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June 26, 2016<br />
The Wedding<br />
Issue<br />
Funke<br />
Bucknor<br />
Elohor<br />
Aisien<br />
Ndidi<br />
Obioha<br />
Super Wedding<br />
Planners
4<br />
15<br />
26/06<br />
Contents<br />
email: <strong>allure</strong>fortheworld@vanguardngr.com<br />
FASHION<br />
4<br />
5<br />
Wining And Dining Etiquette For Weddings<br />
PEOPLE<br />
15<br />
What To Wear To A Wedding<br />
• Fadan Inaugurates New Executive<br />
• Cointreau Creative Crew Launches<br />
In Nigeria<br />
Editor’s<br />
Note<br />
The role of a professional wedding planner in the success of a<br />
wedding ceremony came to fore, for many of us , in Jeniffer Lopez’s<br />
memorable movie, ‘Wedding Planner.’ Prior to that romantic flick, a<br />
wedding was family, friends and the couple; cut cake, ‘chop rice’<br />
and go.<br />
But, there is a lot more that goes into planning a wedding. These<br />
days, weddings are status symbol; an indication of just how stylish<br />
and bouyant a family is.<br />
Enter the wedding planner. Nigeria has a penchant for catching<br />
on to a trend and making it its own. Our weddings have become,<br />
by far, the most prominent in display of opulence in the world.<br />
Elsewhere, you might have a few flamboyant weddings but here,<br />
every other wedding of the rich and famous is an attempt to<br />
overwhelm and outdo what has been done before.<br />
To help our vagaries, the wedding planning professionals - led by<br />
the leading planners in the country - who feature on our cover<br />
today, ensure that the lavish taste of the couple or their families are<br />
satisfied or even surpassed.<br />
We call the trio ‘super wedding planners’; that, they certainly<br />
are. Between the three, the most lavish and talked about wed-dos<br />
have been organised.<br />
Funke Bucknor, Ndidi Obioha and Elohor Aisien take us through<br />
their glamorous world of planning and executing the perfect<br />
wedding ceremony.<br />
It’s another wedding issue. And, you are welcome!<br />
Have a great week!<br />
CHIBOK GIRLS: 500 days and counting.<br />
R .<br />
Remmy Diagbare<br />
@ Vanguard<strong>allure</strong>1<br />
6COVER<br />
STORY<br />
Elohor Aisien, Ndidi<br />
Obioha & Funke<br />
Bucknor; Super<br />
Wedding Planners<br />
Quotes...<br />
“The first thing I did when I sold<br />
my book was buy a new<br />
wedding ring for my wife and<br />
asked her to marry me all over<br />
again”.<br />
- Nicholas Sparks<br />
“Do not take life too seriously.<br />
You will never get out of it<br />
alive”.<br />
- Elbert Hubbard<br />
“Many people spend more time<br />
in planning the wedding than<br />
they do in planning the<br />
marriage”.<br />
- Zig Ziglar<br />
JEMI EKUNKUNBOR<br />
lookposh@yahoo.co.uk<br />
PAMELA ECHEMUNOR<br />
pamela.echemunor<br />
@gmail.com<br />
YEMISI SULEIMAN<br />
suleimanyemisi@gmail.com<br />
FATIMA GARBA<br />
fatigarba36@yahoo.com<br />
EDITOR<br />
REMMY DIAGBARE<br />
DEPUTY EDITOR<br />
JEMI EKUNKUNBOR<br />
ASST. EDITOR<br />
YEMISI SULEIMAN<br />
STYLE REPORTER<br />
PAMELA ECHEMUNOR<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
PRINCESS KATE EMIKO<br />
BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA<br />
JEROME CODJO-YAOVI<br />
ONIPEDE<br />
TEAM<br />
CONT. EDITOR<br />
LATASHA NGWUBE<br />
COPY EDITOR<br />
DODOIYI WILLIAM-WEST<br />
CORRESPONDENTS<br />
FATIMA GARBA<br />
DAVINA AYODELE<br />
LAYOUT / DESIGN<br />
GREGORY OBI<br />
OLAYIWOLA AJAGBE<br />
PHOTO<br />
OSCAR OCHIOGU<br />
(08034746487)<br />
ONLINE<br />
EDITOR: JEMI EKUNKUNBOR<br />
WEB PAGE MANAGER: OLAYIWOLA AJAGBE<br />
SUPERVISING DIRECTOR: TUOYOR AMUKA<br />
Printed and published by Vanguard Media Ltd<br />
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Apapa, Lagos.<br />
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08039675880,<br />
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FASHION<br />
ALLURE’S<br />
WEEKLY FAB LIST!!!<br />
By - Fatima Garba<br />
Looking for the latest trends to transition into? Hopefully our weekly fab list will<br />
help you decide the major trends to keep you looking fab all day and all week.<br />
DONE-UP DENIMS<br />
This season’s denim is kicking<br />
it up a notch with indigo printed<br />
patterns, subtle acid<br />
washing, and eyelet<br />
texture. Pick up<br />
the new style in<br />
silhouettes from<br />
wide leg jeans to<br />
high-waisted<br />
skirts.<br />
Green sequined Dress<br />
Stella Mccartney<br />
printed denim bag<br />
Christian Louboutin<br />
Glitter Blue heels<br />
Preen printed<br />
denim dress<br />
SEQUINS AND<br />
SPARKLE<br />
Go festive with sequins<br />
and sparkle. This season<br />
try burgundy, green, and<br />
navy instead of more<br />
traditional black or silver<br />
for added unexpected,<br />
head-turning detail as<br />
seen by Gucci.<br />
Kerry<br />
Washington in<br />
sequin sparkly<br />
trend<br />
BRIGHT AND BOLD<br />
STRIPES<br />
Nicholson Toshima<br />
gingham top<br />
GINGHAM<br />
Typically a youthful<br />
trend,gingham has grown<br />
up this season. Look<br />
for tailored trousers and<br />
mid-length dresses in this<br />
classic print to add a bit of<br />
chic to your look.Designers<br />
such as J.Crew,and<br />
Victoria Beckham had this<br />
trend all over the runways this<br />
season.<br />
Oscar de la Renta<br />
gingham Skirt<br />
Stella Mccartney<br />
bold striped dress<br />
bright bold striped top<br />
Classic stripes get an<br />
update this season in<br />
a spectrum of colours.<br />
Whether you reach for a<br />
statement coat or stock up<br />
on tanks to pair with your<br />
favourite denim, brighten<br />
up your wardrobe with<br />
wide and bold stripes this<br />
season as seen on the<br />
runways at Ralph Lauren,<br />
Stella McCartney and<br />
Christian Dior shows.<br />
June 26, 2016 / 3
FASHION<br />
WHAT TO WEAR TO<br />
By - Yemisi Suleiman<br />
LACE DRESS<br />
Lace is one of Nigerian<br />
women’s best fabrics; it is<br />
never out of fashion. From<br />
short, long to midi length<br />
dresses, with lace, the options<br />
are endless.<br />
H & M Lace<br />
Dress<br />
Christian Louboutin Peep Shoes<br />
Double Drop<br />
Earrings<br />
shift dress<br />
SHIFT DRESS<br />
This dress silhouette is<br />
known for its straight up and<br />
down cut (no waist or belt)<br />
and is flattering on most<br />
women.<br />
With the wedding season on us,<br />
one of the most fun, but also the<br />
most agonizing part of being a<br />
wedding guest, is figuring out<br />
the right dress to wear. But this<br />
doesn’t have to be a problem<br />
because most wedding<br />
invitations, come with dress or<br />
colour code for both families and<br />
even friends. So in this regard,<br />
the first thing to do is to do a<br />
little research on acceptable<br />
looks for that level of formality<br />
or occasion. In Nigeria, the<br />
usual wedding attire for<br />
women, is the traditional<br />
wrapper or lace dresses or skirt<br />
and blouse, complete with the<br />
