We exchanged vows on Fool’s Day

THE LOVEBIRDS. Obedi and Racheal share a moment after exchanging vows. COURTESY PHOTOS.

April 1st is fool’s day, why did you settle for it as your wedding date?
Obedi: The fact is that we failed to get a free day and other days that would have suited were booked for family functions. We realised that April 1, was the only available date. None of us thought of it as Fool’s Day. This was quite challenging that most of the people we approached mistook it for a joke.

How did you manage to convince people about the truth?
Obedi: It so happened that everyone thought we were telling lies. Different people came up with different stories but we stood to redefine and make Fool’s Day memorable. It is always going to be our anniversary.
Racheal: Sincerely, I had not thought about it as Fool’s Day not until people started talking about it. No matter what some friends said, we stood by our decision.

Tell us about how the two you met?
Obedi: I met Racheal at church in 2012. She was new but since she sat next to me most of the time, it was easy to always talk to each other.
We started praying together and later became friends. I later realised that we had some things in common which prompted me to get closer to her. We started attending music shows among other social things together. We started dating in 2015 and I proposed marriage in September 2016.
Racheal: We met at God’s Centre of Blessings Church in Bweyogerere. I had occupied his seat and when he came, he asked me why I had sat in a place meant to be for elders. Obedi did not chase me but he instead sat next to me until the end of the service. We started chatting whenever we went to church until when he introduced me to some of the church members and the worship team that I later joined. Then, we exchanged phone contacts which eased the communication. He is nice.

How did you propose to her?
Obedi: When she visited me one day, I shared my future plans with her. I asked her if she could be my wife. She asked for time to think through it.

How did you react to his proposal?
Racheal: Since we were good friends, it was okay with me. I liked his ways. It actually took me a week to respond with a lot of excitement.
Obedi: (interjects). I was worried about what her answer would be. After her consent, we went ahead and shared our intentions with close friends and family.

Where was the wedding and who officiated it?
Obedi: We wedded at Kampala Baptist Church and Pastor Andrew Mwenge presided over the ceremony.

How did you draw your guest list?
Obedi: Originally, we had a list of 200 guests but we planned for about 500 but the number exceeded.

What was the decoration like?
Obedi: We aimed at having an African touch in everything we did. We identified a service provider who charged Shs4m.

What was the theme colour?
Racheal: Purple and yellow because they blend and look vibrant.

What was the most interesting thing on your wedding?
Obedi: I was happy seeing people cheering us and the reception decoration was beautiful.
Racheal: When my father was walking me to the altar and the time Obedi was putting a ring on my finger. Both scenarios made me feel happy and loved.

Who comprised your entourage?
Racheal: I had four girls, three of whom were my sisters- in- law, and a friend. They were of the same size with almost the same colour complexion.

How did you choose your maid of honor?
Racheal: Initially, I had chosen my close friend Patience Luyonjo but later changed to Ruth Najjuuko, because Patience was expecting and her due date was very close. She however signed as a witness.

How much did your suit cost?
Obedi: I settled for a black tuxedo which was inspired by an internet photo. I gave the photo to the tailor who made it at Shs400,000. It was cheaper yet made from good material.

Who was your best man and how many groomsmen did you have?
Obedi: My long-time friend Stephen Luyonjo. I had four groomsmen; my brother and three friends. I focused on their body type; colour complexion, size and height.

What were some of your fears?
Obedi: Being Fool’s Day, I feared that few people would turn up. Also, the fact that we had an outdoor wedding, I was scared of the rain disorganising us.
Racheal: I was scared about the turn up too.

Do you recall any disappointment?
Obedi: The music, the DJ did not follow my play list.
Racheal: It was a bright and enjoyable day not until somebody disappeared with my wallet from the changing room yet it had my credentials and money.

What challenged you most during the preparation and how did you overcome it?
Obedi: Mobilising and convincing people about the day we had settled for and collecting funds put us on pressure. However, we came up with a list of friends who we thought would support and indeed they did not disappoint.
Racheal: The only challenge was looking for money to pay for different things such as the gown, salon among other services. I thank God that all my friends and family members came on board to help.

Where did you go for honeymoon?
Obedi: Ssese Island Beach Hotel in Kalangala for a week. I enjoyed being with my wife. I loved the forest walks, we visited the animals there and made different tours to nearby places, we had fun.
Racheal: I felt relaxed after running around. While there, I enjoyed swimming, hearing water waves, the food, we went mountain climbing and canoeing.

How did you plan for honeymoon?
Obedi: It is a friend who works with one of the tour and travel companies that told me about the offer at that specific hotel after sharing my honeymoon plans with him. It cost us about Shs800,000.

What is your advice to those wedding soon?
Obedi: Be transparent about your finical stability to avoid stress and always plan together depending on your expectations.
Let the other key stakeholders know of your plans and the steps you are taking to achieve them. Know what you want, plan early and act fast. Plan for days after the wedding, because there is a life after wedding (do not be extravagant).
Racheal: List all the things you might need to have on your wedding. Pray about it and inform all your friends and never put your man on pressure.
Do not go for what you cannot afford. Research before settling for anything.

If you were to rewed, what would be your centre of focus?
Obedi: I would reverse and follow the initial guest list and may be have a longer honeymoon period.
Racheal: It would be my changing dress, I would invest more in it so that I look so different.

Have you benefitted from the premarital counsel?
Obedi: I was told to be patient with my wife since she is not an angel. Say sorry whenever I’m wrong and never to go bed angry to avoid chaos. These are helping me move forward happily.
Racheal: Open communication is good, I never yell at my husband I respect him and his people. We always pray for our marriage.