How Lagos people think before booking you for their wedding decoration
How Lagos people think before booking you for their wedding decoration
You see that Lagos bride or groom scrolling through your Instagram page at 2am? Let me tell you exactly what is going through their mind.
First thing first, they are calculating. Not just your price, but how much transport to come see you will cost. How much fuel to drive to your office. Whether the meeting will waste their whole Saturday. Because in Lagos, everything costs money, even just to talk.
"This decorator, how much will they collect from me?" That is the first question bouncing in their head. They have already budgeted 500k (for example) for decoration, but they know by the time you finish talking, you will somehow convince them to spend 800k (for example). They have seen it happen to their friends.
Then they start thinking about their mother-in-law. "Will this decoration impress mama? Will it look expensive enough for her friends to see that her son married well?" Because let's be honest, half of Lagos weddings are not for the couple. They are for the families to show off.
Next, they are checking your previous work like FBI agents. They will zoom into every picture, looking for any small mistake. "See this table setting, the flowers look somehow scattered." They will screenshot and send to their planning committee (which is usually 5 aunties and 3 best friends) for approval.
The price negotiation war starts in their mind before they even call you. "I will tell them my budget is 300k (for example) when I actually have 500k (for example). Then when they give me 450k (for example) quote, I will act shocked and say I can only do 350k (for example)." They have strategized this conversation already.
They are also thinking about backup plans. "Let me check 3 more decorators. Maybe this expensive one, maybe this cheaper one, and maybe my cousin who just started decoration business." They will never put all their eggs in one basket. This is Lagos survival instinct.
The fear of being disappointed is real. They have heard stories. Decorators who disappear two days before wedding. Decorators who bring different flowers from what was agreed. Decorators who show up late and blame Lagos traffic. So they are already building walls around their heart.
But deep down, what they really want is simple. They want someone who will understand that this wedding means everything to them. Someone who will not judge their budget or try to oversell them. Someone who will show up when they say they will show up.
They want to trust you with the most important day of their life without feeling like they are being cheated or taken advantage of. In a city where everyone is trying to outsmart everyone, they just want honest service.
That 2am scrolling through your page? They are not just looking at decorations. They are looking for hope that you will be different from all the stories they have heard.
So what should you do with this information? Stop trying to impress them with big grammar and fancy words. Show them clear prices upfront. Share real customer reviews, not just pretty pictures. Be honest about what their budget can get them. Answer their messages quickly. And most importantly, understand that behind every inquiry is someone who is scared of being disappointed but hoping you will be the one to make their dream come true.