traditional head gear-aso oke or<br />
scarf.<br />
However, if you are not one for<br />
the traditional look, there are lots<br />
of dresses in different colours<br />
and styles that you can wear to a<br />
wedding. One rule applies to<br />
everyone; never wear all white to<br />
a white wedding. Since white is<br />
the traditional bridal colour, you<br />
do not want to appear to be<br />
competing with the bride.<br />
Lace dress by<br />
House of Deola<br />
Here are some suggestions on<br />
what to wear to every type of<br />
wedding.<br />
ONE SHOULDER<br />
If you want to go super-glam to any<br />
wedding ceremony, try a one shoulder<br />
dress to give yourself a goddess<br />
vibe. Whether you go with a long or<br />
short silhouette, this tried-and-true<br />
dress style, will definitely make you<br />
stand out for the<br />
occasion.<br />
One shoulder<br />
look<br />
Tips To Note:<br />
Here are some additional things to consider<br />
when deciding what to wear to a wedding:<br />
• Don’t show too much skin. If you wear a short<br />
dress, cover up the cleavage. Never wear a<br />
midriff revealing outfit to a wedding.<br />
• Do look for dresses in pretty feminine prints like<br />
florals, and in bright cheerful colours.<br />
• Keep your underwear out of sight. A wedding is<br />
not the place to show off your sexy, lacy bra.<br />
4<br />
black and gold heels<br />
/ June 26, 2016<br />
One shoulder<br />
drap<br />
• Don’t wear something too sexy just because<br />
weddings are never an occasion for inappropriate
FASHION<br />
A WEDDING<br />
EMBELISHED<br />
Give your wedding<br />
guest outfit some<br />
sparkle with an<br />
embellished<br />
dress. Look for<br />
pretty details<br />
on the bodice<br />
or waist for a<br />
bit of shine.<br />
Save all over<br />
beading for<br />
black-tie<br />
or formal<br />
events.<br />
RUFFLE<br />
A pretty ruffled<br />
hem is absolutely<br />
perfect for<br />
weddings, tired<br />
ruffles have a<br />
sweet, feminine<br />
look that makes<br />
your entire style<br />
seem softer.<br />
Embelished<br />
Burgundy dress<br />
gold emblished heels<br />
ndidi obioha<br />
Blac Clutch Bag<br />
BUBA AND<br />
IRO<br />
Go glam the traditional<br />
way with the iro and<br />
buba, complete with<br />
the head tie. It’s the<br />
perfect choice for<br />
most Nigerian ladies<br />
for weddings.<br />
toke makinwa<br />
Double Drop<br />
Lucite Earrings<br />
levels of cleavage, thigh visibility or gratuitous cutouts.<br />
• Don’t go overboard on heavy, chunky jewellery;<br />
instead, try the personal jewellery trend.<br />
• Don’t wear black or sequins to a daytime<br />
wedding, as those are colours and details best<br />
reserved for evening occasions. (The sparkle will<br />
make you look overdressed.)<br />
• Lastly, make sure your clothes fit and are<br />
comfortable for sitting, eating, walking around, and<br />
dancing. You don’t want to be the person fidgeting<br />
with your dress throughout the ceremony and<br />
reception.<br />
linda ejiofor<br />
MAXI<br />
This versatile length<br />
works for both beach<br />
side weddings and formal<br />
events alike. Look for<br />
vivid colours, great prints<br />
and flattering cuts for<br />
your body type.<br />
Marchesa Cap<br />
Sleeve Gown<br />
June 26, 2016 / 5
R EP ORTAGE<br />
Ndidi<br />
Obioha<br />
Funke<br />
Bucknor<br />
Super Wedding Pla<br />
By - Jemi Ekunkunbor<br />
They are three strong women, wives,<br />
mothers, and business owners<br />
driven by passion for what they doevent<br />
planning. After graduation and a<br />
stint at 9-5 day job, all three, found the<br />
pull to organise things too strong to<br />
ignore.<br />
Today, they get paid taking the burden<br />
off brides’ and other corporate bodies<br />
who require their services to plan high-
R EP ORTAGE<br />
Elohor<br />
Aisien<br />
...I am a home person. I<br />
love chilling, spending time<br />
with my family.<br />
•Bucknor-Obruthe<br />
Creative Director: Nelly Mesik<br />
Photography: Bamiyo Emina<br />
Makeup: Joanne and Evelyn for Zaron Cosmetics<br />
Hair: Abbey Crystal Signature<br />
Styling: All outfits were from Enthyst Fashion Klinik<br />
nners<br />
end luxury events and parties.<br />
In this encounter, they talk<br />
about what goes into event<br />
planning and share their most<br />
memorable wedding planned.<br />
Planning A Wedding Is<br />
Like Nurturing A Baby<br />
- Funke Bucknor-Obruthe<br />
Funke studied Law at the University of Lagos but after a stint at practicing,<br />
she left saying: “I knew this was not my thing”. She didn’t find fulfilment in<br />
advertising either. Encouraged by a cousin to turn her passion into a business,<br />
with doubt, she decided to give it a try. Her first job earned her between<br />
N10,000-N13,000. But that move over 12 years ago, eventually gave birth to<br />
Zapphaire Events, one of the leading event planning companies in Nigeria. She<br />
continues to horn her skill with annual trainings abroad.<br />
What do you look out for first when a client<br />
comes to you?<br />
The first thing will be to understand and find out<br />
what it is exactly they want because a lot of people<br />
don’t know what they want. You have to get to know<br />
your client well because you cannot give ideas or<br />
brief when you don’t know the client. Some people<br />
want an elegant type of wedding, some others want<br />
June 26, 2016 / 7
R EP ORTAGE<br />
their wedding to be fun. People have different things<br />
they are looking for in a wedding. So when you get<br />
to know your client, you get to know and understand<br />
their personalities and that will allow you to be able<br />
to answer the brief. After consulting with them, you<br />
now create a concept for them that will actualize<br />
their dream. Everything has to have a synergy from<br />
entertainment to decor to design because it’s about<br />
event design and production.<br />
How did we get to the point where we started<br />
needing a planner?<br />
I think it was born out of a need in the society,<br />
something that was lacking. I remember when I<br />
started over 12 years ago, people didn’t know or<br />
understand why they needed a wedding planner. I<br />
remember trying to convince people that they needed<br />
a planner for their events. Some people dismissed<br />
me, some gave me a chance and I will forever<br />
celebrate those who gave me a chance. In those<br />
days, when family planned the wedding, you see a<br />
lot of love but you also see a lack of professionalism<br />
and it’s what you see that you get on your wedding<br />
day. But when you are paying somebody to do a job,<br />
you know that you can command and demand things<br />
of them. So we needed this in Nigeria because we<br />
needed to take things to the next level. Apart from<br />
us wanting to have a fun event and a lovely day,<br />
there is a better way to do things. If you are using<br />
family, who are you going to pay to get to the venue<br />
