Lovebirds Biodun & Fola’s Gorgeous Wedding | Exquisite Events Abuja

Biodun and Fola fell in during the groom’s NYSC year when he went to say hi to his friend at a salon. The rest as they say is history!

See their beautiful wedding and love story below.

~ Photography by George Okoro Weddings | Ejike Manny | Oludare Kenny Studios

How They Met
from the groom, Fola
I finished my first degree 6 years before I did my NYSC, it just wasn’t a priority and I was already working all along. Little did I know then, but now I know that “God’s time is the best”. I got back to Nigeria and became a pretty active Corper member, I was everywhere on camp, marching up and down, playing football/basketball, attending seminars, doing platoon duties, climbing ropes, organizing events, queuing for allowee, going to mami, etc. But one day, I just had enough of the scorching Abuja sun and decided I was going to cool off what was left of my “aje butter head”. I searched for the perfect alibi as to why I couldn’t make afternoon parade and I couldn’t find, until I got a call from a friend who had just come back from a suspiciously timed sick leave! I was so excited to hear that she was inside the market making her hair.

So I got to the saloon and told her about all the camp action she had missed, and talking about the bliss of missing parade was the first time I noticed Biodun in the corner, she was on her own painting her nails and minding her business when we all got into conversations about what I don’t remember right now, but must have been interesting because I kept looking out for her and her pink knapsack after that day.

We saw each other randomly a few times before the end of camp, and realized we had mutual friends and fans. April 1st 2014, last day of camp we exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch.We didn’t talk for about 2 weeks and on April 16th 2014, a simple message from me turned into a 3 day chat non-stop. It was still a pure friendship for weeks and I wasn’t even aware that feelings had started developing until I was already head over heels in love, subconsciously noticing that she had a lot of good attributes I wanted in a woman. I prayed about it, telling God to just save my energy if she wasn’t going to be the one, and I believe he gave the go ahead.The Proposal
from the groom, Fola
October 2015, I moved back to Nigeria and was ready to pop the question because at this point it seemed more of when we were going to marry, not if. I knew Biodun and I wanted to get married to each other, we had spoken about it, so it wasn’t a case of her saying no but I also figured she’d be too shy for a public proposal.

The initial plan to quietly propose over a private dinner fell apart when her detective skills caught her sisters and I planning, plans later changed to catch her unaware. November 7th, 2015 armed with a drama/a cappella team, flowers, friends, family and food, I asked my best friend to stay with me and be my wife. I had fooled Biodun into thinking I was travelling and she dropped me off at the airport where I had another friend waiting in the parking lot.Her sisters took her to dinner in Panache restaurant that evening and as I had already arranged with the restaurant manager, they were seated in a prime location. I got a fake couple planted in the restaurant and found an a cappella group online who came and serenaded the couple with love songs making it seem like the guy was about to propose to his girlfriend.

Halfway through the songs, they turned their focus to Biodun and her sister’s table and continued singing to them. Just as the last song was finishing, I came out with over 20 excited friends and family who had been hiding in the kitchen all along.

Here’s Biodun & Fola’s surprise proposal video –  Watch!

Advice For Couples

• It is important to start planning your wedding early, to avoid last minute decisions.
• Take marriage counseling classes very seriously, discuss afterwards, read books and pray.
• Understand each other, be reasonable, set a budget and work with it.
• Secure all your vendors as early as possible.
• Be careful not to offend anyone.
• Have fun!

BellaNaija Weddings wishes the couple a marriage filled with growth, success and happiness.

White Wedding
Traditional Engagement

Photographers: George Okoro | @georgeokoro | Ejike manny | @ejikemanny | Oludare Kenny Studios | @oludarekennystudios

Wedding Info – Venue, Dates & Colours
Traditional: Peach Vine Marquee, Wuye Abuja | June, 17th 2016 | Magenta, Fuschia Pink & Grey
White: Abuja International Conference Center | June 18th, 2016 | Green

Wedding Attire
Bride’s Dress: 1st: St Patrick, Customized by @hudayya Couture | 2nd: Tope FnR | @topefnr
Bridesmaids: Toju Foyeh Fashion | @tojufoyeh
Groom & Groomsmen: Mancave London | @Mancave
Makeup: Banke Meshida-Lawal | @bankebmpro
Hair: Chioma Uzodike | @solangehairandbeautyshop | Bridesmaids |  @ehishair
Traditional: aso oke and beads Bimmms24 | @bimmms24 | 2nd outfit: @tojufoyeh | @hudayyah
Court Wedding: James Sully Boutique | @jameslully
Shoes: Jimmy Choo | @jimmychoo |  Manolo Blahnik | @manoloblahnikhq | Sophie Webster | www.sophiawebster.com
Jewellery: Kamz

Vendors
Event Planner: Exquisite Events | @exquisite_events_abuja
Videographers: Wedding Doctors | @wedding_doctors | Pailon Mexy
Decor: Bluevelvet Décor | @bluevelvetmarquee | Trad: QuailEvents | @thequailevent
Sound & Multimedia: Trad: OptionA | @optionainternationalresources | White: Seyi  | @letstalkevents01 
MC: Kenny BlaQ | @kennyblaqmcfr
DJ: Trad: DJ Danny | White: Cool FM DJ TTB | @djttb
Traditional Cake: Amerie 360 Cakes | @amerie360cakesabuja
Wedding cake: Syndys Cakes |@syndyscakes
Food, Small Chops & Desserts: Cocktails in and out | @cocktailsinandout | Classic Golden Pot | @classicgoldenpot | Jenny Sweet Eats | @jennysweeteats | Smokes and Pipes | @smokes_n_pipes | Barkono Grill |  @barkonogrill | 12 Baskets | @12basketsfoodltd | Newton’s Moible Cafe Catering | @newtonmobilecafe