An Enrapturing Tale of Love: Ruby & Dipo’s Wedding at Grosvenor House | Just As Planned

Hope you’re sitting comfortably wherever you are because Ruby and Dipo’s love story is a long but worthwhile read. The groom Dipo AKA Diamond, wooed daddy’s only girl, Ruby, who has five ‘brothers’.

They met a little over 8 years ago, by chance, when he dropped by a cousin’s house to get food. On 8/8/15, they tied the knot in an elegant celebration at Grosvenor House Hotel in London, put together by Just as Planned.

BellaNaija Weddings wishes Ruby and Dipo a blessed union!

~ Pre-Wedding Shoot in Paris, by Alakija Studios

Our Love Story
by Dipo, the groom
For the past 3 months Ruby has been asking me to write “Our Story”. The amount of times that she asked for my finished article still rings in my ear. “Dipo, you still haven’t done this thing”?

Where do I start from I thought? Ruby and I had come through so many testing times. What do I include? What do I leave out? After all this, was to go into our wedding programme.

Do I leave out the day, years ago now, when a very close friend of mine told me that “Dipo, Ruby is going to be your wife” or the occasion that I invited Ruby’s 5 brothers (I say 5 because the other two are cousins that Ruby takes as brothers, anyone that knows Ruby knows how much she loves her family) out to dinner alone to inform them of my intentions to marry their sister. How daunting does that sound? Or the times Ruby would invite me around but I would park down the road and ask her to come outside because I wasn’t ready to go inside yet and meet her Dad. She is Daddy’s only girl you see.So many ideas and thoughts on how to structure and write our own Disney fairy-tale story ran through my mind. However, each time I started I was never able to construct more than a few sentences before I became unhappy with how the story was evolving… It simply didn’t capture the innocence in our meeting eight and a half years ago nor could it do enough justice to highlighting Ruby’s holistic beauty.

Ruby in her reassuring manner would advise me actually, in fact complain for want of a better word frustrated admittedly by my perceived lack of urgency as she saw it. Thinking that I wasn’t forthcoming with this story that she had been for many months asking for. She would finish by reassuringly telling me to “just write from my heart and express whatever our story may be”.

One day I was at home sulking as I hadn’t seen Ruby for around 3 days, she was busy getting ready the favours that are on the wedding tables and it dawned on me that her absence was what was affecting my mood. I then realised that this story of ours was not really that hard to write. I hadn’t caught up with her that day and I needed my daily injection of Ruby’s words.Then suddenly it all dawned on me, I just needed to write and share how God ordained our coming together along with highlighting her many, many attributes and conclude with how she became a part of me and the tell tale signs that assured me that I wasn’t making a mistake when I asked Ruby to marry me.

I therefore, start our story quoting the dictionary’s interpretation of the word fate. Fate is “a prophetic declaration or happening of what must be” and as such, our love story is actually the benediction of prayers and God’s decree of what must be. Finding and attracting your soul mate is everybody’s prayer and as such our story is one that I am proud to share.

Indicators, that you’ve met your soul mate are often misguided, love at first sight can be an indicator although it isn’t a prerequisite. However, when you do meet the One, there will be some form of instant connection. You will realise that you both have things in common from your individual journeys which could be social factors like tastes in music or fashion. Ruby is forever teaching me new dance moves and songs, not that I have mastered “the shoki” yet but still she never gets tired of trying to teach me.

There will be other important factors such as moral values and a deep spiritual understanding and realisations or challenges that you both have in common. Each of you will know and understand that you have a destiny and a life purpose not only as individuals but also as a couple. You both know on some level that you were brought together for a reason. The details may not be set, but you feel that you came together to do something. You have a mission to accomplish together and like Ruby likes to always remind me, “only we know each other’s story so far and we will help each other write a beautiful future”.

Every moment, heartbreak, experience leading up to the one in which you meet your future husband or wife somehow shapes you and prepares you for that person you were fated for.

The previous heartaches and dark days, the lonely cold nights, are all crucially important in the grand scheme of things because we need to experience the negatives to be able to appreciate the positives. Other tell tale signs that the person you’re with could be your soul mate and quite possibly the most important signal of all is your own intuition. The comments of family and friends that see your spiritual and mental growth as you start your journey with that person. My sister would tell me “Dipo, Ruby is the prettiest girl that I have seen you with”. Moreover, when I think of it, I strongly believe that our coming together was all part of God’s plan.

My late grandmother who filled my head with wise Yoruba metaphors, would often emphasise a prayer point whenever she always prayed for me. She would always pray emphasizing that, “Iyawo’ re o’ni kor’ ja la gbara olohun” (please pardon my spelling) literally meaning you will not let my future wife bypass you. Words are often lost in translation and the wisdom of this metaphor certainly doesn’t serve justice to the knowledge lost when translating it into English.

So perhaps I could start this story with a little bit of history as to enable you the readers to appreciate what is so special about ‘Princess Ruby’.

The whole “girl meets boy, boy and girl fall in love, boy and girl get married” is way too simplistic to describe the story of Ruby and I.

Like I said in the first paragraph; our love story had actually started before Ruby and I actually met.

The reason I firstly suggested you could describe our coming together fate is because I remember one day (eight and a half years ago now) leaving work early just to get away and get something to eat. (I LOVE MY AFRICAN FOOD). So I decided to pop in and see my cousin who was local to me and get something to eat.

Little did I know that, the stop and diversion I made that day would lead to me meeting that special one.

