A Colorful Union with Nigerian and American Weddings Celebrated in Omaha

Ashley Whitley and Chinedu Izuegbunam started flirting at summer camp in 2015—as counselors, not campers. Over the years, the friendship (and flirting!) continued, and though educational goals took them to other parts of the country, they both ended up back in Lincoln. Romance bloomed, culminating in a two-day, high-energy, multi-cultural wedding. Nebraska met Nigeria at Friday’s celebration. Bright colors, traditional food and clothing play a big part in Nigerian weddings, as does dancing by members of both the bride’s and groom’s wedding party. “An important piece to a traditional Nigerian (Igbo) wedding is the Igba Nkwu, where the bride seeks her future husband in the audience,” Ashley shares. “During this time, I went to look for Nedu and once I did, I offered him a cup of wine that he consumed to indicate he is indeed the correct man in the crowd I am choosing to marry.” Saturday night’s traditional American celebration was highlighted with sparkle, Ashley said. “My dress’s under-layer was sparkly, my bridesmaids’ dresses were pure gold and sparkles, and the table decor consisted of gold sequined tablecloths and table numbers that I hand-made!” Nedu is a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys, so he rallied his groomsmen to perform a personal dance and serenade his new wife. And as a special gift to his bride, Nedu “journaled every day for a year leading up to our wedding and presented that to me in a special book form,” Ashley says, “with pictures and his daily thoughts on why he finds me special.”