It all started in a matatu

How would you describe each other?
Calvin: She is beautiful, intelligent, a home maker and Ms Fix it.
Amanda: Calvin is good looking, a very collected man, loving and open-minded, so that makes him fun as well. He is my muzungu in a black man’s body.

What made you ask for her number?
Calvin: Her amazing smile.

What was your first impression of him?
Amanda: I thought he was cool, funny and knew how to dress. His conversation made me smile.

What was her reaction when you asked for the number?
Calvin: She is a free spirit because in those few minutes we had talked about her hobbies and had some things in common, such as music, movies, and my Afro hairstyle. So, I guess it was only fair that we had to keep the conversation going even after that brief meeting.

As you related, from that point on, what convinced you that Calvin was a serious man when it came to matters of the heart?
Amanda: I went with my gut feeling really and my gut connected with his genuineness of character and how focused he is on whatever he wants.

At what point did you get serious as a couple, to consider marriage?
Calvin: We also talked about God since she was heading to church that day. We got serious about marriage after cohabiting for a year and a half at my muzigo (rented house). That time was enough for us to know whether we can tolerate each other. We discovered more positive things about us and shared dreams.

When did you give in to him and start dating?
Amanda: About five years after we met, we were really great friends for that time until we took it a notch higher.

Did you expect him to propose to you?
Amanda: Nope, not at all.

When did you make up your mind to propose to her?
Calvin: After I had finished constructing a decent home for us. It was Christmas. We had invited a few friends for lunch at our home. I popped the question before lunch. She had also completed university at the time and I felt we were both ready to take our next step. I knelt down on one knee and asked her if she would marry me. She was very excited and got emotional as she said yes.

What were the plans for the wedding like?
Amanda: They were simple. We wanted something elegant but simple. And those are the lines we planned along; something to create beautiful memories that last.

Calvin: From our traditional wedding, to church wedding all plans, decisions were centred around me and her.

How traditional was your wedding?
Calvin: Her mother is from Zimbabwe, her daddy is a Mukiga and I am a Muganda so we had a setting that captured all that. You may call it an African traditional marriage.

Did you have wedding meetings?
Amanda: No. We just had an organising committee.

Who handled your wedding decorations?
Amanda: Hope’s décor. They kept the setting as natural as possible, just like we wanted. We tied the knot at Waterfront Club Entebbe led by Pastor Joseph Serwadda of Victory Christian Centre.

Who were your bridesmaids, and how did you choose them?
Amanda: My sister and a friend. I choose them because they are of similar build to mine. They are also pretty and fun too.

What did you talk about with your wife as you cruised?
Calvin: We talked about how we had finally sealed it as husband and wife and how grateful we were to God for making it happen, and toasted to life with our friends.

If you had to do it again, what would you do better at your wedding?
Amanda: Not puke on our boat cruise, and dance Maganda better. I think I have done some good practice by now.

Is there anything that disappointed at the wedding?
Calvin: My grooms’ team forgot to carry my changing attire. We realised it when it was too late but that did not stop the fun

How helpful was McKenzie Brian as your best man?
A best man had to be a best friend, someone who understood our love story, our challenges, a person I can always count on. He was very supportive morally and financially.

What role does religion or spirituality play in your marriage?
Calvin: It is one of the core foundations of our relationship. We always pray as a family. We have challenges just like other couples but prayer and love is everything.

How do you feel carrying your first baby?
Amanda: It is an experience of the unknown so I have been open minded to anything but it’s been more fun, especially with the support of my man.

How prepared are you for parenting?
Calvin: I think every stage is a learning experience which doesn’t require a lot of preparation. We are waiting to experience it. Just like marriage, children are a blessing and we believe God has everything sorted.

What experiences have you enjoyed in marriage so far?
Calvin: We are expecting our first child which is the by far the best experience, dating even after marriage, and learning how to manage finances as a family.

What lessons have you learned from the marriage reality?
Amanda: Each couple’s marriage is different, do not copy and paste from another couple, rather, you should forge your own baselines, and most importantly respect and understand each other.

What advice can you share on marriage and fear for commitment?
Calvin: He who finds a wife, finds favour and blessings from God. Marriage is not a prison.

Grooms team
Although it was a beautiful day, the groom’s team forgot to carry Calvin’s changing attire. This did not stop the fun, though.

Engagement
Calvin proposed on Christmas Day before lunch after 5 years of dating. He went down on one knee and she said yes.

Theme
Red, black and white. Red is a colour of love and passion which speaks about us both. The other colours were just to help blend in and bring out a beautiful picture.

What stood out
The pier where the church service happened. It was simply beautiful, and the boat cruise.

Catering
The cake was done by Morning Star Cakes while Elizabeth’s Kitchen handled our catering. The cake cost Shs1.5m.