achieve a cohesive look infuse it to the rest of your wedding stationery like the programme and menu.

Fonts matter No detail should be overlooked. Your fonts should complement your wedding style. For a formal wedding (think a wedding in a grand ball room), traditional fonts like Georgia or Book Antiqua are timeless choices that set a dignified tone. For an informal garden wedding, choose a typeface like Comic Sans or Courier New. Budget should not be a limitation Yes, setting a budget matters, but does budget determine style?

Absolutely not! There’s a misconception that certain styles require a reasonably larger budget to create, this is not the case. Any style can be achieved with a modest budget but you may have to compromise on some details...e.g., forgoing the invitation box for an envelope

Ways to Make your Wedding the Most Talked About

In this day and age of social media sharing, a hash tag is a must-have. Your guests get to post their own photos and videos of the wedding, capturing moments that even your photographers don’t have access to.

Here are some tips to create a great hash tag - Think outside the box. For example, use nicknames, pet names or a joint name - e.g. #Brangelina is catchier than #AngelinaAndBrad. If you have two common names, add the year, or use your middle name instead. I can bet you a lot of ‘Ada and Emeka’s’ get married. Find a way to stand out!You also have to make sure all your friends and vendors use the hash tag, for it to really take off… I also have a tip to make sure the hash tag never dies off - more of that later.

Know Your Diamond Shapes There are several shapes diamonds are cut into but about ten of them are exceedingly popular. Ronke Nedd, celebrity jeweler & founder ringsandbands. ng, talks us through the top 7 most popular engagement ring shapes as well as their pros and cons.

The Round Brilliant Diamond

MARIA AND KEV

Hire Trendy Vendors If you have the budget to spend, hire the most in-demand and most followed vendors on Instagram. Brides and grooms are just fawning over them - they are usually the best at what they do, and by extension, the priciest. Bonus points if you get them to use your wedding hash tag when they post a photo of you.

Outfit Changes are Never Enough Feel free to change as many times as you wish. In fact you can just wear some outfits for a mini-photoshoot before the wedding, you don’t have to wear them at the ceremony. In addition, you can do a post-wedding shoot with alternate outfits you didn’t get the chance to wear at your wedding.

Take a Hot PreWedding Shoot Ready, pout, pose!

Your pre-wedding shoot must be ‘on fleek’, and you have to do a theme that people haven’t done much of. BellaNaija Weddings featured an epic underwater shoot from Ugochi and Nnamdi, a very brave and athletic couple that people DOLAPO ONI still can’t stop talking about. Even if your pre-wedding shoot is in a studio, nowadays it’s not complete without a professional makeup artist and at least two outfit changes.

Food and Drink Must Flow Now the wedding is here, you cannot ‘dull’.

‘Shepe’ must be in the system for all your guests to truly say they had a good time, and food and drink must not finish. Here’s a tip: always try to get 150% of food/guest. If you have 500 guests, get food for 750. In Nigeria, it’s not a stretch. More people than you invited will show up, be prepared!

This is by far the most common shape you will ever come across. It also sparkles way more than any other cut as it has 57/58 facets on it. (Pro-tip: Facets are the little table like cuts you see on a diamond). If you want a ‘bigger’ look, a round brilliant cut is a must! Brides who favor this cut are traditional at heart. This cut has an incredible ability to look bigger than diamond cuts of equal carat weight. If she has big and not so long fingers however, you may want to pass on a round brilliant cut diamond.

The Princess Cut

If you are looking for a traditional look with a bit of an edge, the Princess cut diamond it is. It’s four pointed corners ensure that face up, this diamond looks much bigger than other cuts of the same carat weight. It’s an excellent choice for the bride who has a traditional taste with a little bit of an edge.

Lastly, back to the hash tag - continue to use your hash tag throughout your honeymoon, pregnancy, baby shower, birth and baby dedication - your wedding must live on!