a day before? Is it your mum or dad? They will have<br />
other things to do. So event planning was born out<br />
of necessity because society was also changing. So<br />
many things have evolved with event planning we<br />
needed to move in that direction.<br />
What is it like planning an event?<br />
Planning an event for me is like solving a puzzle<br />
or having a baby, nurturing that baby, and watching<br />
him grow. It drains one emotionally because we are<br />
mentally and physically involved. Event planning is<br />
about details and when it is a wedding, it is emotional<br />
because you are dealing with the emotions of both<br />
families and friends. You also have to manage<br />
expectations and be diplomatic. So you are the<br />
friend, the budget keeper, the event designer. It’s<br />
draining but fulfilling when at the end of the day,<br />
you see the joy on the faces of the couple and their<br />
parents. That is satisfactory for me.<br />
What about those who think they need a planner<br />
but have very lean budget. Is there a place for<br />
them?<br />
There are many things we probably want but<br />
cannot afford. I always tell people that if you cannot<br />
get a planner, you can always get a day coordinator<br />
or get resources materials like my book, The<br />
Essentials Bridal Handbook. It’s an advisory book. I<br />
also have a Vlog series on how to plan every aspect<br />
of your wedding. But there is always a planner that<br />
you can afford. I don’t see a planner as an expensive<br />
venture, I see it as a necessary venture.<br />
With event planning, what’s new in the industry?<br />
It’s so funny that what is new today may not be<br />
new tomorrow. I remember that at the beginning<br />
of last year, the trend was about special effects but<br />
it’s now going away. For example, branding on the<br />
stationary or even the music where the wedding<br />
is almost done as if it is a production; everything is<br />
rehearsed, everything is choreographed. That is<br />
new. The effective use of good lighting is another.<br />
There are people doing their IVs like video or cartoon<br />
save the date. You have pre wedding photo shoots<br />
that are out of this world. Brides are having coloured<br />
bridal dresses now. So breaking out of the norm or<br />
tradition and doing things a little differently that is<br />
what is new.<br />
How was your very first planned wedding?<br />
My first planned wedding was of my friend Moji. I<br />
was new to the business and didn’t know anything.<br />
She gave me the chance. I remember she paid me<br />
N10,000 or N12,000. She gave me an aspect of<br />
the wedding to plan and I used that to get better.<br />
People thought it was excellent. After that, I did<br />
Florence Okoli’s wedding. I had no clue but I had<br />
read and practised with a few friends’ wedding when<br />
I was doing it for free. I made sure I paid attention to<br />
details. I followed up on every single service provider:<br />
video, photo, cake, decoration etc. It was excellently<br />
coordinated. After that wedding, we got other jobs.<br />
The key thing was that as an Igbo wedding, for once,<br />
people ate on time. Everything was perfect and the<br />
bride would tell anyone that she had a planner.<br />
Guests who don’t buy aso ebi often complain<br />
that gifts do not get to them. Do you subscribe<br />
to aso ebi and are there things you counsel your<br />
clients to do or not to do?<br />
Sometimes, people are at liberty to do what they<br />
want but at times, I think they put pressure on a lot<br />
of people as well as themselves. If somebody buys<br />
aso ebi and you feel you should give the person<br />
a gift, there is nothing wrong with that. Giving gifts<br />
at a wedding is not compulsory. Sometimes at our<br />
weddings, we over estimate or underestimate.<br />
Sometimes you invite 300 people but 500 show up.<br />
What do you do? You just find a way to arrest the<br />
situation. But when we plan, we budget for extra and<br />
plan crises management.<br />
Share with us the most memorable wedding that<br />
you planned?<br />
I think one of the most memorable weddings<br />
for me, has been one that first of all, was strictly<br />
by invitation. It was very controlled. We had only<br />
400 guests. It was very intimate, with family and<br />
friends. There was no stranger. The bride and groom<br />
knew every single guest that came. The bride and<br />
groom celebrated their parents in a way that made<br />
people cry. All my team members were in tears. The<br />
wedding was so full of love. The music was good, the<br />
decor was beautiful, the sitting was intimate and we<br />
got so many jobs from that one. There was so much<br />
love between the couple and the family. The tension<br />
was less. People came to celebrate them. There<br />
are weddings where people come to laugh at the<br />
celebrant.<br />
When you are not working, what do you love to<br />
do?<br />
I am a home person. I love chilling, spending<br />
time with my family and friends and also busy on my<br />
phone.<br />
Where is your holiday destination?<br />
None. I like staying at home.<br />
My First Job Got Me Three Others<br />
- Ndidi Obioha<br />
perfect hostess and an interviewer’s delight, there is never a thing she dreams<br />
A that she never follows through to realisation. Extremely creative and constantly<br />
breaking new frontiers, Ndidi Obioha has been described as a serial entrepreneur.<br />
On graduation in 1997 from the Obafemi Awolowo University where she<br />
studied International Relations, she started her career in advertising, moved to<br />
telecommunication and then to banking before leaving paid job to become an<br />
entrepreneur.<br />
She started business with the establishment of a hair salon, Hair craft. From<br />
styling brides hair, she saw an opening in event planning and set up Enthyst Events<br />
Limited. From there, she delved Into bridal business and on to retailing exclusive<br />
red carpet dresses. Only recently, she launched an event planning show on TV<br />
scheduled to air in July. She is already working on her next line of business.<br />
8<br />
/ June 26, 2016
R EP ORTAGE<br />
When a client comes, what is the first thing you<br />
want to see?<br />
The first thing I want to see is chemistry. It is very<br />
important. I need to be able to feel the client. I want<br />
to see a client that is able to bring out the creativity in<br />
me, not a client that is coming to impose her ideas.<br />
And when I see a client that is willing to give me the<br />
free hand to work, it makes it easier for me. So for<br />
me, it’s very important that there is that chemistry<br />
between us.<br />
Everything a planner would do today used to be<br />
the business of the entire family to take care of.<br />
How did we get to the point that everybody now<br />
needs a planner?<br />
Well, I think now people are beginning to realise<br />
that things need to be handled professionally. When<br />
