We celebrated with those we love

Who: Nyokabi and Peter Kimani

When: November 27, 2010

Where: Holy Trinity Kileleshwa and Nairobi School Quadrangle Photographer: David Namu, Heat Press Centre

Guests: 500

Eve Bridal: How did you meet?

Nyokabi: I met my husband three years ago through a colleague who was his high school mate. We became good friends and it was not long before he pursued me for a relationship. The beauty of meeting someone through a mutual friend is that there is a bit of comfort and you can easily have a reference check.

EB: Did you have a traditional wedding?

Nyokabi: No, it’s a long process and we did not have to do it before the church wedding. We, however, did all the other traditional functions.

I can’t complain about our process. I feel our parents took it as an opportunity to know one other and celebrate our union.

EB: How long did you take to plan the wedding?

Nyokabi: About six months. We set a wedding date and worked backwards to set the dates for the traditional functions. We searched for venues and suppliers with a few friends and family. By the time we set up a committee, it was mainly about the logistics of the day.

EB: How did you finance the wedding?

Peter: We used our savings as well as a lot of support from our families and friends.

EB: Which was the most difficult part of the planning?

Nyokabi: Getting time to visit service providers. I did this with a friend or two, but when I knew the service would require a big percentage of our budget, like the food and dÈcor, I dragged along Peter as he is a better negotiator.

Peter: Quite frankly, we agreed on the strategy and Nyokabi did most of the vetting. My challenge was ensuring that we were guided by the budget and being a bit flexible on the key things. One tends to revise the budget upwards rather than downwards as you move a long.

EB: If you’d do it all over again what would you change?

Peter: Almost nothing. Most things played out just as we planned. I saw the hand of God.

Nyokabi: Not even the rain that poured on and off; but maybe with the caterer, she would have to sign an ‘I will not be late contract’. Her food was good, but she stressed the hell out of our friends as they thought she was going to be a no-show. They were even contemplating an alternative.

EB: What’s the most important thing your marriage counsellor told you?

Nyokabi: Every relationship is unique; treat it that way.

Peter: Love her… then do whatever you want. If I do, she will remain happy and that is what matters; and of course aim to attain heaven together.

EB: What would you say is the most over rated thing in a wedding?

Nyokabi: Everything. Our church allows you to walk in with your fiancÈe and the best couple and get married in 20 minutes or so, regardless of how you are dressed. But since the wedding day is also a celebration of uniting two people who led separate lives before, you can look at it as a small price to pay to have a day to celebrate with people who have been with you and your family through thick and thin.

Peter: The reception. It’s over even before you start. One must be smart enough to recognise that there is life after the wedding day.