She sang her way into my heart

BRIDE: Evangeline Wambui

GROOM: David Wachira

DATE: November 29, 2015

GUESTS: 700

VENUE: Karura SDA Church, Nairobi

BUDGET: Sh 500, 000

FIRST DATE

DAVID: In early 2014, I was seated at Nyeri Central SDA Church on the Sabbath day when the youth choir was invited to sing. As the members sang with gusto, my attention was drawn to a dazzlingly beautiful woman whose mellifluous voice made her stand out from the rest. The urge to get to know her overwhelmed me.

EVA: I never knew, on that day, that I had a secret admirer in the congregation. I came to learn of it about a week later when a friend of mine tagged him on my Facebook wall after which we started communicating.

DAVID: Initially, she was cold and apathetic but when I described how she sang and explained the song presented by the youth choir, she became friendly. Eventually, she gave me her phone number and a friendship that would turn formidable began.

EVA: He would call me almost every day to find out how I was doing. As time went by, he expressed interest in me but I was not ready for a romantic relationship then. When he became too persistent, I asked him to give me time to think about it.

DAVID: It did not take long before she replied in the affirmative. Shortly thereafter, I took her to a luxurious hotel in Nyeri town for our first date.

THE PROPOSAL

EVA: About two months later, he invited me to his place in Nairobi. He appeared anxious about something.

DAVID: All along, I had planned to propose to her but was unsure of how she would react. To get over the anxiety, I coaxed and cajoled for some time before posing the big question.

EVA: I was elated, to say the least. Although I anticipated the marriage proposal during our courtship, I never thought it would be so soon. At the end of the year, I met his family who to my surprise welcomed me very warmly and treated me as if I was already one of them.

THE DRAMA

DAVID: On my second visit to her home, a group of young women with the same stature and body size as hers were arraigned before me, wrapped in lessos from head to toe. I was told to pick her out from the group and was warned of dire consequences if I made a mistake.

EVA: Prior to that, I had been confined to my room for hours and ordered not to get out until I was summoned. The women deployed to check on me confiscated my phone at one time for fear that I might tip him off. I pleaded with God to guide him directly to me which He did.

DAVID: The tension was almost palpable as I stood and approached the young women. Unknown to everyone else, I had spotted her from afar off thanks to my familiarity with her unique walking style. I wasted no time in pointing her out much to the delight of those present.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

EVA: The moment we were pronounced man and wife is indelibly stamped in my memory.

DAVID: Seeing her walk towards me in the company of her parents filled me with ineffable joy. Despite the heavy downpour on the wedding day, hundreds of people showed up.

ADVICE

DAVID: By all means, do not engage in sex before marriage. Marriage is a holy institution and God expects everyone to honour it.

EVA: Trust in God and always keep in mind that marriage is between two people only. Do not let anyone or anything ever divide you.

WORDS AND PHOTOS: Dennis Mbae