you leave things to family and committees to handle,<br />
what happens on the day of the event? First and<br />
foremost, family and friends handling stuff for you<br />
will take care of their own people. Now when you<br />
are inviting people for an event, you invite people<br />
from different blocks of life whom you have known at<br />
different times. Now, some of these people that you<br />
have handed over things to that are not professional<br />
planners, usually will take care of those they know<br />
first and people that you as the host have Sinvited<br />
will end up not being properly taken care of. And that<br />
•Obioha<br />
isn’t just right. So people are beginning to realise<br />
just that. Once you invite somebody to a party, who<br />
ever is in charge, doesn’t need to know that guest<br />
to make sure that that guest is satisfied having<br />
attended your event. That realisation of this is what<br />
is making people use the services of a planner,<br />
somebody who will be unbiased, a professional to be<br />
bale to handle the event.<br />
What is it like planning an event?<br />
The truth is passion is what drove me into event<br />
planning and because of that, it’s fun for me. I<br />
actually party when i’m doing an event. When you<br />
know your onions and understand what you are<br />
doing, then it comes natural to you and just makes<br />
it easy. Planning is a natural calling for me because,<br />
I love to organise and conceptualise ideas. I love<br />
the idea that I can be creative. I can go as far as I<br />
want to go to bring in my ideas to bear noting the<br />
personality of whoever I am doing their event be it<br />
an individual or brand. All that comes into play in<br />
conceptualising the idea for the event. So for me,<br />
planning is fun and brings out the creativity in me and<br />
makes me think outside the box.<br />
Is it that creativity that has taken you to TV?<br />
Well, The Event pro is something new that I came<br />
up with to let people know what it takes to put an<br />
event together; the fun, the drama, the madness and<br />
the pressure because people don’t know or realize<br />
the significant role the planner plays. You as the<br />
host will not be at the venue the night before. You<br />
need to catch your beauty sleep but as long as you<br />
left the event in the hands of the planner, then you<br />
can truly have your beauty sleep knowing that every<br />
vendor that you had contracted is there to deliver on<br />
what you had agreed upon. So those are the roles<br />
the planner plays. Sometimes the client contacts the<br />
vendors directly and bring in the planner as coordinator.<br />
Event Pro, shows you the behind the scene<br />
activities and makes you see why you need a<br />
planner. Watching the show will also help you<br />
see all that a planner has to go through on your<br />
behalf. The show will be aired on Africa Magic<br />
come July.<br />
...when the ambience is<br />
beautiful, it sets the guests<br />
in the right mood.<br />
What innovation is there in the event planning<br />
business?<br />
Your creativity is the innovation you bring in this<br />
business. No one brief is the same. When you are<br />
given a brief, the way you conceptualise and define<br />
that brief brings about the creativity with which you<br />
are going to deliver that event. But we try to invest<br />
in ourselves by going for courses, conferences and<br />
seminars abroad where a lot of the new stuff not<br />
as a planner but vendors are shown. So we come<br />
back here and ginger our vendors to come up with<br />
something new and innovative having seen what is<br />
obtainable outside the country.<br />
How was your very first professionally planned<br />
event?<br />
When you’ve planned so many events, it<br />
becomes difficult to remember. But I remember this<br />
one because my very first job got me three other<br />
weddings. When I left the bank, I started the salon<br />
Hair craft at Yaba then. We then became the official<br />
hair stylist for MBGN. Later, we also became the<br />
official salon for the Wedding planner Magazine. A<br />
lot of brides would come to have their hair done. I<br />
am very creative with the hair styles because I would<br />
consult with the brides to come up with great ideas.<br />
I would chat with the brides and even talk about how<br />
I planned my wedding. And one day, one of them<br />
said to me “aunty come and plan my wedding “ . She<br />
seemed frustrated at the time. That was how I got in.<br />
And when she asked how much I will charge, I had<br />
no idea because I have never charged. Eventually, I<br />
think I charged her N100,000. That wedding got us<br />
three other weddings.<br />
What is your view of the concept of Aso ebi<br />
especially where some people complain of poor<br />
treatment because they did not wear one?<br />
The truth is that aso ebi is usually a personal<br />
thing. There are no hard and fast rules to it. You<br />
have certain clients that must have that aso ebi. I am<br />
strictly a wedding planner. We now have what we call<br />
aso ebi planners. It is handled by them.<br />
I think it’s been over done. You can have a dress<br />
code or colour code so that everybody is not wearing<br />
one freaky colour. It now makes it more interesting<br />
because you see people come in different colours<br />
and styles. That I would rather have than everybody<br />
wearing same thing. When you get a little more<br />
creative with aso ebi, that is when the concept is<br />
appealing and more interesting.<br />
Which of the weddings you’ve planned is the<br />
most memorable and why?<br />
I have planned very memorable weddings. I think<br />
I’ve been so lucky so far that I haven’t had a bad<br />
experience. So it’s a tough question because every<br />
bride that I have worked with, always call me to bless<br />
me and thank me. That can’t be bought. When I get<br />
that it becomes memorable. An event consultant is<br />
like a medical doctor. If you are not truthful with what<br />
your budget is so that the event planner knows how<br />
to handle it, for instance, if you say to your event<br />
planner I am expecting 600 people and you end up<br />
bringing 1,000 people, that is a recipe for disaster.<br />
We’ve been lucky to tackle such challenges as they<br />
come but trust me, it can be very challenging. Other<br />
than that, it’s been an amazing journey and I would<br />
do it over and over again.<br />
What is the most important element of a wedding<br />
that you’ d like to see?<br />
I am very big on ambience. What I’ve realised<br />
is that when the ambience is beautiful, it sets the<br />
guests in the right mood and gets them ready to<br />
enjoy the party.<br />
June 26, 2016 / 9
R EP ORTAGE<br />
of flowers for it to be luxury. It may just be how the flower is<br />
arranged or where it is placed that will make it look nice and<br />
classy. Too much of colour and everything is not good. You<br />
go into a room and see all red or all white. Every colour has<br />