The Cushion Cut

This cut is pure elegance. Sometimes referred to as the pillow or modified brilliant, because the edges are October 25, 2015 /

9

COVER rounded just like a pillow with slightly curved sides. With the cushion, you do not have the luxury of a bigger look when you compare it to a round brilliant cut diamond however, this is a much sort after cut as well and it is here to stay.

The Emerald Cut This cut smirks of the Victorian era yet has the ability to pull off a modern and super elegant look. The Emerald cut diamond is cut in steps so it allows you to see the inside of the diamond clearly which means it’s more susceptible to revealing flaws in a diamond. With this cut, you want to make sure you are buying a minimum of VS 2 Clarity.

The Radiant Cut This emerald cut diamond but this time with facets on it so it has extra sparkle. All the sparkle that an emerald cut may not deliver on. If she likes the classic and timeless look of the emerald cut but with a whole lot of sparkle, consider the radiant cut diamond.

The Heart Shape This is the hopeless romantic’s stone. Shaped like a heart, it goes without saying that the heart shape diamond is an attention grabber.

Pear Shape (also known as the teardrop) This diamond shape is like a hybrid of the Marquise cut and the Oval. If you want to stand out, this is the cut for you. (Pro-Tip: The pear shape diamond has the ability to give a slimmer and longer look to the fingers of the bride so if her fingers are not too long, you want to buy a pear shape diamond to create that illusion).

Catching up with Christine Ogbeh from The Wedding Guru We sat down for a quick chat with event designer extraordinaire, Christine Ogbeh to talk design.

How would you describe The Wedding Guru design style?

Our design style is quite broad. We love to combine and layer design elements to create our style. Our designs are usually detailed with a combination of floral work and unique stands/pieces. For us design is art and our style is our way of combining design pieces to meet our vision.

What brings the most excitement for you when designing a wedding?

The most excitement when designing a wedding is seeing the final design plan come to life. M ‎ ost times this is imagined and then created. ‎ Sometimes we sketch our vision for the wedding design. Then we have to source items to realise that vision which involves playing around with different items to find the best fit. We absolutely love designing every wedding we encounter because for us it is a new challenge to create a masterpiece for the bride.

Top 3 wedding decor tips • It is important to decide on a wedding theme from the get go and carry it out across all elements of your wedding.

For example, the décor, invites, catering, the waiters look, photo area, outfit of the mc, bridesmaids dresses, etc.

• When choosing your centrepieces it is important to

10

/ October 25, 2015

Christine ogbeh

look at the space you are working with first. For venues with high ceilings we advise a combination of tall and low centrepieces to give the eye the illusion of dimension. Y ‎ ou also need to understand that with design, this is proportional to your budget. The more elaborate you want to go the more time it will spend creating your pieces which in turn will cost more.

• When picking your wedding colours it doesn’t necessarily mean your wedding decoration must be the exact colour as your aso-ebi! Also keep it real with your wedding colours. It does sound fancy to put some wedding colour names on your invites like periwinkle and pistachio however note that most

times it may be absolutely impossible for your wedding designer to match the exact shade out of their inventory and most times will require to source those colours which will tip your budget higher.

What can’t you get enough of decor wise?

Flowers, wood and metal. With these three items, we can bring most things to life.

What was the inspiration behind #BBNWonderland decor?

We knew we wanted to have a stand out piece in every area of the event so we started with the photo area. The photo area was designed to have a dreamy feel with a floral arch where guests could stand as if they were entering wonderland. On the wings we wanted to create a step and repeat backdrop with a twist and this is how we came by mirrored branded circles. We wanted to keep the branding subtle and we achieved this.

Walking into the venue, we created a floral bride, which was designed to give the space an element of an actual bride. The dress on the mannequin is actually my old wedding dress, which we went further to flower and embellish to create a floral sculpture.

