He used to be my customer

When did you meet?
Patrick : I met my Nnalongo in 1988 at Stella- Najjanankubi, Kampala. She was a shop attendant shop. I fell in love with her at first sight but I thought she was married to the shop owner. Later, I learnt that they were not spouses. I quietly followed her movements and the rest is history.
Joyce: I remember Patrick as a frequent customer at my brother’s shop. He was always smiling at me and we developed a friendship.

So, when did you eventually become close?
Patrick: After confirming that she was not married, I invited her to my apartment. She first came to visit me on Christmas in 1988. And, we also used to meet at Rubaga Miracle Centre Cathedral. When the pastor would be preaching my attention would be on Joyce. Oh God! She is adorable.
Joyce : So close? [Laughs], Patrick used to buy me gifts such as dresses, shoes and whenever he could go to his village in Kabale, he used to carry many things for me from Kabale and I started feeling differently about him. I decided to stay with him since he was serious. I was 20 years old and we started having children.

Patrick, did you use a flower to propose?
Patrick: [Laughs], I am not so romantic to that extent, I remember I just told her that we need to have legal marriage in December 2017.
Joyce: He did that on phone but at first I did not believe in him since he first proposed in 2014 and the wedding never took place. He surprised me, he sent some money on my account to start shopping for wedding attire. That is when I realised that wedding was a real deal. My heart skipped a beat, I cried and almost fainted.

How was the proposal?
Patrick: I had proposed in December, 2014 but along the way, I got profitable deals which needed money and therefore, I re-proposed in 2017.We had an introduction ceremony seven years ago at her home village in Bukomansimbi, then I promised her parents that I would wed her in church.

Why took that long time to propose?
Patrick : There were priorities I wanted to first work on such as, educating our children, constructing a good house and setting up income generating businesses, among others. However, wedding was a priority to Joyce, she was always on my neck and the moment of truth finally came.

What attracted you to each other?
Patrick: Joyce is beautiful; she has nice legs and this was the first quality I needed in a woman. She is respectful too.
Joyce: Patrick is handsome, hardworking, God-fearing and reserved.

What was your budget?
Patrick: Shs 90m and I contributed 60 per cent from my savings and 40per cent was raised by friends and our family.

What was the most expensive item?
Patrick: Decor cost Shs 17m by Premier Functions at Fibre Plaza on Luwum Street in Kampala.
Joyce: The gown cost Shs6m from Bridal Collections near Bugema University- Kasese Branch.

Did you involve a wedding planner?
Patrick: No, I had enough time to organise my wedding because I got 60 working days of leave, I had time to move and check the service providers. I worked in conjunction with my daughter Marion Muhindo. She helped us a lot.

What was your wedding eve like?
Patrick: It was a hectic day, putting the final touches to everything, ensuring things went as per plan and budget. We had almost realised our budget and we had paid for most services we needed. At least by wedding day, we had cleared all service providers.
Joyce: My parents had organised for me a party at home in Bukomansimbi, I received gifts, enjoyed food, drinks, and dancing with friends and family.

What was your colour theme?
Patrick: Our daughter knows a lot about fashion and so she chose for me silver, white and navy blue. I liked her choice.
Joyce: Marion chose for me crystal grey and white.

Did you do for premarital counselling?
Patrick: Yes, we had three sessions by Canon Guster Nsereko, the vicar of St John’s CoU, Kijjabwemi. It was a refresher course including the purpose of marriage and how to run a family. I learnt to be tolerant, how to handle conflicts in the family, time management, understanding each other, and getting solutions to the problems in marriage.
Joyce: Learning never stops. I learnt how to manage time, helping each other in marriage and always putting our trust in God.

Where did you shop for your attire?
Patrick: I bought my two suits at Shs 3m from Jolly Collections at Cham Towers in Kampala.

What was the most exciting moment on that day?
Patrick: The church session. I really enjoyed every bit of it.
Joyce: When Patrick was placing the ring on my finger and also arriving at the reception amidst ululations. This felt like a triumphant entry and energising.

Were you disappointed in any?
Patrick : Yes, Premier Function disappointed me. They were responsible for the decoration but they did not do what we paid for yet it was the most expensive item.

Did you think of going for honeymoon as vital?
Patrick: No, but we plan to go to Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale and also visit Kigali-Rwanda.

Who comprised your entourage?
Patrick: I had groomsmen because they are my first three friends in life and more than friends including Josephat Bwambale, Julius Tulyamujuka, a Bank of Uganda manager- Gulu branch and Julius Baluku who represented my brothers. Then the page boys are nephews. I really wanted to involve the family members and close friends.
Joyce: I chose my sister as a matron because she is my best friend and she is married. And for the maids, two of them are my younger sisters and others are friends and relatives.
Did you have any debts after the wedding?
Patrick: [Laughs] Not at all. I am a manager who manages finances. I could not accept this, it would be poor financial planning on my part.

What is your advice to those planning to wed?
Patrick: Be more prepared for the marriage because it is a process which is a life time commitment. A wedding day is just an event. They should also create friends who add value to them, 40 per cent of my budget was covered by friends.
Joyce: They should always live with patience as they put everything in God’s hands.