its moods.<br />
What does planning an event entail?<br />
Planning an event means everything to me. Apart from<br />
making money, I have to enjoy it. It’s not easy, you have to<br />
be very patient, you have to be organized and be ready for<br />
the kinds of clients you’d meet. You’d meet some brides<br />
that will stress you, you’d meet some brides that are very<br />
easy going. You have to be humble whatever the job.<br />
Patience for me is the most important thing. Sometimes,<br />
I get called upon to plan an event within 24 hours. I have<br />
done that a few times. I can’t say no. My clients are very<br />
important to me and I have clients that I organize private<br />
parties for that I can’t put on social media. So we are<br />
particular about the people we meet. We are like a one-stop<br />
shop and we do everything from start to finish, from what<br />
the bride is wearing or the groom to flowers, to where they<br />
can go and shop or where they can go on honeymoon etc.<br />
When you plan for a cross cultural wedding, how do<br />
you ensure balance on both sides?<br />
I have one of such coming up soon and I think as a<br />
planner, this is very important. You have to know both<br />
cultures and understand both families and how to manage<br />
them and deal with them in a mature way. We plan for food<br />
on the same level, and implement some cultural stuff on<br />
both sides so that there is a balance.<br />
What is new in terms of wedding planning that can<br />
make a wedding really great?<br />
What’s new is bringing new things into my game,<br />
furniture, decor etc. I believe every wedding shouldn’t be<br />
the same. I have a whole warehouse of things I use and<br />
rent out as well. There are different things that I come up<br />
with which I cannot say here.<br />
•Aisien<br />
Luxury Is About The<br />
Details Not Price<br />
Popularly known for her annual model search, “Elite Model Look”, not many know<br />
she is a wedding planner as well. The Business and Information Technology<br />
graduate of the then, London Guildhall University, started planning in 2008 and<br />
branched into wedding planning in 2013. The former beauty queen, who specialises in<br />
planning luxury weddings and events, has trained with some of the best luxury<br />
planners in the world--Mark Niemierko, London, Preston Bailey- New york, Sarah<br />
Haywood -London, and Karen Tran Pugali Italy.<br />
Only recently in April, she was part of the destination wedding planners Congress in<br />
Florence, Italy where she was a guest speaker.<br />
The CEO of Prive Luxury Events also runs a bridal store, Prive Atelier where she sells<br />
designer wedding dresses.<br />
When you meet a client, what do you want to see<br />
before consultation starts?<br />
The first thing I want to see is trust. It’s very important<br />
for them to trust me. When your client trusts you, your<br />
job is easier. I am very particular when it comes to parties<br />
and weddings. It has to be what I also want because of<br />
my brand. Now we are more luxury but it doesn’t mean<br />
expensive. When I meet a client, I try to get them to be<br />
on the same page with me. I get to know them personally<br />
by doing a research on them and to know what they like.<br />
The most important thing here is how the wedding or<br />
event turns out. If I don’t get along with my client from the<br />
beginning, nothing is going to work well on that day. So<br />
10<br />
/ June 26, 2016<br />
....When your client trusts you, your job is easier.<br />
- Elohor Aisien<br />
first is for my client to trust me and trust my ideas. I listen to<br />
them and also learn from them.<br />
You have pitched your tent with doing luxury events.<br />
Why?<br />
When I decided to do events, I was looking for<br />
something different, something unique because a lot of<br />
people were doing the same thing. And I know Nigerians<br />
spend a lot of money on parties but it is not about the<br />
money but about the small details. So for me, with my<br />
clients, I look for people who understand what luxury is,<br />
people who like unique details like the flowers, the set up<br />
that makes it look luxury. You don’t have to have a room full<br />
Can you recall your first paid planned wedding?<br />
My first planned wedding was of a friend whom I had<br />
known for years. This friend was the one planning his own<br />
wedding because he is from the north. And he would call<br />
me for phone number of a photographer, and I would give<br />
him, then he would call for another thing. At some point,<br />
I just said to him, let me plan your wedding. And he was<br />
very happy. What he didn’t know was that I had always<br />
wanted to be a planner from when I was 20. So I started<br />
planning two months to the wedding. When I got there, I<br />
made my input and they were happy. I was planning for a<br />
bigger wedding and they were planning for less. At the end<br />
of the day, what I told them was what happened. Till date it<br />
remains one of my favourite because it was stress free. The<br />
bride was so simple and they just gave me everything to<br />
work with.<br />
The concept of Aso ebi, do you subscribe to it?<br />
Yes, aso ebi for me is very important, it is our culture.<br />
We can’t escape it. Recently, I was in Italy for the<br />
destination wedding planner congress where I was a<br />
speaker and I had a presentation and everyone was in<br />
love with how colourful our weddings are especially with<br />
the aso ebi. I don’t think we appreciate it as much as<br />
people do outside. For me, aso ebi is very important. What<br />
I am not very keen about is make up. I see more guests<br />
wearing make up than the bride. I feel it shouldn’t be so.<br />
Recently, I was going out with some friends to a wedding<br />
and they were all seriously made up. That surprised me a<br />
bit because they were more made up than the bride. And I<br />
was like, are you serious? I think it should be the bride that<br />
should be beautiful. You go to a wedding, you don’t know<br />
who is the bride and who is the guests. The guests are all<br />
heavily made up. Maybe the bride needs to step up her<br />
game, come out of the box with new hairstyles then the<br />
regular look.<br />
Also, I want to see brides go away from the classic<br />
wedding gown to start wearing pink wedding dresses, red<br />
wedding dresses, etc.<br />
Which of the weddings you have done stands<br />
memorable for you?<br />
Ok. It would be this one wedding in Dubai. I love<br />
destination weddings. With destination weddings, you have<br />
few family and friends and you are able to get everything<br />
you need to have the job done compared to one done<br />
here where you have challenges getting things you need<br />
to work. It was fun. I loved working for the client, I loved the<br />
decor. Everything was just fine.<br />
What won’t you do as a planner?<br />
I will never tell my client it’s not possible. Everything is<br />
possible.
