NLs,
If you are planning to get married can you pay the bride price without all the attendant rites and ceremony of the traditional wedding to cut costs? Would it still be valid? Would someone be able to pay the bride price and do a registry wedding?

In Yoruba land, you need to pay the bride price and bring all those yams & co even if there is not going to be a party. Your husband could come with a few of the members of his clan to drop the stuffs on your list then your people will pray for your Two and hand you over...after which any paparazzi is your call. Church o, court o, shrine o...your call.

Thanks @ sisisioge .....any one know about in Edo specifically Etsako. Maybe do registry and a small reception afterwards, but at least have d bride price paid if at all there is no ceremony. Would that be so unusual?

iyawomide:
Thanks @ sisisioge .....any one know about in Edo specifically Etsako. Maybe do registry and a small reception afterwards, but at least have d bride price paid if at all there is no ceremony. Would that be so unusual?

You're a wonderful woman. Women like you are very rare in Nigeria.

It is certainly permissible in all cultures in Nigeria to just pay the bride price deliver the items in the list and then the traditional marriage is settled. If you choose to do court wedding then it is well and truly official. All those wasteful ceremonies (traditional or 'white') are unnecessary, just that many Nigerian women and their socially pompous families want to use such ceremonies to show themselves.

You would save a lot of useless costs by avoiding such if you're operating with a tight budget. After all, nobody would come to your rescue if you spend your life savings on a one day ceremony and then you and your husband can't feed afterwards.