There are many debates on whether its important for married women to change their names to their husbands. Despite the fact that one is not bound by law to do so, we have compiled 5 important reasons why you should consider doing so:
1. It shows your commitment.
Changing you last name is an act of love, submission as well as a sign that you are fully committed to the union. Psychologists argue that a name change means a lot to me and boosts their ego.
2. It bond you together
If you are fond of spirituality, theres a traditional Chinese culture known as feng shui, which purports that joining names declares to the universe that you and your spouse are a complete unit. Together is a powerful energy, which solidifies the bond in marriage.
3. Its more convenient and easier for you with kids.
This works in case you are planning to have children in future. It brings clarity and assists in bringing the family together.
4. To help you feel like you fit in.
In the African culture, the change of name gives a woman a sense of belonging not just in her husband life but also with his entire clan. Shows that she now belongs to the new family and is ready to learn its ways.

5. People will know youre truly off the market.
Theres no better way to tell the world that you are taken than changing your name! Especially, all stalkers on social media, old boyfriends, workmates and business associates who may need to know this fact.
6. The only way to change that name that you hate!
In case, you hate your last name or its too hard to pronounce, it might be a nice change of pace to have a change, dont you think so?
7. Its a prestigious surname.
Change of name brings prestige and honor especially if your spouse comes from a powerful family.

Changing your maiden name to your husband’s name after saying I do is a dainty task that few women embrace with the enthusiasm. However, once you are done, it will be such an amazing feeling to have all your cards and vital documents in your new name. To save you all the trouble, we’ve come up with what you require to make this seemingly hard process be as easy as ABC.

1. Changing your ID name
According to Lawyer Nelson Osiemo, the process of changing your maiden name to your husband’s surname in your ID is pretty simple. Just head over to the chief’s office or at Huduma center with:
• Your husband’s ID
• Your ID
• Certified copy of your marriage certificate
• A certified copy of your Birth Certificate
After completing the entire process, wait for a week for your new ID.
2. Get a New Passport and Travel Documents
For the passport, one has to begin the application again and pay the fee for a new passport depending on the number of pages. If you have booked a ticket for your honeymoon, ensure you use your maiden name unless you are traveling out of the country and have already change your name on your passport. At the Immigration office, you may require:
• Completed passport application forms (Form 19)
• A certified copy of your marriage license.
• Your current passport.
• A recent color photograph that meets the requirement of the passport.
• An affidavit
NB: Honeymooning out of the country definitely requires your passport, which must match your tickets. In case you have a new passport by this time; ensure that you book your ticket under the new name. If you won’t have changed your name, ensure that your ticket is booked with your maiden’s name.
5. Change the Name on Your Bank Accounts
As soon as your ID had been updated with your new name, head over to your local bank branch and update the info on your bank accounts. If you’re going in person, bring the following documents with you:
• A certified copy of your marriage license.
• Your national ID
Don’t forget to request a new set of cards and new checkbooks.

It’s back once again!This year’s 2nd edition will take place from the 27th to 29th July at the Sarit Center in Westlands.

The Samanthas Bridal wedding Expo is an event that will not only allow you, the bride, to source and see the hippest, hottest trends in the wedding industry, but it will allow you to experience them in action too.

The show constantly improving standard is clearly evident in the exquisitely decorated stands, with every exhibitor vying for the covetable title of Best Stand. This aesthetic benchmark has been set very high this year. Another sure draw card for the shows visitors will be the opportunity for the visitors to enter a draw and win various prizes which include weekend getaways, goodie bags, wedding cakes, complimentary makeup for bridal party, jewellery among others.

Schedule it on your diaries all brides, grooms, wedding fans from 27th to 29th July 2018 at the Sarit Center, Westlands. Miss it miss out!

It was all pomp and color as guests slayed in the fur and feathers theme at the much awaited event of the month, the Kenya Wedding Industry Awards which went down on Monday night at the Trademark Hotel in Village Market. The Awards recognized excellence across 48 categories within the wedding industry voted for by the public, industry peers, as well as past brides and grooms. Amongst those who graced the occasion was the PS for Tourism and Wildlife, Dr. Margret Mwakima who stood in for the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Najib Balala and the best wedding vendors in the industry dressed the part to be in line with the feathers and fur theme.
The Fairmont Kenya Hotels took the day bagging three awards for the best heritage hotel, best wedding venue in the wild with Villa Rosa Kempinski bagging the best ballroom award. Windsor Hotel received the best garden hotel venue while the best beach destination venue went to Swahili beach.
Jambo Jet received the best local airline award, Bonfire Adventures won the best travel agents for honeymoon while Ogake received an award for the best custom-made gown designer.

The Wedding Lifetime Achievement Award went to Matthew Gathua of Valentine Cake House. The Best Wedding Luxury Supplier went to Purple Tulips.

Photography by Versataille Photographers

It is Red Carpet Time!!
Please join us for the first annual Kenya Wedding Industry Awards Gala. This years Night Of The Stars awards gala will be held on 18th June 2018 at Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi. Join us on this historic night as we celebrate Kenya’s creme de la creme in the wedding industry.
We would like to recognize and thank our partners for their work and support for this gala. They include Standard Digital, KTN Kenya, Viva Africa Consultants, Eve Woman Magazine, Jays Pyrotechnics Limited, Discmen Entertainment, Cake City, Versatile Photographers and Amazing Tents & Decor Kenya
Come eat, drink and dance in your finest attire for a Gatsby night. RSVP