L IF ESTYLE<br />
Wining And Dining<br />
Etiquette For<br />
Weddings<br />
by - Pamela Echemunor<br />
After the “I dos” at the church, it’s time to wine and dine and make<br />
merry. Most people tend to skip the church service altogether and<br />
attend the reception party (no judging), but then there are certain rules<br />
and guidelines to follow when attending a reception, so at to avoid<br />
interrupting the flow of things for the planner. Here are a few wining and<br />
dining etiquettes for guests at a wedding reception.<br />
Food<br />
Is it right to request for more<br />
food? The answer is maybe<br />
and maybe not, but who cares,<br />
you’re are at a wedding, if you<br />
feel the flow of food and drinks<br />
is sufficient, then why not, but<br />
try not to be a grub. Survey<br />
to ensure everyone else has<br />
enough before you strike.<br />
Arrival Time<br />
Receptions can last between 7-8 hours,<br />
depending on when the couple leaves the church.<br />
The most appropriate time to get to a reception<br />
venue is at least an hour after the church service<br />
and this is considering traffic, except of course the<br />
venue is close to the church.<br />
Speaking With A<br />
Full Mouth<br />
While eating in public, it’s paramount not to eat<br />
with your mouth full, this rule applies to all events,<br />
whether it’s a date or a party, whatever the<br />
occasion, chew and swallow before speaking or<br />
risk splattering all over the next person.<br />
Sitting At One<br />
Spot Or Moving<br />
Around<br />
Some couples leave the early hours of the<br />
reception for the folks and more seasoned family<br />
and friends, then the later part of the day is for<br />
the ones who want to shake and boogie. No fault<br />
here, just keep it simple and have fun.<br />
Cutlery Or Not<br />
In most cultures, using cutlery is a paramount part<br />
of dining. But in most parts of the world especially<br />
in Africa, eating with ones bare hands is custom.<br />
So if you really need to eat with your hand, don’t<br />
be shy, but remember, some foods actually require<br />
cutlery.<br />
Toast<br />
When it’s time to toast at a wedding, it’s<br />
customary to raise your glass, but make sure<br />
it has something in it. Toasting with an empty<br />
glass is rumoured to bring bad luck, so fill<br />
your glass up, stand and raise it up to the<br />
couple cheerfully.<br />
June 26, 2016 / 11
FEATURE<br />
The<br />
Wedding<br />
PLANNER<br />
by - Ibiyeye Titilayo Muinat<br />
THE PROPOSAL SYNDROME<br />
Let me guess, MR RIGHT proposed or you have this uneasy<br />
feeling that any moment from now, he might just pop that big<br />
question you’ve been waiting to hear since you find yourself<br />
in that state you have no control over love.<br />
After the initial excitements from you and your girlfriends, narrating endless of times how he went<br />
down on his knees and all those stuffs we girls always gist about, you are left to deal with the rest on<br />
your own. (Well, the nice ones can stay behind and discuss the role they are willing to play) most women<br />
soon realize that engagement is one of the most significant psychological transitions in their lives.<br />
The engagement stage is more than simply planning a big party/wedding. It involves introspection and<br />
emotional analysis. It involves open communication with your fiancé, family and friends. It involves<br />
acceptance of fear and dealing with over whelming excitements. Once a bride realizes the complexity of<br />
this transition, she can address her emotions and move forward in planning for both a fabulous party<br />
and a successful next chapter in her life.<br />
Deep down, the newly engaged woman often feels some unexpected emotions of fear and anxiety.<br />
It is these important internal details that an engaged<br />
woman must face and confront, if she ever hopes<br />
to arrive at the altar fully prepared to enter into a<br />
healthy marriage.<br />
Eight years in the wedding business, I have seen a<br />
lot of cranky, frustrated, angry, tired even depressed<br />
brides. I must confess, it has never been funny having<br />
to deal with them. These emotions could be as a result<br />
of some unresolved conviction within the bride’s subconscious<br />
mind while in other cases, it might be as a<br />
result of stress. A bride once said to me on her wedding<br />
day “I don’t think I love him, I think I just like<br />
him”. It was that day the preacher in me was born!!!<br />
Anxiety/Adrenaline Rush<br />
What am I going to wear? My wedding has to be my<br />
friend’s conversations for months, which venue am I<br />
using? I’m not too tall, I need a shoe that would make<br />
me stand out and I need to look S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-<br />
A-R! Which makeup artist should I use? Seriously?<br />
Ladies, you need to relax!! Slow down, take a deep<br />
breath and avoid health issues because things can’t go<br />
well if you are all messed up.<br />
Fear<br />
Have you asked yourself recently “hope I’m not making<br />
a mistake?”, “Is he the right guy for me?” These<br />
questions most times, create confusion and fear you<br />
have never experienced before. There is no other time<br />
in your life when you are truly giving up one identity<br />
for another. The transition is more complex than<br />
simply taking a new last name, a literal change of<br />
identity and a decision that brings with its own set of<br />
questions and anxieties.<br />
You are also giving up your identity as a single<br />
woman. Women often worry, “I’m losing my youth”<br />
or “I’m spending the rest of my life with this guy” A<br />
stage in your life, the only stage you have ever experienced<br />
is ending and many women experience feelings<br />
of loss as a chapter closes on their lives.<br />
Accepting Your Feelings<br />
In reality, these thoughts could not be more normal.<br />
In every other major life transition, simultaneous<br />
feelings of loss and gain are not only expected, but<br />
encouraged. When you graduated from secondary<br />
school, when you graduated from the university,<br />
when you moved away from your home, when you<br />
left your first job for a better opportunity, those<br />
around you understood and sympathized with your<br />
conflicting emotions. But, did those feelings of sadness<br />
and loss hinder you from taking that next step<br />
and succeeding with flying colours? Of course not!<br />
You allowed yourself to address and analyse your<br />
thoughts, then you proceeded with the change. This<br />
is exactly what you need to do during your engagement<br />
as you prepare for your journey to the altar and<br />
marriage. It is important to realize that feelings of fear<br />
and anxiety are normal and not a sign your guy is not<br />
good enough. Discuss and analyse them with those<br />
around you. Don’t allow your friends and family to<br />
focus solely on the wedding planning details to the<br />
exclusion of your internal struggles.<br />
Feel free, relieve yourself of unnecessary stress and<br />
smile through it all. You know why? Because a smile<br />
is the best makeup you can ever wear.<br />
Tiyilayi Ibiyemi is a wedding vendor; a makeup artist<br />
and a jeweller . she is also a Wedding consultant.<br />
12<br />
/ June 26, 2016
HEALTH<br />
HEALTHY LIVING101<br />
by - Teri Mendes<br />
BECOMING A PARENT<br />
Things That Might Surprise You<br />
10<br />
... CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK<br />
6. You Can Work from Home with a Child<br />
(But Only Up to a Point)<br />
There are two periods of your children’s lives when<br />
working from home with them is a breeze: Before<br />
they’re walking (e.g., when they can entertain<br />
themselves by discovering their toes) and after they’re<br />
old enough to understand that when you’re working<br />
