Martha was worried about wedding night

When and how did you meet?
Richard: I met Martha in 2015 at Musaale Church. I had gone for prayers and I saw a beautiful lady coming in she was wearing a beautiful smile and that prompted me to reach out to her and say hello, from that day I started observing her. Martha’s steady and optimistic lifestyle attracted my attention and prompted me to get closer.
Martha: On meeting Richard, he welcomed me with a smile and a hug. I was happy and from that day we became friends.

How did you get close?
Richard: I remember sharing with her Eagle Principles, one of my favourite sermons I have ever preached. Little did I know that these principles tickled her and changed her perspective of life. She was in her final year at Livingstone International University, pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministry, the same course I was pursuing at University of Christian Life World Mission Frontiers gave us a common ground to blend and get as close as possible.

Did you tell her why you were introducing her to your family?
Richard: Yeah! After launching my manifesto, of course the first response was a ‘No’. I interpreted it as ‘next opportunity’. So I gave her time and space. And finally, the No turned out ‘Let’s go for it’. My mother was ecstatic when I told her about the news. She could not wait to meet her daughter-in-law to be.

When did he propose?
Martha: After sharing deep stuff about each other’s life experience, he proposed to marry me. I did not say yes immediately. It took me sometime to respond to his proposal. Nevertheless, his personality moved me. Above all I considered the quality of his personal relationship with God which inspired me a lot and he won me over.
What is that one thing you love about each other?
Richard: Our difference in personality. I’m a sanguine and Martha is phlegmatic. I’m naturally receptive and external impressions simply find their way to my heart. On the other hand, life for her is one happy, pleasant experience after another, which is why she avoids conflicts with others as much as possible. She is the type who rarely expresses anger or laughs until she cries.
Martha: The fact that Richard is a teacher in all aspects of life and I love learning every day. His wide scope of knowledge about the Bible inspires me. He loves serving the Lord, he fears God, he is a man of faith, he cares, and he is genuine. He has an endless repertoire of interesting stories which makes him fun to be around in social gatherings and better still at home.
What was your budget and how did you raise the funds?
Richard: About Shs9.5m through contributions from friends, churches, organisations and of course from our savings.

Did you involve a wedding planner?
Richard: Yes, a wonderful wedding committee all from Musaale Church family. We were the architects and the committee was the masions.

How was your wedding like?
Martha: With no doubt, I can boldly say we had a first-class wedding ceremony. It was one of the unique weddings in history. First and foremost, it was the first wedding in the life of our church, secondly, it was the first wedding in the history of City Victory Church (Church where the wedding took place) that kept time and had part of our Church wedding fee refunded. We also had our own composed song presentation as a speech to our guests.

How did you come up with the guest list?
Richard: We had no guest list, we gave few invitations to some people but many came but still we managed to target our number.
Martha: We considered our immediate relatives, our church members and the band team, plus friends.

Are there things that did not go as per the plan?
Richard: Yes, we had planned to have the wedding conducted at Musaale Church at Mbale Resort since we are nationally registered and legalised. But because we did not own a church facility, we were to hire a lawyer and a government elite personnel to gazette the hotel before we could be allowed to, which was so costly.
Martha: Yes, my dream reception initially was either Mbale Resort Crane Hall or Resort Terrace Gardens. The odds did not work in our favour and we ended up in Annex Gardens due to financial constraints.
Did you go for premarital counselling and what did you learn from it?
Richard: Yes, Pastor Peter Wamono counselled us. I learnt how to grow our family spiritually, to encourage our children (if God grants them to us) to respect and love God, my role in the home what to do and what not to do as a Christian. We should be supportive of each other through thick and thin
Martha: we learnt how to be submissive to my husband and love and respect him no matter his financial status, or even when we are to make any decision, we also learnt to sieve among friends and it’s not up to us the women to send away our hubby’s friends but suggest and let him do it himself. Learn each other as well as compromise and adjust in some situations.

Did you borrow from anyone to finance the wedding?
Richard: That was the last thing I ever thought of doing. When things toughened, I was almost tempted to borrow some money from my office but my wife talked me out of it and told me to trust God. It definitely worked out.

What part of the wedding did you enjoy most?
Richard: I enjoyed the Church celebration. I could not wait to see my dream of exchanging vows and walking down the aisle with my wife come to pass. I had been looking forward to it.
Martha: The church ceremony and photography at the hotel gardens.

What was on your mind during the wedding?
Richard: I could not believe we were married we had a lot of ups and downs and there was a time it seemed impossible but we made it. My heart was applauding God for His grace.
Martha: I was happy, at the same time worried about the wedding night.

Your advice to those planning marriage…
Richard: You must decide if you are going to rob the world or bless it with the rich, valuable, potent, untapped resources locked away within you. People generally fall into one of three groups: the few who make things happen, the many who watch things happen, and the overwhelming majorities who have no notion of what happens.
Every person is either a creator of fact or a creature of circumstance. You either put colour into your environment, or, like a chameleon, take colour from your environment. Discuss with your partner and know what you have and what you want. Document your vision on paper and devise ways of how to make it real. The blue print is: decision, determine and destiny.
Martha: All the single ladies should be patient their right man is on the way and ask God to bring them the right man who will make them happy.

THE DETAILS
Rings
The couple sent a friend to buy for them yellow gold rings from the US. This is because they wanted more genuine and quality rings.

colour theme
Purple which stands for royalty and the couple considers themselves a royal brotherhood while yellow stands for happiness which is like the sunshine of the heart.

cake
This 10-tier cake was baked by the couple’s friend. The purple ribbons on the base looked yummy and perfect for the day.

The deal
Dates: November 12, 2016.
Groom: Richard Muwanguzi
Bride: Martha T. Nakatudde.
Best man: Nelson Muhwezi
Matron: Edith Nambafu
Venue: City Victory Church, Mbale
Guest number: 400
Budget: 9.6m
Reception: Mbale Resort Hotel