Along the walls of the space we wanted to create a nice background and resulted in cladded paneled floral mirror walls. The tables were arranged in the shape of a W to further enhance the wonderland theme. Long rows of tables were setup with dreamy combination of candelabras, floral structures, glass, mirrors and loads of candles.

The stage set is a personal favourite, we knew we wanted a symbolic stage design so we got hold of the sketch of a man and woman which depicted love and flowered the ladies dress up highlighting the woman in the sketch. The other part of the stage was designed to have a 3d mirror effect and of course the white piano gave it the final finish.

SPE CIAL REPORT

Glo’s Dance With Peter Heats Up

By Pamela Echemunor

A

s the search for the preeminent dancer in West Africa steams up, the Globacomsponsored Dance with Peter reality T.V show, has reached the first stage of eviction. Thirty finalists emerged from auditions held in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Benin and Abuja in Nigeria; as well as Accra, Ghana. Out of the 30, eight are up for eviction. The contestants who are battling to impress the judges for Globacom’s mouth-watering prizes have a long way to go. The overall winner will walk away with a brand new Toyota RAV 4, N3million cash prize and the rare opportunity of featuring in P-Square’s next music video. The first and second runners-up, on the other hand, will go home with a brand new Honda Civic car, N2million and a brand new Kia Rio car with N1million respectively and a chance to feature in one of the top Glo Ambassadors’ music videos.

The contestants, who are currently undergoing tutorials in the dance academy, will solicit for votes through their performances each week, and those who have the lowest scores are put-up for eviction

by the judges and their fate will be decided by the voting public.

Globacom in a statement told members of the public that if they wish to vote, all they need to do is send the code number of the contestant they wish to vote for to 55518 in Nigeria and 3030 in Ghana. “Voters also stand a chance of winning fantastic prizes which include I-phone 5 handsets, Glo internet Wi-Fi and modems as well as Glo recharge cards”, the statement added.

Globacom added that “Dance with Peter” was designed to promote and glamorize the dance culture among West Africans and assist those who may want to go into the dance profession to discover their remarkable talents. Judges of the competition are Peter Okoye of P-Square, dance legend and Guinness Book recorder holder for longest dance, Kafayat Shafau Ameh, popularly known as Kaffy, and dance instructor, Don Flexx. fearless and ricky

team peter

team kaffy

team flexx miracle and paulette

12

/ October 25, 2015

luxury

wines spirits

5

With Pamela Echemunor

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT WHISKEY

Whiskey is one of the oldest forms of alcohol in the world; it also has a wide variety of uses.

From cooking to baking and even for industrial use, whiskey is one form of alcohol that is priceless.

Here are some interesting facts about whiskey you should know.

REAL WHISKEY DRINKERS DON’T ADD ICE Whiskey tastes better without ice, that’s a known fact. Ice dulls the flavour of whiskey and it reduces the temperature of the whiskey drastically, thereby, inhibiting the flavour and freezing its aroma. If you must use ice, then one cube is acceptable. Adding just a drop-small splash of water is also good. The water prevents the strong alcohol content from numbing your senses completely.

THERE ARE 5-7 WHISKEY REGIONS

According to research done, there are between 5 and 7 different main regions where whiskey is distilled. The five major regions are: Scottish Whisky, Irish Whiskey, Kentucky (Bourbon), Canadian Whiskey, and Tennessee Whiskey.

The disputed two regional whiskeys are Japanese and New Zealand.

LIGHTING WHISKEY ON FIRE In parts of Scotland, scotch was set on fire to determine how much alcohol was in it. The colour of the flame would show whether or not the alcohol composition is right. If it burns too hot, there is too much alcohol and then it is usually sold to the distillery workers at a cheaper rate.

WHISKY IS NOT THE SAME AS WHISKEY There are two spellings of whiskey, the Scottish spelling which is Whisky and whereas everywhere else spells it as Whiskey. According to research, Scots spell it without the “e” because they believe more vowels waste good drinking time.