from home, you’re really not available. If your kid is<br />
good at entertaining him/herself, working from home<br />
is easy, but it might still give you pangs of guilt when<br />
your attention is divided. It’s hard for parents to say<br />
“No, I’m busy now” several times a day. So even if<br />
you’re lucky enough to get to work from home, a nanny<br />
or a daycare comes in handy once your child is old<br />
enough.<br />
7. Don’t Worry If Your Child Isn’t Reaching<br />
Development Milestones but Be Proactive<br />
Every child develops on his or her own timeframe.<br />
So try not to rush getting your child to talk, walk, run,<br />
or read. They grow up all too fast anyway. And with<br />
potty training, it will only happen when the child is<br />
ready so, don’t be in a rush. Only the flip side I do<br />
encourage crosschecking the children’s milestones and<br />
making sure you are on track. A good way to do this is<br />
the ASQ Questionnaire, type that<br />
into Google and add your Child’s age<br />
in and it will come out, based on<br />
communication, cognitive, fine<br />
motor skills, gross motor skills and<br />
problem solving categories. I find it<br />
extremely helpful as a guide. It’s also<br />
a more proactive way to tackle issues<br />
as opposed to just worrying.<br />
8. You Can Never Take Too<br />
Many Pictures or Videos<br />
In the first few years, you’re<br />
probably going to constantly take<br />
pictures and videos. Sadly, that falls<br />
off as you and they get older. You will<br />
never regret having too many<br />
pictures of your rapidly growing<br />
child, though, so it’s something to<br />
watch out for.<br />
It also helps if you develop a habit<br />
of organizing your photos and videos<br />
soon after you take them. Otherwise,<br />
you’ll have a mess of images and<br />
videos that are as daunting as the<br />
thousands of emails you have in your inbox.<br />
Most important, though: Back up, back up and back<br />
up your photos and videos, both locally and offsite. We<br />
like Crashplan for an automated, bulletproof backup<br />
system. Those files are probably the most precious ones<br />
to save (and the only ones you can never, ever<br />
recreate).<br />
9. Going Out—Anywhere—Will Never Be the<br />
Same<br />
Once you become a parent, time shifts. What used<br />
to be a five-minute run to the shops or market will now<br />
take forty-five minutes to account for bundling,<br />
dawdling, snack-packing, car-seat-fiddling, and other<br />
extra steps.<br />
Eating out is also a whole new experience. There are<br />
Cheerios on the floor to feel guilty about, crayons to<br />
keep from rolling off the table, and angry-looking<br />
fellow diners (at least in your mind) to deal with. And if<br />
you manage to get out for a date night alone with your<br />
significant other, you’ll probably spend all of the time<br />
talking or worrying about your child.<br />
10. You Will Never Be the Same<br />
Parenting changes you. I expected this, but I didn’t<br />
expect just how radically it would. It’s not like you turn<br />
into your mom or dad overnight, but your values,<br />
perspective, and habits get realigned to one single<br />
creature: your child (or your children, if you have more<br />
than one).<br />
It also means:<br />
• Your habits might change for the better. You’ll<br />
think more about the nutritional value of your food,<br />
driving safely, spending money more wisely, living<br />
longer, and exemplifying good ethics.<br />
• Poop will no longer be taboo (if it ever was).<br />
Oh, the poop stories you will be able to tell when<br />
you’re a parent.<br />
• Your relationship with your partner will<br />
change. You can’t really know until it happens<br />
whether it’s for better or worse, but parenting changes<br />
the other person too and how you look at him/her.<br />
• You may have to part with previous<br />
entertainment choices. (Play video games and watch<br />
TV? Sure, but now it’s Talking Tom and My Little<br />
Pony/Voltron.)<br />
• You will never take free time for granted<br />
again.<br />
• You might actually have more fun and become<br />
more creative. (Inventing dog costumes, drawing on<br />
the sidewalk, and trying new ways to make peas<br />
appealing weren’t on my to-do list before.)<br />
• You will likely experience a love and a bond<br />
that you never could’ve imagined.<br />
Finally, remember none of the negative stuff on this<br />
list—as terrible and messy as they sound—will really<br />
bother you in the long run. You’ll discover many new<br />
things about yourself as a parent—things that make<br />
you stronger, and more vulnerable in a sense too.<br />
Author Elizabeth Stone made this terribly true<br />
observation: “Making the decision to have a child is<br />
historic. It is to decide forever to have your heart<br />
walking around outside your body.” I think most<br />
parents would agree that it is so, so worth it. Just think<br />
of this as mental preparation.<br />
Hope this helps! Let me know what surprised<br />
you as a new parent. I’d love to hear from you<br />
email me - terimendes@gmail.com<br />
For comments and questions please email terimendes@gmail.<br />
com, @terimendes. I would love to hear from you, till next<br />
week. - it’s ta ta for now! XOXO<br />
TERI Speaks<br />
Good day Teri,<br />
Please send me the 1-6 this things I should not eat<br />
before bed through my email. My name is Hon, I read and<br />
saw your column via vanguard news papers. Hon<br />
Dear Hon,<br />
Thank you for your mail and enquiry. Below are the first six<br />
things you should not eat before bed.<br />
Peanut Butter, Icecream, Alchohol, Candy bars, red meat &<br />
celery. Best wishes, TM.<br />
June 26, 2016 / 13
the ligaments or cartilage can result in instability or<br />
changes in the normal relationship between connecting<br />
bones. This creates increased pressure on the cartilage<br />
and eventual wear of the joint. For similar reasons,<br />
injuries to the bones around a joint can result in long<br />
term damage.<br />
Dr. Aham Onyike<br />
Aging And Joint Pain Problem<br />
...CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK<br />
Obesity is an increasingly big culprit. The correlation<br />
has been demonstrated in the United States where<br />
there is an obesity epidemic. Increased body weight,<br />
which adds stress to lower body joints, is a wellestablished<br />
factor in the development of osteoarthritis.<br />
The knees carry the brunt of someone’s body weight<br />
and are particularly at risk. Likewise, as we see more<br />
obesity in Nigeria, we can expect increased incidents<br />
of arthritis. Every extra kilogram a person gains, adds<br />
4 kilograms of pressure on the knees and six times<br />
the pressure on the hips. Therefore, gaining weight<br />
increases the likelihood of developing osteoarthritis<br />
later in life.<br />
Other aspects of one’s lifestyle outside diet also play<br />
important roles. Athletes and people whose jobs<br />
require repetitive impact, such as military personnel<br />
and labourers, have a higher risk of developing<br />
osteoarthritis. This is due to a cumulative damage on a<br />
micro scale which manifests later in life.<br />
Joint alignment can also result in cumulative damage<br />
and accelerated wear of the joint. In particular,<br />
individuals who have “K legs” are particularly<br />
vulnerable to arthritis. More commonly but yet with<br />
less risk “bow legs” create a higher likely hood of joint<br />
arthritis later in life than in individuals with straight<br />
legs.<br />
Old injuries of the tissue can lead to osteoarthritis later<br />
in life. This explains why individuals with neglected<br />
injuries such as in sports in their younger years tend<br />
to suffer the consequences later in life. Injuries to<br />
