Who: Sharon Mbabazi and Myal Greene

When: December 18, 2010

Where: Kivu Serena, Gisenyi, Rwanda

Budget: Sh800,000: For the civil, traditional and religious wedding

Guests: 200

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Eve Bridal: How did you two meet and date?

Sharon: We met in 2008 at a Sunday evening fellowship. We started dating in June 2009.

EB: Did you have a traditional wedding?

Yes we did; it was great. Our family made sure that Myal’s family (Myal is American) was able to fully understand and be involved in the event. We arranged for professional translation because the whole ceremony was conducted in Kinyarwanda. All the efforts paid off and Myal’s guests really enjoyed the function.

EB: Any traditions you think should be dealt away with in such functions?

Long speeches. No one really enjoys them and they kill the celebration spirit. We made sure our functions were short and enjoyable.

Sharon and Myal were not shy to get wet. They knew how to capture lasting memories.

Don’t the groomsmen look cool?

The bridesmaids have fun in the water.

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

Three to four months.

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

Getting people to travel three hours to attend the wedding (Gisenyi is a three-hour drive from Kigali). We had to arrange for transport and accommodation for them and that was difficult.

EB: How do people treat inter-racial marriages in Rwanda?

You get stares and funny comments sometimes. Other people see an inter-racial couple and think it’s about money. Well, we talked about all these things when we started dating and braced ourselves for them. Our family and friends are supportive and that is what really matters.

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

Everything seemed perfect but maybe the ending. The reception ended quite informally, but that still wasn’t a big deal.

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

Communication; communication; communication. It’s a marriage saver.

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

Some people think weddings should be big and extravagant functions that leave an impression, but weddings should be about the two of you enjoying yourselves and doing something really intimate.

EB: Where did you go for honeymoon?

Mombasa.