BEGINNING:

Grace and Kakai met in campus, “We were both at the University of Nairobi where we were studying law and we also happened to be classmates.

I was attracted to Grace but I was not in the dating mood at the time,” Kakai says. After graduating they found themselves working in the same building and still remained good friends. They later on went to further their studies and still kept in touch. They started seriously dating in 2008.

PROPOSAL:

Kakai never formally proposed to Grace. They just started the wedding plans with Grace having no ring. “ I wanted to give her a ring mainly for formality so I made reservations for dinner on a Friday but I forgot that she was to travel to Mombasa that same day. I ended up proposing a day before on a Thursday when we had gone out.” Kakai says.

“I expected the ring which actually showed some seriousness and yes! he did go down on one knee.” Grace adds. The dinner reservation is still pending to date.

FASHION:

Grace wore a halter neck gown from Afro Elegance, “I loved my gown because it made me look smaller and did not need any jewellery”. For shoes she had two pairs of Jimmy choo shoes, a heeled pair for the church and yellow wedged pair for the reception. She bought the shoes from the States.

Kakai and his five groomsmen wore the same normal grey suits, which they bought from Delvis Exclusive.

Their five maids wore yellow flowing dresses, which were made at Lacasa. The dresses were beaded with purple crystals to bring out the theme colour.

SETTING THE DATES:

Grace and Kakai had planned to wed on the 4th of December but they pushed it to November 6th because the grooms brother who was on the line up was getting married on that date and Kakai was the best man.

WEDDING THEME:

Their venue Karen Blixen that is a museum was the perfect place for the theme they had in mind.“We had a vintage theme because of our love for the oldies and so the old machinery that is ancient at Karen Blixen provided the mood and match for our theme. Our wedding tables were listed according to various old movies like out of Africa, which was shot at Karen Blixen.

We had a vintage car to transport us. For entertainment we chose Maroon commandos who are good at playing songs from way back in the old days. We had makuti fans as gift favors for our guests which were placed on every seat.”

GUEST LIST:

They discussed and decided to split the guest list into two. It was a cards only wedding and they invited 400 guests.

STICKY SITUATIONS:

Grace and Kakai started their wedding plans early and hired a planner a year to the wedding because Grace is never around. She works in Tanzania.“We hired a planner to make things easy and we gave her the vision we had for our wedding and the budget.

However two and a half weeks to the wedding we had to look for another planner because the previous one also plans events and she had an event that she was planning at the same time as our wedding. She could not be able to fully focus on our wedding. It was not easy for the new planner to understand our vision but we were very fortunate because she was able to catch up fast and worked at ensuring that our day was a success.”

GRACE’S CONTACT BOOK

1. Flowers and Décor, House in Bloom
2. Bride’s gown, Afro Elegance
3. Groomsmen attire, Delvis Xclusive
4. Video/ Photography: Naiko
5. Venue, Karen Blixen

“I was so grateful that instead of being called fiancée, I would be called a wife. to me, that was so important…it brought so much joy in my heart. I was looking at my answered prayer.”

When renowned gospel artist Rufftone born ‘William Smith Mwatia’, wed his long-term girlfriend, gospel musician, Krystal born ‘Susan Mwaura Njoki’ their fans finally breathed a sigh, as they had followed this lovebird’s affair for years.

They walked down the aisle among family and friends at the Kenya assemblies of god church, buruburu, on the Saturday of July 26, 2014 dead sure that it was a confirmation from god that they were meant to be. For Krystal, it was a little girl’s dream coming to fruition. a moment to be overjoyed.

“I was so grateful that instead of being called fiancée, I would be called a wife. To me, that was so important” she says adding that, “it brought so much joy in my heart. I was looking at my answered prayer.” for Rufftone, the moment dawned for him when slipping the ring into Krystal’s delicate fingers.

He describes it as a moment that resurrected his sense of responsibility: “I felt something going through my body, and I pray that I’ll be the man she wants me to be.” and the kiss? We are curious to know how it was: “when I kissed her, I lost five years…I became five years younger,” admits Rufftone. And Krystal is beside herself with giggles.

Rufftone chose to go all white just like his bride, while their bridal party adorned fuchsia colored gowns and the groomsmen decked grey suits with white shirts and fuchsia ties.

Krystal and Rufftone met at a music-recording studio, where Krystal all green and naïve in the music business had gone to seek for a producer who could record her music. Rufftone had just released his hit single then, mwikulu, upping him into celebrity status overnight, but Krystal did not even recognize him! Her beauty, patience and understanding spirit on the other hand blew Rufftone away once he got to know her.

It was selfies photo moment for the bride!

Photography by Brian Mwando

Venue : Boma Hotel

He fondly calls her spice; “she spices up my life” discloses Jimnah Mwaura Thuku, a Digital Marketing Specialist at Deloitte, about his new wife Noreen Mugasia, an IT Specialist. Noreen and Jimnah met at an audition to join a praise and worship Band -Students Arrive Movement (SAM) Africa Band- back in 2009. Noreen auditioning for a place in the band, and Jimnah as one of the judges and he thought he heard an angel. “I was drafting some notes, then she sang, with a very angelic voice. I heard her voice, the voice was so sweet. I raised my head. I thought – this is just heavenly” Jimnah dots on the memory. “I noticed him, not because I was attracted to him, but because when I started singing he raised up his hands.” she laughs. And laughter fills the room. “Because he looked like a joker, and I thought, really?! You are supposed to be judging, not to show emotions! I actually thought I was in the wrong place. He was wearing baggy clothing!” she narrates defending her then nonchalance.

