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How a 6AM Phone Call Led to a Lifetime of Love for Ishan Couple Nata & Kelly! Pre-Wedding Photos

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Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2128-EditThis is such a cute love story!!!

Imagine this: Bride-to-be Nata was having a jocular conversation at a party about how she doesn’t know any Ishan men. Her friend’s husband then ‘hooked’ her up with his friend. After groom-to-be Kelly called Nata at 6AM the next day, the rest is history!

~ Photography: Alanpoza Photography

How We Met
From Nata, the bride
It’s funny how my life changed after a half-serious conversation at a party! Yup, that’s how I met my man!Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_18858I was at a party late in 2013 and ran into a friend who was there with her family. I was introduced to her newly born cute baby twins and she called them Odion and Akhere, which are Esan (Ishan) tribe names for twins in Edo State.Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1869-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1862 Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1856I asked her if she’s from Edo State and she responded, “no, my husband is Ishan”
In shock I laughed and said no way, I don’t know any Ishan men! (I’m also Ishan). Joking, I asked, “does he have any tall, dark, handsome Ishan friend?” I was laughing as we both walked away.Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1802-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1806-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1791-EditI wondered away and spoke to other friends. A few minutes later I ran into her again, this time she was with her husband. “I hear you’re looking for an Ishan man” he said after a short introduction. “I’ve got a friend I can introduce you to. Do you want me to give him your number?”Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1711-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1717-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1779 Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1705 Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1659-Edit“Err… Sure!” I said, just to end the conversation as I was deeply embarrassed that a joke had gone so far. But also half interested, I mean why not?!

Fast forward a few hours … at 6AM the next morning my phone rang. Oh yeah, 6AM! It was him. I remember thinking, “This guy is keen!” He did mention something about going offshore for two weeks, that’s why he called so early. But ’till today, I secretly know he just wanted to speak to me.

We had phone conversations (from the oil rig – which was kinda cool) and BB messages back and forth during those two weeks (not at 6AM in the morning luckily)!Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1614 Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1605-EditAt the end of the two weeks, he ringed to say he was outside my house. He came all the way from Lagos to Abuja without telling me and literally showed up. We’d joked about it, but I didn’t think he’d seriously hop on a plane the first chance he got … well we ended up going to a friend’s party together which I had already planned to attend. It was pretty great; he was indeed tall, dark and handsome and he could dance (-ish)! Bonus!Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2015-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2019-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2024-Edit (2)And so it began; a true love story that can’t be described in words. I was pretty reserved at the start, but he was persistent. Over the Christmas holidays I was at home with my family in England and he was still persistent; which was so sweet. He called every day and kept us in constant communication.

When I returned, I visited him in Lagos and I was smitten. By April he met my family. He already knew I was ‘THE’ One but gave us time to grow in our relationship.

Over the following months we went through what most relationships go through, but he was so genuine and full of love. (And also patient with me – poor bloke). He is such a good man and we just clicked together. I felt that ‘where have you been all my life?’ feeling and months later, when he proposed, it was pretty obvious that it really was just meant to be. I found him…. !

Advise to other ladies? Never underestimate the power of your words. Tell God exactly what kind of man you are looking for and be open.

Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1950-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_1931-Editfrom Kelly
I always enjoy playing Cupid: watching friendship turn to love, and watching that love blossom into marriage. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the same fate would befall me.

At about 7:45 pm on a beautiful Sunday in December 2013, I sat at a hotel lounge sipping a drink and feeling particularly pleased with myself because Chelsea FC had just defeated Southampton in an English Premier League game. My phone rang and it was a close buddy from Abuja. After pleasantries, he said he had a certain girl he wanted to ‘hook me up’ with. As the norm, I asked what she was like and said: “You know how I feel about Abuja babes o”. He laughed and said, “Nooo she’s not like that, she is a very good, pretty and nice girl” (like he had known her all his life). So I said: “Ok then, let’s see if what you say is true”. The number came as promised but I was hesitant to call that evening.Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2228-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2273-Edit-2 Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2240 The next morning, at 6AM, ready to go offshore, the gentleman in me urged me to call her as my number wouldn’t have been reachable for the next two weeks. I thought it won’t be nice keeping a lady waiting, seeing as I really didn’t know what transpired in Abuja the previous day. So I called, and she picked after second ring (not that I was counting). As soon as I introduced myself, she reminded me how early it was to be calling (shakara), I told her I wanted her to have my number so we could chat over What’s App as I’d be away for a while (’till today she still teases me that I was desperate). For two weeks, I called when I could and we had conversations via BBM and What’s App. She sounded intelligent, cool and I wanted to put a face to my new chat buddy but she wouldn’t oblige me (more shakara). She then sent a not recent pic of three women and asked me to figure out who she was. Being Sherlock Holmes, I pointed her out easily much to her amusement (sharp guy).

When I got back to town, we were talking and she was like “Sad I won’t get to see you before I leave for Christmas tomorrow”. Then I asked if she really, really wanted to see me, she said yes … Next thing I’m on a flight to Abuja. A few hours after, we both arrived outside her gate same time – she from work and I from the airport. True to talk, she was really preeettty. Soon after, she pulled me to a friend’s party and we (danced and fell in love on a slow jam – I wish … Lol) chatted some more and had a few drinks. The next day, we separated but kept in touch, early the next year we were already an item. Months later I was meeting the parents, and …

… here we are!Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza Photographyp9GCNbq0mqca8tUO0tanUwBp_u9TqdApdvP3p7763ZcThe Proposal
from Kelly, the groom
Many dating months passed. One weekend, she comes for a visit and I invited her to dinner by the seaside but she really didn’t want to so I had to convince her – well, twist her arm really … When we got there she ordered snacks just to humour me. As we settled in, she was about to tell me a story about some ordeal in the restaurant when the sight of the waiter coming with our order interrupted her. Jokingly, she said, “Look, they are bringing more than we ordered.”

She opened up the plate, and when she looked up, I was down on one knee and she lit up like a Christmas tree. I would never forget that look; I thoroughly enjoyed the moment. Especially when she screamed a million “Yessss”-es in a second just as I asked, “Will you marry me?”

And just like that, she made me the happiest man in the world!Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2306 Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2310-Edit Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2312 copy Nata & Kelly Vintage Pre-Wedding Photos on BellaNaija 2015-AlanPoza PhotographyIMG_2315-Edit

Photography: Bunmi Oludayomi of Alanpoza Photography | www.alanpoza.com | instagram.com/alanpoza_photography
MakeUp: Bride’s Sister

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