We had more guests than budgeted for

Nelson Agaba and Rachael Tusiime, said I do at St Luke Ntinda Church of Uganda on July 23. Courtesy Photo

What you need to know:

  • FROM NOW ON. Nelson Agaba, a technician at Ecolab East Africa Limited, and Rachael Tusiime, a businesswoman, said I do at St Luke Ntinda Church of Uganda on July 23. They told ZUURAH KARUNGI their story.

How did you meet?
Rachael: We met in high school at Nyakasura School and he was a few classes ahead of me. By then, the relationship between us was student to student.
Nelson: It was in 2007 but we did not fall in love then. We later got in touch on Facebook in late 2014, then exchanged contacts.

And when did you get close?
Rachael: At my sister’s graduation, January 2015.
Nelson: Despite the fact that we were communicating on Facebook, we were not that close until then.

What attracted you to each other?
Rachael: He is handsome, courageous, he knows what he wants, shows he loves me sincerely and above all he is God fearing.
Nelson: Racheal is beautiful and as we got closer, I liked the inner her, she has the character traits of the wife I dreamt of.

Did he propose to you?
Rachael: Sure, he did several times while I turned him down but he is someone who sticks to his word, I eventually accepted his proposal in January 2016.

How did you feel?
Rachael: I was really happy, a wedding is every woman’s dream it is a sign of respect by a husband before men and God.

For how long did you date?
Rachael: One year and a half.

Who was the maid of honour?
Rachael: Brenda Arinaitwe Asiimwe, she is my elder sister and a good friend.

Who was your best man?
Nelson: Edson Asiimwe, he is my spouse’s brother-in-law, therefore brother and a friend.

When did you come up with a wedding date?
Rachael: January 2016 when I was in my last semester at the university, we wanted it after my final exams.

What was your budget?
Rachael: Our proposed budget was Shs22m but we adjusted accordingly. We raised funds through pledges that were collected in several meetings by friends, family and well-wishers.
Nelson: We revised it to Shs15m which I raised from my savings, friends, and my dad also contributed.

Where did you shop for the rings?
Rachael: We bought them from Star Jewellers on Luwum Street.
Nelson: They are made of silver and each cost Shs100, 000.

How much did your suit cost?
Nelson: I bought it at Shs170, 000 from Mr Jeans at Avemar Mall.

Did you involve a wedding planner?
Nelson: No, there was no need for one because our friends and relatives could do everything.

What were you doing on your wedding eve?
Rachael: I took a rest in the morning, went to the salon in the afternoon for hair and facial treatment. Later on, I had to go for rehearsals at church at 5pm and thereafter I went to my aunt’s place where I spent a night until the wedding day
Nelson: I first went shopping in the morning, then to church for rehearsal, I later had the last wedding meeting in the evening with the organising committee and I ended the day in the salon.

Were you disappointed in any way during the function?
Rachael: No.

What did you enjoy most on that day?
Rachael: I enjoyed exchanging vows. I felt like I was a new being.
Nelson: I was imagining what life would be like living as a couple.

What would you change if given a chance to redo your wedding?
Rachael: I would change the venue to fulfill my spouse’s dream, his dream was to have a venue on a ship though it happened to be quite costly.
Nelson: The venue.

Where did you buy the wedding gown and maids dresses?
Rachael: I got my wedding gown from devine bridals at Avemar Shopping Mall, it cost me Shs700, 000. A tailor in kiyembe downtown Kampala made the maid’s dresses each at Shs150, 000.

Where did you have the church function?
Rachael: St Luke Church of Uganda, Ntinda and the reception at Youth Sharing Hall Nsambya.

What went through your mind during the ceremony?
Rachael: I was asking myself the kind of man my husband would be, he looked so courageous, everything was beautiful and he made me the most proud bride in the world.
Nelson: A lot, but I was so worried about the number of guests, they were much more than we planned for.

Did you go for premarital counselling and what did you learn from it?
Rachael: Yes, I learnt a lot of things such as sharing responsibilities, child upbringing, our differences and how we can live happily with them.
Nelson: We were different people going to stay together and how to get along.

What is your advice to those planning on wedding?
Rachael: Marriage is beautiful, they should not get scared of it, once you are with the right person, do not hesitate to face it, you will never regret.
Nelson: It is all about getting the right partner. It is never about the budget. Plan with what you can raise. I made a very good Shs15m wedding that someone may not make with more than that.

What are some of the challenges you encountered?
Rachael: Majorly it was on finances but otherwise almost everything went on smoothly.
Nelson: Money, I struggled a lot to raise the money. Then, I had a very short time to plan for the wedding since we had it a week after the introduction.

How many guests did you have?
Rachael: Ohhh God! They were more than 600 guests but we had budgeted for 300.
Nelson: We had close to 600 guests. The budget was not more than 400, by God’s grace, we managed to cater for all of them.

THE DETAILS

Colour theme
Red and white. Rachael chose red because it is bright and Nelson loves green. Since the reception was indoors, they had to opt for a brighter colour and white signified purity.

Officiants
Bishop Geoffrey Rwubusisi is a family friend who speaks both Runyakitara and Kinyarwanda which favoured the couple’s guests.

Food
The couple says the most expensive item was food and they had to pay a service provider to deliver it. It cost them Shs 5m. It was enough for the guests, factoring in the excess that came in.

Cake
The snow-white vanilla cake which was baked by Rose, Nelson’s friend befitted the wedding because it was big enough and the couple ensured to serve every one of their guests. It cost them Shs 1m.

The deal
Date: July 23, 2016
Groom: Nelson Agaba
Bride: Racheal Tusiime
Officiant: Bishop Geoffrey Rwubusisi
Church: St Luke Ntinda Church of Uganda
Reception: Youth Sharing Hall, Nsambya
Theme colour: Red and white
Honeymoon:
Budget: Shs15m
Guests: 500
Honeymoon: Speke Resort Munyonyo