Life changing car lift

How and when did you meet?
Irene: We first met in 2003 in Fort Portal. None of us had an idea that we will one time be married. We had a professional relationship. I always carried myself around seriously.
Johnson: Our first interaction was way back in 2003 in Fort Portal and I never had an idea that we would ever meet again or even be married.

So, when did the two of you eventually become close?
Irene: We became good friends in 2012 and got closer in 2013. He had visited Jinja for a workshop and he gave me a call. I couldn’t see him that day because I had work commitments. However, the following day, I met him; we had a chat for about an hour. From that time on, we kept in touch almost every day.
Johnson: We had a workshop in Jinja and I requested to meet her. We met the following day and had a refreshing chat. I dropped her off home and proceeded to Kampala. From that day on, I just couldn’t help calling her almost on a daily basis.

Did he propose to you?
Irene: I did not see it coming but he proposed on April 1, 2013. He had taken me out to the beach. On that day, he was unusually jolly, and I kept asking if he was ok. Later in the day, the unexpected question came up. It was definitely a Yes!

What attracted you to each other?
Johnson: She has such a beautiful heart. She is intelligent, hardworking and down to earth.
Irene: He is caring, smart, very hard working, down to earth and humorous.

When did you come up with the wedding date?
Johnson: We came up with the wedding date around June 2014 as we were preparing for the introduction ceremony. We wanted a date that would be convenient for both of us and our families. Also, my young sister was a candidate yet we wanted her to be part of the entourage.

What was your budget and how did you raise the funds?
Irene: We had a budget of Shs45m. We had saved some money for the wedding, and through a network of friends we have made over time, we were able to raise all the funds. We also got support from our employers UCAN and NWSC.

What was the most costly item and where did you buy it from?
Johnson:The most costly item on our budget was food. The service provider for this was Mandela Sports Hotel. However, the high cost was as a result of the big number of guests.

Where did you shop for the rings and what are they made of?
Irene: We made an order for the wedding rings in October 2014. However, they got delivered late November as we approached the wedding date. We ordered for rings made of yellow and white gold.

Did you involve a planner?
Johnson: We did not engage a wedding planner. We did the preparations together with a wedding committee that we had set up. The committee, under the leadership of an able chairman was able to steer everything up to the end.
How did you come up with the guest list?
Irene: We first of all used the list of people that had contributed for our wedding. Then we looked at relatives from both sides and friends we could not afford to miss the function.
All in all we set up the reception area for 500 guests and God overwhelmingly blessed us and the venue was filled to capacity.

What were you doing on your wedding eve?
Johnson: I spent the day mainly doing last minute coordination with service providers and the allocated committee members.
Irene: I was called in at work to finish up some financial issues.
Were you disappointed in any way during the function?
Irene: We were disappointed by the master of ceremonies who never turned up yet we had paid him. However, we got an emergency MC who even turned out much better.
What did you enjoy most on that day?
Irene: My parents sang for us, it was very beautiful and it will always linger in our minds.
Johnson: In addition to my in-laws singing for us a beautiful melody, I also enjoyed the traditional Kikiga dance. I even had to jump out of the high table to join my people in the dance.

What was going through your mind during the ceremony?
Irene: I kept thanking God how the ceremony had turned out and I kept telling me self “it has finally come to pass”.
Johnson: My mind was filled with thanks giving. I will forever be grateful to the Almighty God for making our function so colourful.

Did you go for premarital counselling and what did you learn from it?
Johnson: Yes we did. We got counseling and we learnt the key aspects as the holy bible says, among other things. Love and submission.

What is your advice to those planning on wedding?
Irene: Our advice is that the couple should take charge and where possible, get service providers they have control over.
In addition, having a good organising team is key. Above all, they should trust in God and have faith.

DETAILS
Groom: Johnson Akanyijuka
Bride: Irene Mirembe
Celebrant: Rev. Moses Isabirye, Vicar St Andrews.
Church: St. Andrew’s Church of Uganda, Bukoto, Kampala.
Reception: Kiprotich Hall, Mandela National Stadium.
Photography: Zippy Studios
Guests: 500
Budget:Shs 45 m

A parent’s joy

Irene’s parents sung for their children and this made the wedding very exciting. The couple were amused and appreciate this gesture

Cake
The cake colours blended with the decor and the maids’ outfits. With four tiers, it was more than enough to cater for their guests.

Maids attire
The body-hugging pink dresses with purple shoes and a back collar looked elegant on the maids. They sure made heads turn in those outfits.