After a long wait and speculation, Meghan Markle and her charming Prince Harry took their marriage vows inside St Georges Chapel where the audience applauded in approval and awe. While all that was going on in the UK, here in Kenya the Samantha Bridal in partnership with KTN, Moet&Chandon, Magana Flowers, Splendid Weddings and the Windsor Hotel hosted a Royal Wedding Watch party where the who’s and who’s in the entertainment as well as the corporate world attended the event.
In preparation for the day, couples had to part with Sh1 million, which included an English brunch, a romantic night for two inclusive of dinner, champagne at the Windsor suite and a chopper ride to Mount Kenya along with breakfast as well as a meal prepared by an English chef.
Chef James Dennis from Soames Hotel, Nanyuki, was chosen to prepare the meal fit for royalty in this exclusive event. The event, which was a red carpet affair was hosted by Chero of Str8up and Micheal Gitonga of Morning Express and was aired live on KTN. Some of the celebs who turned up at Windsor Golf Hotel include: Vera Sidika, Catherine Kamau, Betty Kyallo and her sister Mercy Kyallo, Naomi Nganga, Mwende Macharia, Standard Group acting CEO Orlando Lyomu together with his wife Pauline, Laikipia Women Representative Kate Waruguru, Suzie Beauty founder Suzie Wokabi, Pinky Ghelani, and many others.

Photography by
Versataille Photography
Jackson Mwangi Photography
Kegan Photography
Decor by Splendid Events

Kensington Palace have kept the world in speculation on who will be designing Meghan Markel gown but have revealed that he/she will work closely with them. With the world full of expectations, experts cannot hold their thoughts on what type of gown befits the royal wedding and according to a British bridal designer Sassi Holford who designed Autumn Patricia Phillips gown when she was getting married to Peter Philips, the son of Princess Anne and the oldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh she expects the wedding gown to fit the venue, have enough detail to be seen from a distance to be-fit a royal wedding and also incorporate the glamorous Hollywood side of Meghans personality.

Following in the footsteps of her soon to be sister in law,Markel will reportedly wear two gowns one to the ceremony and one to the reception. According to Markle, she best describes her wedding dress classic and simple is the name of the game perhaps with a modern twist.
The design and details of Princess Diana’s wedding dress managed to remain a complete mystery until hours before the ceremony.
Diana wore an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown with a 25-foot train that was valued at 9000 pounds and later became one of the most famous dresses in the world that was also considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history.
Created by husband-and-wife design team David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the intricate ivory taffeta gown later sparked copycats around the world, but with elaborate embroidery, 10,000 pearls and a 25-foot-long train, no one’s ever come close to replicating the stunning bridal look.
The dress fittings were not as easy because Diana had developed bulimia and dropped from a size 14 to a size 10 few months before the wedding and this made even the seamstress concerned about her weight loss and feared the dress might not fit as it should.

After the wedding Princess Diana’s dress set the wedding fashion trends because of its Large puffed sleeves, a full skirt and “soft touch fabrics” that became popular requests. Copies by other dressmakers were available “within hours” of the 1981 wedding.

Many bridal experts considered the dress a “gold standard” in wedding fashion in the years after the wedding.
Just recently,Kate Middletons gown had an antique lace, Forties line confection with a deep v-neckline and corseted bodice, made by Sarah Burton, the long-time assistant to British fashion’s enfant terrible Alexander McQueen. The designer’s hallmarks of a strong but feminine silhouette were softened in ivory and White satin gazar, while the train ran to over 2 meters. The lace applique for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace, and for it to be perfect,workers washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean.
Individual flowers were hand-cut from English lace and French Chantilly lace and hand-engineered onto ivory silk tulle to create a “unique and organic” design hence becoming a masterpiece for the world to see.
In the British society, the special occasion is not complete without a hat,” Hilary Alexander, fashion director at the Daily Telegraph newspaper, says. Fascinators and hats always complete a look and its a finishing touch. Here in Kenya, Chloe of drop of a hat explains all u need to know when choosing a hat.

Well, hats is a must don for the royals especially on special or official occasions. When Tony Blair wife didn’t wear a hat on to the funeral of the Princess of Wales but instead wore black veil known as a mantilla it was considered rude and that caused quite an uproar.
And so for Prince Harry and Megan they have made sure to have all dress-code instructions on their invite. For men the card states that they must wear a uniform, morning coat, or lounge suits.
This means that if a gentleman is currently in the military, he may wear his uniform, but most men in attendance will be in morning coats and top hats. (According to Debretts, the British authority on modern etiquette, a lounge suit is an expression only seen on invitations as a dress code. In conversation the terms dark suit or business suit or possibly business dress or business attire are used.)
Women are to wear a day dress with hat, which can be open to interpretation and this can cause some anxiety for American guests who tend to under or overdress for weddings. For the royal wedding, female guests are expected to dress conservatively in a knee-length dress with sleeves (no bare shoulders in church!) and, of course, a hat.
The evening reception is black-tie. As an invited guest you would not like to have a miss on fashion especially in the presence of the royals but this indeed happened to David Beckam a British soccer legend, internationally known as a fashionista, wore his Order of the British Empire medal on the wrong side. The pin was affixed to the right side of his jacket rather than the left side.
It’s widely expected that Markle will turn to a British designer for the all-important gown, but a few sketches that leaked online from Israel-based bridal couturier Inbal dror could suggest Megan is going down on a different route.The Israelis spokesman confirmed that he had been asked to send a sketch of a proposed dress adding that its a secret and that they couldnt give more details.The sketches were showing showing lace-embellished designs with a nipped-in waist, high Victorian-inspired neckline and dramatic fishtail skirt. If Dror is indeed the dress designer of choice it would prove another break from tradition for Markel; while royal wedding gowns are generally fairly traditional in style, Dror is renowned for her sensual, figure-hugging dresses – plunging necklines, slinky silhouettes and sheer panels are common features.