Awka, Anambra State – October 13, 2025 – What was meant to be a joyous union in the heart of Igbo land turned into a nightmare for six bridesmaids after their groom allegedly abandoned them with a whopping ₦2.5 million hotel bill following a lavish wedding in Awka. The incident, which unfolded late Saturday night at the upscale Golden Royale Hotel, has ignited a firestorm on social media, with #AnambraWeddingDrama trending as netizens dissect the fallout from what one attendee called “a classic case of wedding vows without the wallet.”
The bride, 28-year-old Chioma Eze, and her 32-year-old groom, identified only as Chukwudi (a businessman from Onitsha), tied the knot in a ceremony attended by over 300 guests, complete with traditional wine-carrying rites, a fleet of white Mercedes G-Wagons, and a reception featuring live highlife music from local sensation Flavour-inspired bands. But as the celebrations wound down around midnight, the bridesmaids – Chioma’s closest friends from university days – discovered their prepaid suites had been locked by hotel management. Sources close to the group told reporters that Chukwudi had promised to cover the accommodations as a “thank you” for their support, but when pressed at checkout, he reportedly claimed a “misunderstanding” and vanished into the night with the bride, leaving the women scrambling.
“We spent thousands on aso-ebi, gele headties, custom jewelry, and even transported from Lagos and Enugu just to stand by her,” recounted one bridesmaid, who spoke anonymously to avoid family backlash. “The groom assured us the hotel was on him – suites with jacuzzis for the bridal prep. Now we’re begging for Venmo equivalents on WhatsApp groups to scrape together ₦2.5M before they call the police.” The group, aged 25 to 30, pooled emergency funds from relatives overnight, but not before enduring hours in the lobby, with one fainting from exhaustion and dehydration. Hotel staff, sympathetic but firm, confirmed the bill included room service, spa treatments, and damages from confetti cannons gone awry.
Word spread like wildfire via a viral TikTok live from the lobby, where tearful bridesmaids in disheveled wrapper outfits pleaded for help. “Sisters, if na you, wetin you go do? Na so wedding turn sorrow,” one captioned, racking up 1.2 million views. Responses poured in: supporters decried the groom’s “stinginess” as a red flag, with comments like “If he can’t pay hotel bill on wedding night, how e go handle house rent?” Critics, however, pointed fingers at the bridesmaids for not securing payments upfront. “In Naija weddings, na everybody sabi say you suppose confirm bill before jollof finish,” quipped a user, echoing broader debates on wedding etiquette.
This isn’t the first time Anambra’s matrimonial scene has made headlines for financial fiascos. Just last month, a similar scandal in Nnewi saw a bride demand ₦500K from guests for “venue contributions,” leading to boycott threats. Wedding planners in the region, speaking to Pulse.ng, attribute such dramas to rising costs – a standard Anambra white wedding now averages ₦10-15 million, with hotels hiking rates post-fuel subsidy hikes. Experts like Dr. Ngozi Okoye, a family counselor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, warn that these incidents erode trust: “Weddings should unite, not bankrupt. Couples must communicate finances clearly to avoid turning ‘happily ever after’ into ‘happily ever broke.’”
As of Sunday morning, the bridesmaids had raised ₦1.8 million through crowdfunding links shared on Instagram, with the hotel extending a grace period until noon. Chukwudi, reached via phone by our correspondent, dismissed the claims as “exaggerated family squabbles,” insisting partial payment was made and blaming “hotel overcharges.” Chioma, posting honeymoon photos from Owerri, has gone silent on the matter, though unverified screenshots show her apologizing in a private group chat: “Babe, sorry o, na mix-up. E go sort.”
The saga underscores the high-stakes world of Nigerian weddings, where opulence often outpaces planning. As one netizen summed it up: “Love is blind, but hotel bills have 20/20 vision.” For now, the bridesmaids are homeward bound – wiser, wearier, and with a story that’ll outlast any vow.