4 Tips for Renting Your Wedding Dress

Unwana Umosen


Ladies plan their weddings to be the most memorable day of their lives. They would want to look back twenty years later and tell the story of what it took to get that wedding dress. Not just with pictures, but the jewelry, shoes and the dress!

However, buying a dress costs a lot of money. If you are getting married on a budget, renting dresses is an easy way out. Now that you’re not getting a dress customized for you, there are a few things you must know.

1. Search for your dress on time:

Beautiful rented dresses are scarce. You don’t want to get to the best rental shop and realize that the dress that caught your eye online, is no longer available. Always have the upper hand in every situation. Trust me, you may not be the only one wedding that weekend, neither will you be the only one renting a dress.

2. Be careful during your reception: 

You can be excited you got a great bargain. You can dance all you want during your reception because your wedding was a huge success and you’re getting married to your best friend. However, you don’t want to dance so much and mistakenly rip the dress or destroy it totally. You will pay for that damage, and that is an extra debit from your bank account, which you didn’t plan for. It only brings back the nightmare of the spending money buying a new dress.

3. Ensure to try it on before making payments: 

Do not rush the process. Your wedding dress is what will appear in the pictures throughout. It will be left hanging on the wall in your sitting room and resting by the table in your bedroom. You don’t want to take all those pictures down because you hated how you looked in your wedding dress. Make sure the dress fits properly and it has no issues. When you’re absolutely sure and ready to pay, then you’re good to go.

4. Do not be too expectant:

 Renting a dress is way cheaper than buying one, but don’t expect the price to be extremely low. You can’t rent a good dress at the price of a regular jumpsuit. It just doesn’t work that way. So, keep it in mind that just because you must have heard renting a dress is way cheaper, you may not get it as cheap as you expected.

5. You can’t have it your way:

Most dresses, have been worn by others and were customized for others. When looking to rent a dress, have an open mind to different styles. If you want your wedding dress a specific way, you need to remind yourself that you don’t have the money for that kind of luxury.

Many ladies get lucky to rent wonderful dresses and look amazing for their wedding. Note these tips and you won’t regret it. Enjoy the renting process!

Is Your Wedding About You or Your Parents?

Unwana Umosen


Tayo always dreamed about a destination wedding. She wanted her wedding outdoors as well, so she started praying against bad weather while she was in university. It seemed hilarious to her friends but she knew what she wanted. That was how bad Tayo thought about her wedding. She was the firstborn of her family and was expected to get married first.

 Finally, while she was getting a master’s degree in Abuja, she got engaged. Excited to get married, she was also the first getting married in her family. It was time to live the dream she always imagined.

It was time to plan the wedding. Her parents talked her out of traveling for the wedding. For the traditional marriage, her mother was so excited, she said they had to go to their hometown. Tayo was avoiding most of her extended family members and she hated the idea. She hated it more because of the budget. She disliked the fact that her parents were willing to spend so much money to impress people she wasn’t even familiar with. She was disappointed they didn't use that money to have the wedding in another country.

Her parents imposed that it was part of the tradition and she had to do it their way. Through various family meetings, she had to agree.

She contracted a wedding planner for her white wedding, who was her friend from school. Tayo let her know everything she wanted in detail. She and her husband agreed they wanted a simple black-tie event, strictly by invitation, and with a maximum of 200 people. She planned a quick ceremony and a lovely after-party.

She told her parents what she was going to do and they forbade it. Tayo was frustrated trying to wrestle with her parents. They were funding the wedding, and therefore, she realized the wedding was theirs and not hers.

The reception hall was filled with friends of her mother and family members she had never spoken to. The live band was top-notch to them and the hall was emitting Yoruba culture. It was everything she didn’t want. She had no control over it and she had to force herself to enjoy the wedding.

She had a successful after-party when the old people -including her parents- had gone home. She warned her younger siblings to take their minds off making decisions for their own weddings, because many Nigerian parents take control of your wedding, as long as they are paying for it.

Can a long-distance relationship work?

Unwana Umosen

After a long year of searching, you finally find someone you love. But during your relationship, your partner gets an opportunity, to study or work in another country or city. What do you do?

It is going to be frustrating, dealing with the reality that your partner would be away for a long while. You go around seeking advice from different people on what to do and they all have different things to say. “Long-distance is another word for self-deceit”, “You will still cheat at the end of the day”, “How can you date someone you won’t see for such a long time?”.

People won’t stop saying negative things concerning your situation. However, long-distance relationships take consistency and self-control, and not everyone can go through it. They can only be successful when two parties are willing to make it work. Many couples have a mutual understanding and break up because of the circumstance. They are blunt and sincere with themselves and decide to call it off. Meanwhile, some other couples make it through, no matter how long the wait is.

If you are still hanging on the edge, trying to make a decision, there are valid points you need to take note of. This will help you think it through. Relationships take about two months to realize if they want to call it off or keep pushing.

· Communication is key 

It is important that you speak to your partner every day. No matter how busy you are, even the time difference doesn’t change a thing. Always leave a message if he/she is unavailable. Let them know your every move; what you’re doing and what you’re up to. It brings a sense of belonging and peace. It reduces the chances of trust issues and overthinking.

· Trust 

A relationship without trust is on a highway to many problems. Relationships are built on trust. One of the major fears of being in a long-distance relationship is losing your partner to someone else. Discouraging thoughts may settle in your mind, concerning new friends and new people your partner gets used to. It is always best to discuss whatever bothers you.


· Embrace the use of technology 

We don’t have to wait months for that raven to come over at your porch with a handwritten note from your lover. It’s the modern age, where online calls, video calls, and social media exist. If your partner is a thousand miles away, you can always reach the person just by internet connection. Technology has made it easier for communication t be fun and easy. Make use of it and it will go a long way helping you and your relationship.

· Be distinct 

In whatever way you can, do something new to spice up your relationship. Always keep it in mind that it’s the little things that matter. Surprise your partner when it is least expected, either with a visit or a gift. Video call them while you’re at a party, if possible, on a roller coaster. Make memories last even when your miles away.

· Have a goal 

The wait is always easier when you are planning a future together. If that is the main aim of your relationship, then you will have something to look forward to. If you and your partner are on the same page, the distance wouldn’t seem so long anymore.

Long-distance relationships seem to be difficult, but with two consistent people, it will be a success.