By Chinazam Ikechi-Uko
The Otedolas have never been shy about their love for FENDI; from the fashion personality, Temi Otedola, posing for FENDI ads on her Instagram, to her DJ sister’s #OffendingwithFENDI photo series. So when Vogue covered the multiple weddings of Oluwatosin ‘Mr Eazi’ Ajibade and Temi Otedola, it was no surprise that Ajibade, formerly Otedola, wore a marble-patterned white wedding dress made by the Italian house, FENDI.
The marble dress was inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s 1954 wedding dress, designed by Pierre Balmain. “She [Hepburn] is my all-time favourite actress,” Ajibade expressed. For her wedding, Ajibade got to relive several of her fantasies, and as a fashion lover, most of them involved fashionable looks.
She said to Vogue, “I wanted to have some of my favourite designers and visionaries create traditional Nigerian attire, and I was blown away by their interpretations.” These favourite designers of hers include household legacy names like Saint Laurent, Alaïa, Valentino, and Oscar de la Renta. She also had an array of recently established labels, including Miss Sohee, Wiederhoeft, and Christopher John Rogers, as well as Nigerian renowned brands like Lisa Folawiyo and Mazelle. Carrie Goldberg of CLG Creative and Momo Hassan-Odukale of Gida Journal assisted as bridal stylists. Eazi worked with stylist Jason Rembert.
Here is a rundown of what the high-fashion bride and groom wore for their wedding ceremonies in Monaco, Dubai, and Iceland.
THE LOOKS:
Temi Ajibade in a custom suit by Wiederhoeft and jewellery by Briony Raymond for the official ceremony on the 9th of May (Eazi’s late mother’s birthday) at Mairie de Monaco in Monte Carlo. “We’ve been engaged for three years, together for eight, so we had this weirdly calm energy all day,” she told Vogue. “It just made sense. Just the two of us, in Monaco, a place we partly call home, and no distractions, no fanfare.”
Ajibade avoided pyjamas through the three wedding ceremonies. She is quoted as saying, “I told my stylist Carrie to stay away from birthday pyjamas.” She is wearing a DSquared2 gown for her wedding glam.
Ajibade brought couturier Zac Posen out of his time off from couture for this play on a traditional Nigerian look. Zac Posen designed both the dress and the gele. While the groom, Mr Eazi, wore a custom Lisa Folawiyo studio with a Tom Talmon Studio cane.
Her next look was an aso-oke ensemble by fashion’s latest couture darling, Miss Sohee. Miss Sohee gained popularity with her fabric manipulation techniques, which often featured floral motifs. For the Ajibade wedding, Miss Sohee managed to interpret the popular modern Nigerian wedding silhouette, as well as, maintaining her floral signature. Eazi’s Jagne by Baba Jagne complimented her, Miss Sohee.
The first two traditional looks were a homage to the couple’s Yoruba heritage; however, the next look was an ode to the Igbo culture, a nod to Eazi’s late mother. Ajibade wore an akwa ocha look designed by Lisa Folawiyo, and Eazi wore the Lagos-based brand, Mazelle. They danced as Nigerian legend, King Sunny Adé, performed.
The after-party, held in the Otedola family home’s basement, saw the newlywed bride in a custom gold chain Oscar de la Renta dress and her spouse in a sparkling Toure Designs custom jacket paired with a Saint Laurent tank and pants.
For their August ceremony, it began with a rehearsal dinner at the Harpa Opera House in Reykjavik, Iceland —a country dear to both parties’ hearts. The bride wore a Valentino dress and cape, and Eazi put on a slightly bedazzled Amiri piece.
The next day, the custom FENDI Haute Couture dress walked down the aisle at the Hallgrimskirkja church, while Eazi was dressed in a complete Saint Laurent attire.
Who said anything about having just one wedding dress in Iceland? Certainly not the Ajibades, because Temi was there shortly at Kleif Farm wearing a lace House of Gilles gown, and Eazi was in Alexander McQueen. John Legend sat playing his classic, “All Of Me.”
The couple weren’t the only ones serving looks, as the bridesmaids were dressed in custom Di Pesta.
For the after-party, the bride did a complete 360 and ditched the white. She wore a mini dress by Ludovic Saint Sernin, paired with Larroude boots. Meanwhile, the groom wore a Louis Vuitton ensemble… the cherry on top? Their matching “Love is Eazi” jackets.
The final wedding day saw them travel by boat to Hvammsvik hot spring, where the bride wore an Alaïa, and the groom, Bottega Veneta. They danced all night and saw the Northern Lights, and at the ceremony, Ajibade told Vogue, “All throughout we honoured our rich culture but made sure everything felt like us.”