Genetics plays a role in the development and<br />
progression of osteoarthritis, particularly in the hands.<br />
Individuals whose parents have arthritis are more likely<br />
to have arthritis. Inherited bone abnormalities can<br />
affect joint shape or stability, or can result in cartilage<br />
that is more prone to wear.<br />
Muscle weakness, unlike genetics, is a causative<br />
factory in arthritis that can be controlled. Studies<br />
show that weakness of the muscles surrounding the<br />
knee is associated with osteoarthritis,<br />
especially in women and makes the<br />
pain and stiffness worse after onset.<br />
Strengthening exercises for muscles<br />
around a joint are important in<br />
reducing the risk or in slowing down<br />
the progression of arthritis. A trained<br />
physical therapist can be valuable in<br />
providing guidance.<br />
By understanding the various causes of<br />
joint pain, we can provide solutions to<br />
prevent them in people who are at risk.<br />
We can also delay the onset of eventual<br />
crippling pain in patients who present<br />
early. Finally, we can offer surgical<br />
solutions to relieve pain in patients<br />
who need it. With modern orthopaedic<br />
treatments, old people should not just wither away<br />
and accept joint pain as part and parcel of aging. They<br />
should seek expert evaluations and precise treatments.<br />
Dr. Aham Onyike is a U.S. Trained and Board Certified<br />
Orthopedic Surgeon, specializing in Joint Replacement of the<br />
hip and knee, and Sports Medicine. You can connect with Dr.<br />
Onyike through Linked In ‘Dr. Aham Onyike’, email Aham@<br />
CASSurgery.com, and social media @CASSurgery<br />
KATHY EMIKO<br />
BodyPerfect<br />
EAT RIGHT TO<br />
LOSE WEIGHT!<br />
A LONG TERM VIEW<br />
A frighteningly common occurrence in recent years<br />
is to find yourself stuck in a vicious circle of yo-yo<br />
dieting. Too many magazines and books offer the<br />
elusive holy grail of ‘lose weight quick’ – which simply<br />
doesn’t exist. All you end up doing is putting all the<br />
so-called ‘weight’ (usually more water than fat) back<br />
on and mucking up your metabolism in the process.<br />
All these diets focus on a short-term policy of ‘don’t<br />
eat this for a few weeks and all your wishes will be<br />
achieved’. This is blatantly untrue, and anyone who<br />
advocates such measures should be ashamed. You<br />
should be looking at long-term goals based on what<br />
you should and can eat to stay fit, healthy and slim.<br />
On top of all this is the physiological impact that<br />
results from constantly ‘failing’ at diets. I spend a lot of<br />
my working life undoing both the physiological and<br />
psychological problems that long-term yo-yo diets<br />
14<br />
/ June 26, 2016<br />
• HEALTHY FRUITS<br />
HEALTH<br />
News101<br />
not just slimming but fitness<br />
bring – namely, incredibly low self body image and<br />
metabolisms that don’t know whether they’re coming<br />
or going.<br />
Diets don’t work – why? Because the second<br />
you start observing one is the moment you start<br />
resenting it. Even if you manage to follow your<br />
choice of diet through to the bitter end, it is rare<br />
to find the lost weight staying off. More commonly<br />
it comes straight back on again, simply because<br />
you quickly resume your ‘normal’ eating habits.<br />
The good news is that all this can be undone with a<br />
little love and patience – from you, that is. It requires<br />
time and effort to do so, but think of the reward – how<br />
about never having to stand in front of a mirror and<br />
feel ashamed, disgruntled or worried about how you<br />
look? It is fantastic to feel positive about your body<br />
(even if it has, as everybody does, a minor sag or a<br />
dimpling of cellulite) and to enjoy feeding it with<br />
healthy nutritious foods.<br />
My philosophy is that we all know (albeit<br />
sometimes very deep down) exactly what we shouldn’t<br />
be eating, and it is this way of thinking that has helped<br />
me give many people long-term and happy weight<br />
loss. You are also the one who knows how much of the<br />
excess fat you want to burn off, and what your<br />
exact motivations are. Now, with all that<br />
experience and knowledge bound up inside of<br />
you, shouldn’t you be able to lose that fat<br />
once and for all?<br />
Of course, we all need a helping<br />
hand, which is exactly what BodyPerfect<br />
is designed to offer. Over the next few weeks<br />
I want you to spend time writing things down and<br />
thinking issues through. By working through these<br />
questions and exercises, you will achieve a long-term<br />
approach to healthy eating; helping you to become<br />
and stay the person you wish to be. No matter how<br />
keen you may be to get started on any food diaries or<br />
meal plans, make sure you see your doctor. There is a<br />
lot of important information to take on board, and it<br />
would probably even be worthwhile reading it through<br />
a couple of times to make sure it has all sunk in.<br />
FROM THE DESK OF PRINCESS<br />
KATHY:<br />
Three important keys to healthy eating: VARIETY,<br />
WHOLESOMENESS, MODERATION.<br />
Princess Kathy is a certified nutrition and fitness consultant.<br />
Email: bodyperfectng@aol.com | http://body4jesus.blogspot.com
Fadan Inaugurates<br />
New Executive<br />
P EO PLE<br />
“ONE PARTY AT A TIME!”<br />
:08034746487 | 08039675880<br />
By Oscar Ochiogu<br />
The Fashion Designers Association of<br />
Nigeria (FADAN) held its inauguration<br />
cockatil party to swear in its newly elected<br />
executives after its recently held elections.<br />
Mrs Funmi Ajila- Ladipo was elected for a 2nd<br />
term in office and will steer the affairs of the<br />
association with the new executive for the next<br />
3 years.<br />
The inauguration cocktail, kicked off with<br />
red carpet activities at the Nike Arts Gallery in<br />
Lekki, Lagos.<br />
While thanking members for the honour<br />
dew her, President of FADAN, Mrs. Funmi<br />
Ajila-Ladipo said the association would<br />
continue to lead the way in keeping fashion<br />
alive with trends as well as timeless fashion<br />
pieces.<br />
Funmi Ajila-<br />
Ladipo<br />
Stella Awoh<br />
Modela<br />
Abi Kolakuddus Aisha Achonu Rufai Ladipo<br />
Eku Edewor Kaylah Oniwo Bola Balogun<br />
Nkolika Okoli<br />
Bidemi Zakariyau &<br />
Betty Irabor<br />
Cointreau Creative<br />
Crew Launches in<br />
Nigeria<br />
By Pamela Echemunor<br />
Ijeoma Ejiofor &<br />
Kiki Okonkwo<br />
Bimbo Balogun<br />
Ada Nwoke Clara Okoro Bomo Wanaemi<br />
Patricia Faleye Koffi<br />
Chika Balogun<br />
Denola<br />
Adepetun<br />
Zainab<br />
Balogun<br />
Denola<br />
Adepetun<br />
Neku Atawodi<br />
Luxury brand, Cointreau recently, launched<br />
a global philanthropic programme in Nigeria<br />
tagged; the Cointreau Creative Crew. The<br />
programme which was originally launched in<br />
the UK late last year is aimed at promoting the<br />
development of women’s creative freedom and<br />
expression as well as encouraging women to work<br />
towards taking their initial dream and extending it<br />
into a tangible creative reality. Entrepreneurs will<br />
be afforded the opportunity to be awarded a grant<br />
of € 20,000 to support their creative project.<br />
Betty Irabor, Founder and Publisher of<br />
Genevieve Magazine and the Creative Curator of<br />
the Cointreau Creative Crew, Nigeria, enlisted a<br />
network of seasoned professionals, entrepreneurs<br />
and creatives including, Lami Tumaka, Barbara<br />
Lawrence, Ituen Bassey, Eku Edewor, Neku<br />
Atawodi, Yagazie Emezi, Denrele Sonariwo<br />
& Afua Osei. These women form the jury and<br />
committee of the Cointreau Creative Crew were<br />
unveiled at the campaign launch.<br />
June 26, 2016 / 15