The beautiful bride


BBC News website reader Dozie Okpalaobieri sent in these pictures of a traditional Igbo wedding in eastern Nigeria, where guests begin to arrive for the ceremonies at 2pm

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Next the bridegroom (l) and his father - who carries a fan denoting his status as a chief - and his mother in pink make their entrances.


Both sides of the family bring along dancers to entertain the guests. Here, the bride's troupe prepare to do the honours while she retires to change outfits.


She then makes her second entrance with her ladies-in-waiting. In this part of the ceremony the bride must hunt for her fiance amongst the crowds of guests...beautiful again


she presents her betrothed with a cup of traditional palm wine. By drinking from it he symbolically accepts her into his family and they become man and wife.


The bride makes one more costume change before the cutting of the cake - shaped like a gourd. Note how the groom's hat always matches the bride's outfit.


Then everyone hits the dance floor. Guests spray money at the bride to keep her dancing. The couple leave in the early evening... to prepare for their church wedding a week later.[/img]