The first time I met Ruby was not simplistic nor was it overly dramatic so I can’t give you times or dates but I still remember the occasion as clear as if it was yesterday.
As I left work directed by the smell of food, I stopped and walked in and said hello to all including three young beautiful girls whom I had noticed sat down watching TV. I now know that two of those girls were her cousins and also on the bridal train. My eyes were immediately drawn to one of them. Unbeknown to me at that time, Ruby was the girl that my eyes were immediately transfixed upon. Those that know Ruby well will know that she is a people person and affectionate to everybody around her. Ruby is the kind of person that would give her time and service away to anybody in need of it.

Coupled with Ruby’s beautiful features and an eye to behold even on a casual day. You will understand why Ruby had many admirers also. I cannot say at that first initial meeting I heard a choir of angels singing, or a bright Halo light shone upon Ruby like some supernatural vision from God, but there truly was an instant attraction to her. Just my kind of girl I thought, I was further intrigued by her warm welcome and her calm composure as we spoke that day. (come to think of it, a young 19 year old girl that day). I immediately asked about her as I tried to find out who she was.

The reply came as my cousin told me that someone was speaking to Ruby already that day.

However, I introduced myself to all the girls and asked names as I tried to force conversation with the girls. You never know I thought.

I introduced myself to her and she introduced herself also to me as Ruby. I had been nicknamed “Diamond” and the fact “Ruby’s ” name also belongs to a gem wasn’t just a coincidence I thought I remember telling her that day.

Although, on that day I did not think anything was to come of it because she left without even saying bye to me.

Ruby and I then became friends, seeing more of each other due to the fact that we shared similar social circles. The time I knew that I started falling for Ruby was when I found myself suddenly becoming jealous when I thought perhaps she dressed to provocatively. I used to comment on how beautiful she looked dressed in a maxi dress but started feeling funny when other boys drew attention to the same beauty I was seeing. (I still love Ruby in her maxi dresses).

So in this regard that is why I now believe that our story could be described as been more eventful than fate. It is the fruition of God bringing to pass one of his one of his promises, because I can honestly say that I have met my best friend as we become one flesh (Genesis 2:24). The story is not one that I would be able to finish and write in only the few pages I get in this magazine coupled with the fact it is an ongoing positive story by God’s grace means that there simply wouldn’t be enough pages to finish it.Our story, I believe is one where two precious gems that float along, rubbing off each other and teaching and learning each other on a journey shaped through our experiences. The word best friend is simply bandied around too loosely. Ruby is more than a best friend, she is a true friend in times of adversity and forever motivating me to be the best that I can be. Ruby also does not entertain not devoting a certain part of our lives to God. Admittedly, on the Sunday mornings after a Saturday night out that I was feeling lazy Ruby would even after knowing that I had only had 3 hours sleep ring my phone until I picked up and remind me of the need to go to Church and give thanks to God.

We have had our ups and downs our doubts and clouds but the fact that Ruby and I have ended up at the altar is ultimately down to God.

So how do I know she is the one? Like I stated previously, the majority of the signals that I deemed important when choosing the partner to mother your children and be the woman behind every successful man pointed me to a yes.

As Ruby and I became better acquainted friends, I realised that the similar humanitarian values we shared coupled with our deep spiritual realisations were incredibly alike.I started admiring Ruby’s characteristics and found myself able to trust her with my most innate and personal feelings. Our relationship transgressed three years later on from meeting Ruby to the point whereby we became more than friends, formulating in the union of two kindred spirits. We started loving the same things such as going to the theatres or Ruby dragging me along to Rihanna‘s concert because according to her I am her boyfriend who else is she meant to go with. To enjoying the moments with Ruby that we shared watching and discussing the far fetched reality T.V shows that Ruby got me into. As Ruby and I enjoyed travelling not just abroad, but discovering other parts of the country I think was ultimately what sealed our friendship as we would spend hours talking on the motorway about the future and what we pray it beholds for us.

We had ultimately started seeing the future as one, although the journey only became official on 08.08.15, the journey has been a long story that unfolds into the blessed union you see today. Ruby’s moral beauty always told me that Ruby was a girl you could take home to meet the parents. As time went on, it got to the stage I would remember my grandmother’s prayers for me. Ruby would always make sure that I was OK and she would make an effort in trying to know and get acquainted with all my family.

She is also very family friendly and she would extend herself to all her family and everybody, this trait I also deemed important.

Her kindness and support for all her family and friends would emanate the darkest of glooms. I knew therefore that I had to make Ruby my wife and Thanks be to the glory of God she said “Yes” when I asked her to marry me.

Oladipo Omiyale

P.S
Mrs Ruby Omiyale, as we reach this new milestone in our journey I decree the blood of Jesus over our union, our friendship, and our marriage. Mark 10:9 promises that “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder”. I pray for good health and long life for us and our new family. God will give me the strength to provide for and look after you. With all my heart I give my Love to you Ruby…

Yours, Dipo.

***

Wedding Video by Special Functions Media

White Wedding at Grosvenor House Hotel in London Photos: Alakija Studios
Video: Special Functions Media

Wedding Attire
Bride’s Dress: Kosibah
Groom’s Suit: Morts & More
Bride’s Makeup: Toni Kemi
Bride’s Hair: AVOS Hair
Bridesmaids’ Makeup: Beauty Boudoir
Bridesmaids’ Hair: Deborah Lola
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Berry_Haute

Vendors
Wedding Planners & Event Design: Just As Planned
Venue: Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel
Church: St Paul’s Knightsbridge
Flowers: Your London Florist
Decor: Dream Occasions
Production: Kudos
Caterer: Sapna Catering
Cake: GC Couture
MC: Wale Gates
Stationary & Wedding Art: Maestro Creativity
DJ: DJ Unbeetable