When I sat in Ihuoma’s father’s parlour, staring at the list in my hands, I felt my stomach drop. Two goats? Scooters?? This wasn’t what I planned for. My mind raced with a hundred questions—should I take a loan? Should I ask my family for help? Or should I just run?

The things I had seen on the list had honestly shocked me beyond words. Ihuoma had told me her parents were reasonable, and while this was true, imagine if they weren’t? What would the list have looked like?

If you’ve ever been to a Nigerian wedding—especially an Igbo one—you’d know it’s beyond just love. It’s a grand multi-layered event involving family, tradition, and money. Quite a lot of it. Ihuoma and I had been dating for three years when we decided to take the next step. She was the last child from a family of seven and we both wanted something intimate and simple. 

As a Yoruba guy, I had heard how costly some Igbo traditional weddings were. But deep down, I always chucked it up to stereotype. I mean, how expensive could it really be?

It wasn’t until I visited her family to formally declare my intentions that I truly understood. 

After the warm pleasantries, I was handed a list. But this wasn’t just any list—it was a detailed two page breakdown of everything I had to pay for before we could even begin discussing the actual wedding. 

There was the Iku Aka (knocking-on-the-door), Ime Ego (bride price negotiations), Dowry settlement, and Igba Nkwu (traditional wedding). Not to talk of the two scooters I had to get for the women of the community.

I nodded politely as the elders talked, but my mind was running a marathon. The figures didn’t just look big—they felt like a mountain I wasn’t sure I could climb. What if I couldn’t afford this? Would my love story end here? At that moment, I wasn’t worried about what was on the list. Instead, I was worried about what wasn’t—the unplanned expenses that were going to accompany this venture. 

For the first time in my adult life, I felt real panic.

The Financial Habit That Saved Me

You see, I had spent months planning for a simple wedding—thinking about venues, food, and the guest list. But nothing prepared me for the financial weight of the traditional rites. 

I considered taking a loan. I thought about asking friends for help. I remember very clearly the moment in between my thoughts when Ihuoma squeezed my hands—she noticed the panic on my face. Her soft touch brought me back to reality and then, I remembered something.

For years, I had been setting aside 15% of my salary into an emergency fund. It wasn’t much, but I had been consistent.

At first, it seemed unnecessary—after all, I was young, single, and had no dependents. My friends often teased me about it.

Kunle, my colleague, would laugh and say, “Omo, you dey save like person wey wan buy Nigeria. Loosen up, my guy!”  One of my friends even joked one day and said the Nigerian government could come and meet me to get some funds to pay off their “debts” 😂😂

We’d usually laugh it off and I’ll just shrug. Truth be told, I always knew I’d need it one day. 

And in that moment in Ihuoma’s father’s living room, I needed it.

That night, I logged into my dedicated investment account and checked the balance. Luckily, it had accrued some much needed interest and was more than enough to cover the unexpected costs without leaving me financially stranded.

I exhaled deeply. I would be fine.

A Wedding Without Financial Stress

With my emergency fund, I was able to fulfill the traditional requirements without borrowing or cutting corners. I paid for the cultural rites, handled the logistics, and still had enough left to support the wedding plans.

The best part? I did it all without stress.

As I stood at our traditional wedding, dressed in my Isi Agu, watching Ihuoma dance toward me, I felt nothing but peace. No fear of debt. No anxiety about payments. Just pure, unfiltered joy. Because in the end, love made a way—but planning made it stress-free.

Life can be very  unpredictable. One day, you’re planning a wedding, and the next, you’re hit with unexpected expenses.

Sitting here telling my story is a privilege I’m glad I had. Till today, I tell everyone that cares to hear how my financial discipline helped me make the best decision of my life. Everyday I look at the beautiful family I have built and I couldn’t be more grateful for the 15%. It seemed small at first but it made sense in the end.  

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This story is part of our BraveHuman series, where our investors share their bravest moments to inspire others. We never use real names or identifying details.

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