One of the most exciting days in a person’s life is their wedding day. On that day, it is expected that they are in the best of moods – physically, mentally and emotionally.
A lot of preparation goes into a typical wedding celebration which includes catering, decorations, photography, amongst others. While these are essential parts of the celebration, a major highlight of the day is the fashion style of the bride and bridegroom – tuxedos, gowns, shoes and accessories, most times, in the latest design.
However, there seem to be interesting questions that plague this kind of staple fashion style. Questions like: “Do we need to dress the same way year after year?”, “Where is the experimental nature in our youth?”, “Are we not tired of routine fashion styles?”.
Well, I have been sent to preach the gospel of an often overlooked fashionable and comfortable footwear, the award winning Crocs, and why you need to leave the shoe and heels era, for the previous generation.
First, one thing you cannot avoid on your wedding day is to dance. As a proper Nigerian, please how do you intend to gbese with Valentino shoes? Imagine Ojapiano comes on and you can’t do anything because you are putting on a pair of heels, and do not want to annoy Bobrisky by taking them off to dance with bare feet. Better wear a comfortable pair of Crocs, and give them every and any dance move.
Also, you must know that there are some things in life that are beyond control, like the Nigerian weather. Last year, for the first time in my “young” life, I witnessed rain fall repeatedly in December.
So don’t be surprised when it suddenly starts to rain on your way to the wedding reception, and even when you are lucky to arrive at the venue unscatched, you then have to decide whether to go through the unnecessary stress of changing from your fancy shoes to something that is water friendly, or do a 20 meters run from your car to the hall, and look like a clown.
Moreover, I know you want your wedding to trend. I know your type. How else would it trend if you don’t wear a three piece suit and a pair of Crocs? Or a beautiful white gown and a pink pair of Crocs? If you succeed in pulling off this fashion style, you would become premium content for fashion blogs.
Taking it a step further, I know people think it can never happen, but trust me, there are times in your life when you mistakenly allow your village people to win. Times when you knew you were meant to service your car but turn around and say ‘we go rough am’, then it starts to overheat, and stops a short mile away from the reception hall on your wedding day.
If this happens, as long as you and your partner have a pair of Crocs strapped to your feet, what is a small trek? Just tell your babe to raise her gown a bit to allow her to move freely, while you both walk majestically, and win the battle against your kinsmen and village brethren.
Lastly, your parents, uncles, and aunties wore shoes to their wedding. In the next 10 years, how would you prove you were more fashionable than them on your wedding day, if you also wore a pair of shoes? So you need to plan ahead, and save that pair of Crocs for the big day.
If I were of marriageable age (winks), I would have led by example, and shown you how it is done. Till then, I want you as my elder to take on the mantle, and lead me into perpetual steez.
Chukwuebuka Mgbemena is a writer focused on the Nigerian & African entertainment industry. He loves fashion, art and is a staunch chess player.
