The White Wedding

Nuptial Mass and reception in Asokoro

I

The Invitation

A blank scalloped invitation card resting on its envelope

Together with their families

Oceania Annabelle Alfa and Eko Effiom Osim

request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage

Saturday the fifth of December two thousand and twenty six A working date, subject to final confirmation

Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral

Catholic Mass at To be confirmed

Reception to follow

Kindly respond by To be confirmed

II

Welcome

We would be delighted to welcome you as we exchange our vows and celebrate with the people who have shaped our lives.

The Mass and the reception are in two different parts of Abuja, so please give yourself time to travel between them. Everything you need for the day is set out below. Where something is still being settled we have said so plainly rather than guessed.

III

The Details

Everything settled and everything still open, in one place.

Date
Saturday 5 December 2026 A working date, subject to final confirmation.
Mass location
To be confirmed The Nuptial Mass is at a church, not at the venue for the traditional wedding.
Mass begins
To be confirmed
Guest arrival
To be confirmed Please plan to be seated well before the Mass begins. The arrival time will be confirmed here.
Reception venue
To be confirmed The reception is not at the church. Please allow time to travel across the city between the two.
Reception arrival
To be confirmed
Dinner
To be confirmed
Expected finish
To be confirmed
Parking and transport
Parking is limited. Please share transport where you can, travel together if you are coming from the same house, and keep the number of drivers and staff you bring to a minimum. Space is genuinely short. Parking arrangements and any transport laid on are To be confirmed.
Children
Children are not invited. The full wording of the policy is To be confirmed.
Invitation
Only the people named on your invitation are expected. The numbers on the invitation are the numbers the venue can seat. Whether any guest may bring a partner who is not named is To be confirmed.

IV

The Order of the Day

  1. Guest Arrival

    Time to be confirmed

  2. Nuptial Mass

    Time to be confirmed

  3. Photographs and Reception Arrival

    Time to be confirmed

  4. Welcome Drinks

    Time to be confirmed

  5. Dinner

    Time to be confirmed

  6. Speeches and Formalities

    Time to be confirmed

  7. First Dance

    Time to be confirmed

  8. Dancing and Celebration

    Time to be confirmed

This is the shape of the day. The hours are being fixed with the venue and the church, and each one will appear here as it is agreed.

V

What to Wear

Formal evening attire is requested. Nigerian formal dress is the equal of black tie and never an alternative to it, so wear it with the same confidence.

For Women

A long evening dress, or formal Nigerian dress with a gele if you would like to wear one. Something you can sit through a Mass in and still dance in later.

For Men

A dinner suit with a bow tie, or an agbada, a kaftan or a senator suit cut for the evening. A dark lounge suit is acceptable if a dinner suit is not practical.

  • Champagne #E4D2AE

  • Oyster #DED6C6

  • Deep Green #3D4A33

  • Ink #231F1C

These are the approved colours. Wear one of them or something close to it.

Held Back

White and ivory are for the bride. The colours reserved for the wedding party are To be confirmed, and we will name them here so that nobody arrives dressed as the party by accident.

Footwear

The floors are hard and the evening is long. Choose a heel you can stand in, and bring a flat pair for later if you would rather dance in them.

At the Mass

The Mass is a church service. Please keep shoulders covered and hems modest for it. A wrap, a shawl or a jacket over an evening dress is all that is needed, and it can come off afterwards.

Mass to Reception

Please dress for both. Whether there is time or a room to change between the Mass and the reception is To be confirmed.

An ivory jacket with a crystal beaded sheer back panel and a bow at the waist
Look one, ivory jacket and beaded back
A sculptural ivory garment seen from the side
Look two, sculptural ivory
An open backed ivory look with a crystal embellished neckpiece
Look three, open back and crystal neckpiece

Three different looks. They show the level of dress rather than a garment to copy.

VI

The Catholic Mass

We are marrying in a Catholic Nuptial Mass, and guests of all faiths and backgrounds are warmly welcome at it.

You are not expected to know when to stand, sit or kneel. Follow the people around you, or simply stay seated.

An order of service will be given to you on the day, so you can follow the whole Mass from it.

VII

Kindly Respond

Please reply for each person named on your invitation by To be confirmed.

Reply to the invitation