#samieobi2016

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@samied_ lets us in on the behind the scenes action with a post on getting ready on her big day! Visit our dedicated wedding section on www.stylevitae.com, Brides & Bows http://www.stylevitae.com/category/brides-bows/ #bridesandbows #stylevitae #weddings #samieobi2016

[stylevitae]

Want your wedding reception to be lit? We've got some great trips for making sure it's turnt on www.stylevitae.com (link to Brides & Bows in bio) #bridesandbows #weddings #weddinginspiration #weddingreception 📷 via @mhorottiweddings #samieobi2016

[stylevitae]

The big day inevitably arrived to much fanfare on Saturday the 23rd January but not without that had to be the most hectic couple weeks  preceding it with fittings, rehearsal, arrival of family from Ghana and the States and lots more.

With two weeks to go we had a vendors meeting. Definitely a must do. All the vendors – caterers, decorator, DJ, lighting etc attend to show things like that they have all the right bits for the table settings, know where they will set up and what the situation is with access to the venue, power sources etc. Essential. It went well as we were able to catch and fix some things (not everything, you’ll just have to just let go of some tuff like the wrong colour napkins…) and generally felt like we had a handle on things. Phew!

The day before my final fitting, a week to the wedding, I spent the day not doing much of anything at the SO’s. It had been a long week and Saturday was going to be super busy with even more wedding stuff. I’ll admit that I was in a bit of a mood so when he encouraged me to go home just to get out for a bit I did wonder if he was trying to get rid of me! I did eventually go that evening and when I got home I decided that was it for the day and I wasn’t going back or out anywhere. I sent him message to that effect and got a call back asking why? Why? Well I wasn’t about to tell him that I was a bit peeved and felt like I had been sent home to get out of his hair so I said I was getting my stuff together and a couple hours after the call later I was headed back.

I lugged my stuff upstairs and unlocked the door which opened to a dark room with balloons, music and glowsticks! It was my bridal shower and they had definitely surprised the hell out of me!

Hours of dancing, laughing, eating and drinking with my bridesmaids and friends ensued and I had a great time. Even dropping and cracking the screen of my iPhone my phone while taking a reclining-on-the-couch-post-dance-off selfie couldn’t put a damper on things. Thanks ladies!!

Cuatomised mugs with our baby mugs on!

  Saturday morning found us all a bit sleep deprived but in the best way. Mimosa in hand, the first stop was Lewa Studios to have my hair trial. That out of the way it was time to try on my dress. it fit  perfectly and like I said I definitely had a moment. next stop was Moofa for the bridesmaids and MOH’s fitting and

On Monday I reported to Barazahi for a hammer bath and a mani pedi so i’d only need a polish change the day before The Big Day It was my first ham and I have literally never felt cleaner! I found all the scrubbing and slough very therapeutic and was definitely in a blissful haze after. The mani pedi was perfect for a little more me time and then I was ready to care the week. A tip – please schedule time for yourself! Make appointments for your treatments and set aside some downtime or you’ll find yourself suddenly without enough time or energy to take it all in.

Barazahi hammam reception room

Blissed out

  I’m glad I had my little spa retreat because it was another long week with more family arriving, last fittings and alterations, firming up last minute details and then rehearsal at chiurch early Friday morning.

After a very clear warning from the sacristy to be on time for rehearsal or we wouldn’t be attended to, we were up and out early to beat the traffic and arrived in plenty of time. the boys were a little worse for wear after his stag do the night before but we all made it.

We were shown where we’d all sit and stand, answered questions about my dress and the bridesmaids to make sure they were suitable, admonished to be on time the next moorage and so on. It was a little odd going through the marriage rites and I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing but I guess better I got it out of my system!

After rehearsal we had a couple errands to run and then time for a quick bite. The wedding party re-assembeld at Casper & Gambini’s for a nice little interlude and then we were all off in different directions again.

  After refuelling, was time to be getting my nails done and hair prepped so I headed off to Lewa with my sisters and shipped the SO off to Barazahi for a little pampering and their ginger tea.

Hair clean and prepped I dithered for a bit on what colour for my nails but settled on Vane Polish in Pretty Posh for a contemporary touch. I’ll tell you that I was very much looking forward to getting my wedding band!

  Back home I had to lie down. Not for long but I was tired! I hadn’t been getting quite enough sleep and the days were much busier than ideal but now we were just hours away. The house was fairly calm despite being full of people and with gift bags waiting to be stuffed and anticipation had me going around in circles. I finally climbed into bed at about 10 and after a champagne nightcap with my cousin who’d just arrived from PH for the wedding I managed to drop off about 12. It felt like I barely slept, as I kept waking up every couple hours and then it seems like all of a sudden my alarm went off.

My prayers that morning were an excited jumble of thanks for making it thus far and pleas for all to go well and then it was time to get the show on the road.

Debola Falana arrived to do my hair and makeup and my bridesmaids, co-ordinator Gozie, photographer Nnamdi and video director Mr AK One weren’t far behind.

  I was pretty relaxed and had time for breakfast and a cuppa (in the super cute mugs my sister made for the shower!). Gozie had brought the gift bags/survival kits we’d ordered for the wedding party and I waned to have a look so makeup and hair ready, I had a wander around the house checking on my mom, the bridesmaids and their bags and so on and then all of a sudden it was time to put on the dress!

My mom, sister and godmother helped me into it and Debola handled the veil and I was ready to make my my way down and then out to the car and off to church. Downstairs we had time for some oohing and ahing, a few photos and then off we went!

We got to church early as planned and so I was ensconced in the car to wait for our turn down the aisle. Now, the Catholic church is a stickler for time at weddings, well starting them anyway, and the mass will start without the bride or groom! As it happened although we were there in good time, the wedding before ours ran late and then all of a sudden it was our turn and so I got out of the car which in a wedding dress can be tricky and joined my stepdad at the door in record time and then before I could think about being rushed too much I was walking down the aisle towards my groom.

I’d been nervous about having so many people watching my every move but in that moment I wasn’t really thinking about all that. Thanks to the rehearsal we had a pretty idea when to sit, stand, kneel not to mention prompts from a warden and altar boy. Once we were together and mass got going it was pretty relaxed and yes, I couldn’t stop smiling. I did have a moment when we were facing the pews when I was taken aback by the number of people but it passed and it was all pretty painless. We had a great homily from Fr. Innocent a friend of the SO’s family,  and the mass was celebrated by Fr Paschal, a friend of my family so it was pretty perfect.

We said our I wills, got through the rings bit and signing the register which felt pretty monumental. We were married!

I don’t know if I can quite put into words the mix of excitement, nerves, joy, peace and relief that I felt so I’ll just say it was wonderful.

  And not over yet – time for the party!

          NEW POST: #SamieObi2016 The Big Day The big day inevitably arrived to much fanfare on Saturday the 23rd January but not without that had to be the most hectic couple weeks  preceding it with fittings, rehearsal, arrival of family from Ghana and the States and lots more.