So as a matter-of-factually, she went to audition for a husband, we ask, and Jimnah is quite pleased with that insinuation and forces her to say yes – she admits, yes. Many chats later on g-talk and coffee dates, these two love birds became inseparable. “Jimnah is very humorous and I like his mad dancing skills and his caring nature” Noreen lovingly describes Jimnah. “Noreen is beautiful, she sings like an angel and has a big heart” Jimnah equally responds. In February 2013, Jimnah asked Noreen to be officially his girlfriend; and in November 2013 he proposed to her.

Proposal

While, having dinner during one of their many Thursday date-nights, at a Chinese restaurant where they had had their first date on her birthday – Jimnah proposed to Noreen.Noreen narrates: “After we had eaten, he told me to close my eyes. When he told me to open my eyes he had placed a deck of cards on the table, which he had made into a booklet. On top of the cards were written the words ’52 Reasons Why I Love You.’ She started reading the reasons and became teary eyed by the time she reached reason no.25; but still Managed to read till reason no.52. She almost didn’t Read turn the last page after reading the last reason, Because there is where the four-magical words were Scrawled across. “when i did open the last page, it had the words: ‘will you marry me Doreen Musimbi’ i threw The book at him and started wailing” she explains Laughing. Needles s to say that jimnah was totally Embarrassed at this time. But he finally managed To calm her down enough to get down on his knees And ask for her hand in marriage. She said yes to The applause of the other diners at the restaurant. “my surprise worked, and it was simple and precise, And she liked it,” jimnah states triumphantly. “after a few days she told me thanks for giving her A story, because not many ladies get to have a story During their engagement.”

Theme

Both lovers of music, it was no wonder that they Settled for a musical-themed wedding. “we both love music so it was a no brainier. To us, Music is key because we are both musicians” explains Jimnah. Noreen adds: “and plus i am not a Girly bride. For me what mattered the most during The wedding was that people dance a lot and have Fun. If anything else went wrong i would have been Okay with that. They didn’t have to sit on fancy Seats; they didn’t have to eat five star food; but Would have been much traumatized.” And it helped that most of their friends are also music Lovers and love to dance. For their décor, they decided to go with neutral Shades of black, silver and white, a bold decision For to follow for wedding colours. And blue, to make Jimnah happy. And not being a lover of flowers, seeing She’s not girly-girly, they went for something different: “we had this idea of using alps instead of flowers at The reception. The tents would not be draped- only They had to be very white. So we chose hexagonal Tents because they look really nice even without Drapes. At the church we substituted flowers with Linen.       

Fashion

The bridal party made up of the bride’s best friend From campus, her younger sister, groom’s sister, and Bride’s sister-in-law had long flowing silver and black Dresses. The best maid’s dress was black with a black Sash, while the bridesmaids’ dresses were silver with Black sashes. The groomsmen had grey fitting suits, Black shirt with a slim black tie. Jimnah’s suit was Black-fitting suit with a black shirt and a sky blue tie.

Vows

They describe their vows as ‘sincere and straight From their hearts’ as the vows were the couple’s own. And what more could a couple ask for than a lively Wedding party! In the couple’s own words, ‘our Crazy bridal team!’ they turned up the fun, right From the morning of the wedding- dancing down The aisle, to the photo-shoot which made the bride And groom cherish their company, to the reception Where the team embraced the spirit of the music Theme.

“our vows were sincere and straight” Guest list Jimnah and Noreen worked with 800 people, majority From Jimnah family, who are big on events. For Them, every opportunity is an excuse to celebrate Unlike Noreen family, she explains: “whether my family turns up or not is not a big deal For me, and i wouldn’t even take offense if someone Didn’t come. But for them [Jimnah family] celebration Of events is a big deal. Any occasion is a big Deal” with a budget of kshs.670,000 it was a tall Order indeed, but they managed to feed everyone And still have left overs. “we had a lot of mutual Friends and family who sponsored some items on the Budget” says jimnah.

Reception

But not only did their wedding party embrace the Music, their guests at the reception also brought Their game dancing to the DJ music mix rasping From the speakers. Of course following closely and Eagerly into the steps of the bride and groom who Were also fully committed to their musical themed Affair. Jimnah summarizes the whole reception as entertaining: “the music, the dance was fun! Plus, we Seeing our friends and family have fun was cool too! You should have seen some grandma boogie!” He Quips adding that, “we will never forget our friends And all the help they accorded. They literally ran The day!”

Noreen’s contact book

Cake: cakes of Kenya

Décor: sunflower tents

Venue: St. Faith, ACK Rongai

Reception: Clarence Mathemi Ministries (CMM) Grounds

Photography: Photoshop Kenya