WHISKEY IS BEER Whiskey is mostly beer that’s been distilled two or three times. To refine whiskey you first have to make beer. Beer is a scientific term for whiskey wash, regardless of the type of ingredients used.

FOOD E

By Pamela Echemunor

Cake Indulgence Since we’re talking wedding this week, let’s talk cake. They say no occasion is complete until the cake arrives, from weddings, to birthdays, anniversaries and so on. Cakes invoke a certain kind of happiness no matter the event. Here are some mouthwatering cake recipes to try out.

HOT MILK CAKE Ingredients • 4 eggs • 2 cups sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder • 1-1/4 cups 2% milk • 10 tablespoons Method: In a large bowl, whisk eggs on for 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-coloured. Gradually add sugar, whisking until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to batter; beat at low speed until smooth. In a small saucepan, heat milk and butter just until butter is melted.

Gradually add to batter; beat just until combined. Pour into a greased baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE Ingredients • 2-1/2 cups 2% milk • 1 cup butter, cubed • 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped • 3 eggs • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour • 2 cups sugar • 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Filling: • 6 tablespoons butter, cubed, 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped, 2-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream.

Garnish: • 10 ounces semisweet chocolate (chopped), 2/3 cup heavy whipped cream Method: In a large saucepan, cook the milk, butter and chocolate over low heat until melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, beat eggs and vanilla; stir in chocolate mixture until smooth. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture and mix well (batter will be thin). Transfer to three greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For the filling, in a small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate. Stir in sugar and cream until smooth. For garnish, place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a spreading consistency. Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread garnish over top and sides of cake.

Email: pamela.echemunor@gmail.com, Instagram: @nanya2207, Twitter @nanya2207.

October 25, 2015 /

13

PEOPLE

“ONE PARTY AT A TIME!”

“O N E P ARTY AT A T IME!”

Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji, Omoyemi Akerele, Mr. Edem Vindah

BBNWonderland squealing with excitement as they open their deluxe gold gift boxes

The Wonderland Experience with Baileys and BellaNaija

Uche Pedro - Founder, BellaNaija & Nkechi Eze

By Latasha Ngwube

By Pamela Echemunor

Nigeria’s premier online blog, BellaNaija in collaboration with Baileys hosted 30 lucky brides-to-be from all around the country to enjoy the “Wonderland” experience!

The event which took place on recently was inspired by the love stories of couples featured in BellaNaija Weddings and in anticipation of their 10th Year Anniversary in 2016. The event kicked-off with a cocktail reception, on arrival, the elegantly styled brides in white dresses were treated to Baileys cocktails.

Guests were guided through the tunnel into Wonderland for a once in a lifetime experience with Baileys &BellaNaija Weddings.

The event was anchored by Bovi and it featured an exciting line-up of activities including games, where brides won a variety of gifts, a Q&A session with recent celebrity bride Osas Ajibade and award-winning OC Ukeje, who recently celebrated his first year anniversary.

There were informative sessions with leading industry vendors such as Funke Bucknor-Obruthe of Zapphaire Events, Lara Rawa of Eventi Cocktails, Christine Ogbeh of The Wedding Guru and Banke MeshidaLawal of BM Pro and Baileys Brand Ambassador. There was also a special surprise performance by Banky W. The BBNWonderland brides all took home a deluxe gold Wonderland gift box created by “The Wedding Store”, carted in by Coker Creative team.

They were also all gifted to special gift bags courtesy international cosmetics brand Lancome. BBN Wonderland which was exquisitely decorated by The Wedding Guru; was truly a day of smiles, entertainment, lifelong memories and friendships in Wonderland.

