No need to go into details about the number of weddings that happen in this side of the world every weekend and the extravagance that goes into it. If we go by CNN’s report, sometimes-Nigerian wedding can cost up to N100m with guest lists matching the super-sized budgets.
It’s no secret that weddings, particularly in parts of West Africa, are not just celebrations—they are grand productions. Families often pull out all the stops, from elaborate attire to weeks of pre-wedding events and venues that rival royal banquets. These gatherings become a statement of heritage, wealth, and connection, where every detail is curated to reflect not only the couple’s love story but their families’ social standing. From the first dance to the last sprinkle of confetti, nothing is left to chance, and naturally, documenting it all with style becomes a top priority.
That same sentiment of meaningful storytelling and elegant presentation is what makes high-quality videography essential for weddings in Maine, even if the scale is different. Here, the charm lies not in massive guest lists but in the intimacy of forest clearings, coastal cliffs, and charming barns that whisper love stories with every breeze.
A seasoned filmmaker like Adam Gorham captures these moments with a reverence that honors the day’s emotion without intruding on it. Whether it’s a whispered vow in a pine grove or a joyous dance beneath fairy lights, the focus remains the same—turning fleeting moments into timeless memories, with craft, sensitivity, and soul.
But there is a key aspect that never seems to get attention: Gifts to the couple.
Do couples still get gifts and if yes what are they getting? Gone are the days when couples needed household items to start out their first home as man and wife. The days plates, kettles, toasters and irons become unnecessary as these items and several others would have been purchased long before.
So what do they need?
Anu Sanya, Ex-Zenith Banker and Strategic Partnership VP at Terragon Group, thought of the idea of a cash gift registry, Our Nuptial Chest and decided to try it out in 2017. While not married herself, the idea came through when her brother still had unused wedding gifts four years after his wedding and was saving up to buy a new car.
Our Nuptial Chest enables the collection of cash gifts using a secure payment channel from friends and family from any part of the world. All it requires from bride and groom is a creation of a chest on its website, and the chest link is shared either as part of the details on their wedding Invitation or sent as an email to their Friends/family.
A while back, Andela and Fluuterwave’s Iyinoluwa Aboyeji started a Twitter Thread about the potential success of a business with this business . So Anu might be onto something. While generally accepted as a new way of giving wedding gift, Anu says she has experienced resistance with main reasons given as “it looks like begging guests for money”. But she says that’s where they are wrong because it’s simply asking guests “please don’t buy us a microwave, what we really want is Car. Since we can’t ask from one person, all our friends and family can make it happen”.
There is also the question of the couples simply stating their account number on the wedding invitation as opposed to using Our Nuptial Chest. But then again there is the concern of having bank account details in the public.
Fortunately couples are signing on and receiving cash gifts from friends (who either can’t be at the weddings in person or simply give cash gifts at the request of the couples) across the globe.
While actively working on getting Nigerians to accept this new way of giving newlyweds gifts, Anu is working on enabling the cash gift registry for Nigerians in the UK, to be launched in Oct 2018. Meaning when Nigerians in the UK return home for weddings or even have the ceremony in the Uk they can receive their cash gift in Pounds.
We are rooting for OurNuptialChest.com and we hope to hear more of their great strides in the nearest future.
