African wedding cake topper

Most shops sell stock figures of a Black bride and groom in a white gown and a tuxedo. You pick them by skin tone. A WeddingWire roundup of 16 Black couple toppers shows none in African attire.

At a Nigerian traditional wedding, the cake often carries motifs instead, such as pillows or coral beads. Some carry an object on top, such as a ring box. A Yoruba engagement cake may show a couple in traditional attire. A figure made from your photos puts your own clothes on top.

Their second outfit of the day.

Wedding attire differs by country and by people. Nigeria alone has several sets. Here are four you may know:

• Yoruba: the bride often wears aso oke, a hand-woven strip cloth, with a gele head wrap. The groom may wear an agbada and a fila cap.
• Igbo: the bride may wear George cloth with coral beads. The groom may wear an isiagu top with a red or black cap.
• Hausa: the bride may wear a veil. The groom may wear a babban riga with a cap.
• Ghana: kente is the traditional cloth. Brides may also wear white and gold with a crown-like tekua.

Whatever your tradition, the topper wears the clothes in your photos. It follows your own look, not a general African one.

Our upload page has 3 areas. The photo of the two of you goes in the middle. We build your topper from it. An everyday photo works. Each side takes one outfit photo, one per partner, worn or on a hanger. Your traditional attire goes on the sides. Skip it, and the figure keeps the clothes from the middle photo.

The two of you, head to toe.

Her outfit, worn.

His agbada on a hanger.

Check each photo before you upload:

• Head to toe, with room around you.
• Sharp and bright.
• The whole gele and fila in the frame.
• One outfit per person.

1. 1. Upload your photos

   Put the photo of the two of you in the middle. Add each outfit photo on its side.

2. 2. Pick a style and a pose

   See the two of you in 7 styles. Keep the pose from your photo or pick one of 3 others.

3. 3. Approve the 3D model

   We sculpt the 3D model and show it to you.

4. 4. We print and ship

   We 3D print the figure and ship it to you.

Turn the 3D model and hold it next to your photos. Check these details:

• Both faces and skin tones. Full-Color prints your colors. Single-Color prints one color.
• The shape and height of the gele, and the fila.
• The colors of the aso oke, and any beads.
• Fine woven patterns come out simpler at topper size. Judge the colors and shapes.

When we bought 8 toppers, one lost the bride's floral print entirely.

If a detail is off, ask for a new sculpt. Changes are free until it looks right. You pay only after you approve the 3D model.

We have a traditional wedding and a white wedding. Which outfits go on the topper?

The topper wears one outfit each. Pick the outfits from the ceremony where this cake stands. You can send an everyday photo of the two of you and add each outfit photo.

Can it go on our traditional engagement cake?

Yes, as a figure on top. It is not food-safe, so ask your baker for a clear acrylic disc. Lift it off before cutting.

One of us is Nigerian and one is not. Can each figure wear their own clothes?

Yes. Each figure wears the clothes in your photo, or in that partner's outfit photo.

Can you ship it to Lagos or Accra?

From this site we ship within the United States. For other countries, order through our Etsy shop.