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BellaNaija Weddings presents Hadiza Raisa Okoya & Olamiju Alao-Akala’s Wedding | Atunbi Photography
Hadiza Raisa Okoya and Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala wed on Easter Sunday – April 20 2014, and it was a majestic affair set in hues of purple, silver and white at the bride’s father’s Eleganza Estate in Lagos.
The bride is the daughter of esteemed entrepreneur Chief Razaq Okoya while the groom’s father is former Oyo state governor Adebayo Alao-Akala. The couple celebrated the start of their journey to marital bliss with a traditional engagement and white wedding reception on the same glorious day.
Before we share their wedding, here’s their cute love story – the gorgeous couple met through the bride’s younger sister at a mutual friend’s party. After a beautiful courtship, the groom proposed at the cinemas! The bride says, “We were there watching Best Man Holiday. Half way through the movie stopped and next thing I saw my picture on the screen, before I could say anything on that same screen was written *RAISA WILL MARRY ME?* Oh my God! I was shocked. As I turned to looked at him he was right in front of me on his knees holding a ring…I was soo excited I showed everyone at cinema.”
After a lovely introduction in January {click here if you missed it}. The couple got their dream wedding planned, decorated and coordinated by Abimbola Oladiran of Subtle Elegance Events, while Atunbi Adesanmi of The Atunbi Experience captured all the moments.
At the traditional engagement, the bride was a queen in white aso oke embellished with gold. For the reception, she wore a strapless corseted mermaid gown by Kosibah – it took 25 meters of silk organza, 75 Swarovski diamante crystal appliques and hours of meticulous hand sewing by the couturier himself. For the after party, she sizzled in a gold sequin dress. The dapper groom was all smiles in his black suit with damask details.
The couple’s highlights from their special day are oh so evident in the photos – Olamiju couldn’t take his eyes off Hadiza, especially in her show-stopping gown. She also shares her best moments with us – “every moment my husband was beside me, looked at me and smiled at me. He makes me feel so special.”
Last word – advice from the couple for lovebirds planning their weddings:
Please follow your heart and hold on to God.
BellaNaija Weddings would like to wish LMJ and HRO all the sweetness and blessings of a happy marriage.
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~ Photography: Atunbi Adesanmi for The Atunbi Experience | Additional: Dimeji for Modii Stvdios
Traditional Engagement
Reception
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We would like to thank the spectacular wedding planner and decorator – Abimbola Oladiran of Subtle Elegance Events and photographer extraordinaire Atunbi Adesanmi of The Atunbi Experience for their incredible contributions to this feature.
PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT of Atunbi, Dimeji & BellaNaija Weddings. THEY SHOULD NOT BE REPUBLISHED WITHOUT PERMISSION.
Photography: Atunbi Adesanmi for The Atunbi Experience | www.atunbi.net | support (at) theatunbiexperience.com | instagram.com/atunbi | instagram.com/theatunbiexperience | https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Atunbi-Experience/293798756210
Additional Photography: Dimeji of Modii Stvdios – dimejiandmoyo.com | oladimeji25 (at) yahoo.com | +234 8022613111 | instagram.com/dimejiimages
Wedding Info
Wedding Date: Sunday April 20 2014
Venue: Oluwalonsola Eleganza Estate
Wedding Colours
Traditional: Cream & Purple
White: Purple & White
Wedding Attire
Bride’s Makeup for both Traditional and White: Elaine Shobanjo of Shomya. instagram.com/shomya_lag | info (at) shomya.com
Traditional
Bride’s Attire: Bisbod
Bride’s Traditional Wedding Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Groom’s Traditional Wedding Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Aso Ebi: Olamide Alabi-Jacobs of Jane Jacobs | instagram.com/janejacob09 | 08027470000 | 11 Kayode Otitoju, Off Admiralty Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
White
Bride’s White Wedding Dress: Yemi Osunkoya of Kosibah – instagram.com/yemikosibah | kosibah.co.uk
Groom & Groomsmen Suits: David Bowler
Bride’s White Wedding Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Groom’s White Wedding Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Little Bride Dresses: Olamide Alabi-Jacobs of Jane Jacobs | instagram.com/janejacob09 | 08027470000 | 11 Kayode Otitoju, Off Admiralty Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
Bouquet: Flower Angel
Vendors
Wedding Planner and Decorator: Abimbola Oladiran of Subtle Elegance Events | 08096452851 | omothara (at) gmail.com | instagram.com/subtlelegancevents
Wedding Cakes: Cakes and Cream
Food: Astoria, Malas, Kaffy, Ever Best, Oval Tarf
Drinks: Exclusive, Bonix, Biobev
Dessert: Ooh la la, Sweet Cravings
Cocktails: Water 2 Wine, Mandies Cocktail
Small Chops: Lareedo, Tj., Demo
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E-mail: weddings (at) bellanaija.com | E-mail for #AsoEbiBella: asoebibella (at) gmail.com