Reality sweeter than our dreams

Evelyne’s colleagues from the Standard Group Limited did not fail her.

Who: Evelyne Boyani Magara and Alfred Kihungi Githinji

Wedding Date: September 8, 2012

Wedding venue and reception: St Andrews PCEA Church and Loreto Convent Valley Road

Guests: 650

Budget: Sh800,000

EVE BRIDAL: How did you meet?

Alfred: We met in June 2005 at my former work place. She was already working there and as a new employee, she showed me around helping me settle. We became friends and as they say the rest is history.

EB: What attracted you to each other?

Alfred:  She is a loving, understanding, extremely organised and a God-fearing woman.

Evelyne: He is responsible, focused and above all, a very caring and understanding person.

EB: How did he propose?

Evelyne: It was on July 22, last year. By then he was working out of town. He called and asked to take me out for dinner. I didn’t like the idea since my colleagues and I had been invited for late lunch at a colleague’s place. He somehow managed to convince me and since it was a Friday, we opted for a late dinner. We went to Ole-Sereni Hotel and I thought it was just dinner like any other. All that time I was unaware that he had made arrangements with the hotel management to place the engagement ring in my ice-cream. After dinner, I ordered for desert and my favourite ice-cream was brought and there it was. It was a real surprise!

EB: Did you have traditional ceremonies?

Alfred:  We had three ceremonies. The first one was an introduction in Kisii. I attended it with my guys to her home in Kisii. The second one was to pay the bride price, which I went with my parents and elders from my side. It was a colourful ceremony as our friends and relatives had an opportunity to enjoy the trip and scenery from Nairobi to the land of the bananas. 

Evelyne: The last one was in Nairobi where my parents and elders from my side came to his parents’ home. It was a great celebration; this completed and sealed the relationship between the two families.

EB: How did your wedding day go?

Evelyne: Wonderful. Everything was in place; food was in plenty thanks to the caterer who also ensured it was delicious, and the décor was also magnificent. The entertainment was superb, the cake was as I had ordered; we give God all the glory.

Alfred: Everyone was satisfied, entertained and the wedding ended on time as planned so that the relatives who had come from far could go back comfortably.

EB: Honeymoon?

Evelyne: We savoured the beauty of our sandy beaches in the Kenyan Coast.