PRESS NIGHT FOR THE HEINEKEN LFDW 2015

BBNWonderland brides

Members of the press were recently, invited to a cocktail evening hosted by Heineken, title sponsors of this year’s edition of the Lagos Fashion & Design Week. The LFDW 2015 has been tagged, “The Celebratory Issue” and is set to be the most exciting edition yet with a mix of fresh and returning partners; over 4000 fashion insiders including designers, buyers, retailers, celebrities, models and special guests. Kicking off on the 28th of October, the fourday event, will take over the city of Lagos bringing the spirit of fashion to the African continent. Major highlights include, the Fashion Business Series & the X Retail Exhibition Space.

kayode fayemi presenting an award to Kehinde Young-Harry

Segun Osoba

Betty Irabor

media icons honoured

Adebayo OkeLawal

Oby Ezekwesili

By - Oscar Ochiogu

Dj Caise uche pedro

Frank Papas

Biola Alabi

Lanre da Silva Ajayi

Kenny Ogungbe

Grill at the Pent hosts All White Soiree with Dj Caise

By - Oscar Ochiogu

One hundred and twenty one media icons that have shaped the face of media in Nigeria were honored last weekend in Lagos by Red Media Africa during the Red Summit Gala held at the Harbour point.

Amongst those honored were, Chief Segun Osoba, John Momoh, Mo Abudu, Bisi Olatilo, Biodun Sobanjo, Nduka Obaigbena, Sadiq Daba, Betty Irabor to mention but a few. They were all honoured for their work in media over the years.

Media heavy weights, entertainers and political personalities, turned out to add colour to the event.

In his remarks, former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, commended the organizers, Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams for their efforts especially their media contributions with the online presidential campaign that led to the Victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls.

He further called on government officials to believe in the young ones and give them opportunities to shine.

Dayo Adeneye

Organizers of exclusive daytime party Grill at the Pen, hosted guests, socialites, celebrities and friends to the maiden edition of its all-white party with the theme, “GATP All White Soiree”.

Held at Cova, Rooftop, Mega Plaza, Victoria Island, the party witnessed an unprecedented turn out of guests all dressed in white.

The tasty grilled bites where on continuous burn, while ice cold Ciroc, was on flow all day.

The evening kicked off with GATP inhouse DJ, RUUD, turning the heat on with his rich mix of back to back hits, which set the tone for what would become a night to remember. Others who performed include, DJ – Shawty and Dj Olu Celebrities who came out to party on the night include, Star Boy, L.A.X; Dammy Krane, N6, Dj Caise and a host of others.

Bimpe Onakoya

banky w Swanky Jerry & Dewunmi Adebesin ( Bankhead)

Lara Rawa, Funke Bucknor, Christine Ogbeh & Gozie Coker

14

/ October 25, 2015

The Host for the Day, Bovi

Make your wedding a Baileys one

Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Fife Aiyesimoju & Ezinne Chinkata

Kunle Bakare

Reuben Abati & wife

sadiq daba

Dj Solex & Lynette

Dewunmi Adebesin, Mariam Adeyemi & Mohammed

October 25, 2015 /

15

PEOPLE

“ONE PARTY AT A TIME!”

“O N E P ARTY AT A T IME!”

Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji, Omoyemi Akerele, Mr. Edem Vindah

BBNWonderland squealing with excitement as they open their deluxe gold gift boxes

The Wonderland Experience with Baileys and BellaNaija

Uche Pedro - Founder, BellaNaija & Nkechi Eze

By Latasha Ngwube

By Pamela Echemunor

Nigeria’s premier online blog, BellaNaija in collaboration with Baileys hosted 30 lucky brides-to-be from all around the country to enjoy the “Wonderland” experience!

The event which took place on recently was inspired by the love stories of couples featured in BellaNaija Weddings and in anticipation of their 10th Year Anniversary in 2016. The event kicked-off with a cocktail reception, on arrival, the elegantly styled brides in white dresses were treated to Baileys cocktails.

Guests were guided through the tunnel into Wonderland for a once in a lifetime experience with Baileys &BellaNaija Weddings.

The event was anchored by Bovi and it featured an exciting line-up of activities including games, where brides won a variety of gifts, a Q&A session with recent celebrity bride Osas Ajibade and award-winning OC Ukeje, who recently celebrated his first year anniversary.

