By: Murphy Ajibade
Nigeria’s first ever Virtual Wedding will finally make its debut this weekend, thanks to Mrs. Molara Akande, a seasoned wedding planner who runs Just Weddings (JW).
Molara Akande, who is also the founder of APPOEMN (Association of Professional Party Organizers and Event Managers of Nigeria) which she founded in 2011, announced the plan for the virtual wedding in Lagos today.
Explaining the reason behind the event, Akande said: “Let’s get back to the present situation of things… Covid-19 is changing the world as we all know it and being a professional in a world that now needs social distancing, we are looking at evolving, hence why we came with this.
“People have been planning their wedding and we don’t expect them to just cancel or put off their plans because of the virus, so JW events came up with a virtual wedding fair called the Virtual Wedding Fare. Don’t forget that I am the creative mind behind Wedding Fare, an annual bridal fair which takes place in Lagos, is in its 5th year, this year.”
“The wedding fair is really for people getting married between the year 2020/ 2021 be it a bride-to-be, a wedding/event vendor and anybody who has a passion for the wedding industry. Event vendors will be given a platform to showcase themselves, especially those who have had to go back into the background due to the pandemic; they will now have the opportunity to advertise themselves to prospective clients on a large platform.
“We see it more as a Wedding Market for brides to be and potential vendors who are looking for deals and bargains, from the comfort of their homes.’
Akande, who has over 19 years experience as a wedding planner, said while growing up as a kid she never saw herself as a future wedding planner. She however noted the fact that she was born into the family that was very social gingered up her interest.
“Though I never planned to be a wedding planner, I guess the fact that I was born into a family that was very social, ignited my interest.
“I was always the flower girl for any of my relatives back then and I believe the fact that my grandmother was a baker and grandfather was a wedding cake decorator, I saw my grandfather’s first-hand the intricacies entailed in planning and that piqued my interest even more. Oh! My dad was also a professional children’s Uncle, Wole Akinosh of “Animal Games” entertainer so I guess we can say I come from a line of planners and the interest has always been there.”
“Even as a teenager whenever I go to houses of friends or extended family and they were having a party, automatically my brain starts thinking.. Where to put the DJ? or how the food will be served? While everybody is having a good time, my brain and feet are working on giving them a fun experience. And being the only wedding planner at that time, nobody took me serious back then, they felt it was a hobby and some felt who need a planner when there were a thousand and one relatives around to help, but that is where God’s grace and passion played its role, because regardless of what people said, I kept at it and today it is another story.”
