We got more than 200 extra guests

BRIDE:                      Terry Joan Muthoni Mbari

GROOM:                     Mike Mbari Nguyai

GUESTS:                    600

DATE:                          October 25, 201

CEREMONY:              PCEA, Kahawa Sukari

RECEPTION:             Post Bank Sports

PHOTO SHOOT:       The Boma Hotel, Nairobi

BUDGET:                   Sh800,000

FIRST DATE Mike: The church, which we both attended was just starting up a youth forum. So on this day of 2008, we were having a brainstorming session, when I noticed her seated right across me. That was our first encounter.

Terry: Apart from that, my father and his mother attended the same college where they did a theological course together, and we lived in the same estate. I was fresh from Kianda High School then, and we became good friends till July 9, 2011, when we had our first date.

Mike: I knew she liked classical music, so I got us VIP tickets for a Classical music concert, where Ricardo Muti was performing, with the intention of officially asking her to be my girlfriend. However, that was not to be as I was extremely nervous. So after the concert, we went for coffee at Dormans, but I still could not gather the courage. It was then that it hit me that if I did not do it then, I would have wasted yet another day and chance. So I finally made us official on our way to board a matatu home.

Terry: The concert was amazing. I had a lot of fun. We made it clear that we were in it for the long time and we would not waste each other’s time. We even went to the extent of setting a date for our wedding – the exact date we got married.

THE PROPOSAL Mike: I had bought the ring on October 25, 2013 and made up my mind not to let 2013 slip by before I propose.

Terry: He invited me for dinner on December 31, 2013. He knows I don’t like crowded places so he got us a private place. After dinner, came dessert covered in a platter. He opened the platter and in place of the dessert was an engagement ring, and he went on one knee. Although I had been waiting and thoroughly hinting at a proposal, it came as a sweet surprise.

THE DRAMA Terry: I wanted a small and simple wedding and the planning started almost immediately. However, we underestimated the number of guests who would turn up by more than 200, so most of them did not have places to seat and we had to pay more to the caterer. On the wedding day, all seemed to go well in the morning until we got to the service. We arrived at 10.20am only to be informed that the officiating pastor had been caught up in a meeting. I stayed in the car for more than an hour before he showed up. That delayed our entire day and we missed the sunset shoot that was to happen at The Boma Hotel. The wedding that was to end at 4pm ended well past 6pm.

IN HINDSIGHT Terry: Start planning early to avoid last minute rush. If you can, pay your service providers in installments to keep off the last minute lump sum payments, and in as much as your friends may be well meaning in their suggestions, make the wedding your own. It is your wedding.

Mike: Pre-marital counselling is important and I would recommend the ten-week ‘Ndoa’ programme from Mavuno Church to any couple. I learnt that it is up to us if the marriage is to work.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS Terry: The vows. It was that moment that I was making a lifelong commitment

Mike: The whole ceremony will forever be memorable.