There were informative sessions with leading industry vendors such as Funke Bucknor-Obruthe of Zapphaire Events, Lara Rawa of Eventi Cocktails, Christine Ogbeh of The Wedding Guru and Banke MeshidaLawal of BM Pro and Baileys Brand Ambassador. There was also a special surprise performance by Banky W. The BBNWonderland brides all took home a deluxe gold Wonderland gift box created by “The Wedding Store”, carted in by Coker Creative team.

They were also all gifted to special gift bags courtesy international cosmetics brand Lancome. BBN Wonderland which was exquisitely decorated by The Wedding Guru; was truly a day of smiles, entertainment, lifelong memories and friendships in Wonderland.

PRESS NIGHT FOR THE HEINEKEN LFDW 2015

BBNWonderland brides

Members of the press were recently, invited to a cocktail evening hosted by Heineken, title sponsors of this year’s edition of the Lagos Fashion & Design Week. The LFDW 2015 has been tagged, “The Celebratory Issue” and is set to be the most exciting edition yet with a mix of fresh and returning partners; over 4000 fashion insiders including designers, buyers, retailers, celebrities, models and special guests. Kicking off on the 28th of October, the fourday event, will take over the city of Lagos bringing the spirit of fashion to the African continent. Major highlights include, the Fashion Business Series & the X Retail Exhibition Space.

kayode fayemi presenting an award to Kehinde Young-Harry

Segun Osoba

Betty Irabor

media icons honoured

Adebayo OkeLawal

Oby Ezekwesili

By - Oscar Ochiogu

Dj Caise uche pedro

Frank Papas

Biola Alabi

Lanre da Silva Ajayi

Kenny Ogungbe

Grill at the Pent hosts All White Soiree with Dj Caise

By - Oscar Ochiogu

One hundred and twenty one media icons that have shaped the face of media in Nigeria were honored last weekend in Lagos by Red Media Africa during the Red Summit Gala held at the Harbour point.

Amongst those honored were, Chief Segun Osoba, John Momoh, Mo Abudu, Bisi Olatilo, Biodun Sobanjo, Nduka Obaigbena, Sadiq Daba, Betty Irabor to mention but a few. They were all honoured for their work in media over the years.

Media heavy weights, entertainers and political personalities, turned out to add colour to the event.

In his remarks, former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, commended the organizers, Chude Jideonwo and Adebola Williams for their efforts especially their media contributions with the online presidential campaign that led to the Victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls.

He further called on government officials to believe in the young ones and give them opportunities to shine.

Dayo Adeneye

Organizers of exclusive daytime party Grill at the Pen, hosted guests, socialites, celebrities and friends to the maiden edition of its all-white party with the theme, “GATP All White Soiree”.

Held at Cova, Rooftop, Mega Plaza, Victoria Island, the party witnessed an unprecedented turn out of guests all dressed in white.

The tasty grilled bites where on continuous burn, while ice cold Ciroc, was on flow all day.

The evening kicked off with GATP inhouse DJ, RUUD, turning the heat on with his rich mix of back to back hits, which set the tone for what would become a night to remember. Others who performed include, DJ – Shawty and Dj Olu Celebrities who came out to party on the night include, Star Boy, L.A.X; Dammy Krane, N6, Dj Caise and a host of others.

Bimpe Onakoya

banky w Swanky Jerry & Dewunmi Adebesin ( Bankhead)

Lara Rawa, Funke Bucknor, Christine Ogbeh & Gozie Coker

14

/ October 25, 2015

The Host for the Day, Bovi

Make your wedding a Baileys one

Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Fife Aiyesimoju & Ezinne Chinkata

Kunle Bakare

Reuben Abati & wife

sadiq daba

Dj Solex & Lynette

Dewunmi Adebesin, Mariam Adeyemi & Mohammed

October 25, 2015 /

15