Wedding wahala

I had been back only two weeks and I was already overwhelmed with the amount of details involved in planning the wedding. The venue, the caterers, décor, my dress…it was all too much. Needless to say, I had gone on Instagram and checked out the list of top wedding planners Onye, my friend, had graciously provided. I narrowed the list down to three and after meetings with all of them, I settled for my favourite. My choice wasn’t based on popularity or cost effectiveness; rather, it was simply based on the temperament of the C.E.O Ada, who I was to work directly with. She was very professional, did not ask me too many questions and was always quick to read my mood.

“Mummy, this was not the plan! How can you have six sets of aso-ebi for one wedding”? My mother had come home to show me yet another fabric for the wedding.

“Ahan Adesewa. Take it easy. The first one is for my sisters, the second one is for my women group in church, the third one is for the members of my women’s society, the fourth one is for your father’s employees, the fifth one is for your brothers and their wives, and this one now is for my best friends. The one your dad and I will wear has not arrived yet,” my mother explained.

I sighed because I didn’t know what to say.
“What is the matter, dear? You don’t like them,’’ she asked very innocently.
“They are beautiful mummy. Thank you,” I said.
Her face lit up and she pulled me into a warm embrace. At least she was happy and so, I let it go. Later that evening, Tunji and I went on a date. It was our first outing alone, since my arrival.
“So, we are finally out on the date you have been harassing me for and you are so quiet,” he said, taking a sip of his long island iced tea.
I laughed.

“We are not even married yet and I feel like an old wife. We haven’t spent time alone since you got back,” I exclaimed.
“You can always come spend the night,” he said and winked at me.
“That’s not the kind of time alone I was referring to, jooh,” I said, tossing my napkin at him. “I mean like going to see a movie, or having dinner, plus you have left all of the wedding planning to me,” I added with a pout.

“I know I haven’t been as involved as I should be, but I promise once I get back from Abuja, I am all yours. By then, the project should have taken off properly and I wouldn’t have to travel as often,” he said. I turned up my nose at him. He laughed.
“I promise, babe,” he said. “You know, you’re always number one and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you’’.
On days like this, I love being his fiancée. I ended up spending the night at his place, as he had asked and it felt good to fall asleep in his arms after so many months apart. His familiar smell reassured me that I wasn’t making a mistake deciding to spend the rest of my life with him.
I helped him pack up for his trip to Abuja the next morning and offered to follow him to the airport, but I had a meeting with the wedding planner and he didn’t want me to be late. I was to go and check out the venue with her.

“I wish you could come with me. I don’t want to have to make all these decisions alone,” I said, as I walked him to the door.
Tunji sighed. He was obviously tired of my constant whining and as much as I try not to be a nag, I just can’t help pointing out certain things.
“Babe, there is nothing much to seeing the venue. There are only about three venues that are big enough for our wedding. Whichever one you settle for, just make sure the hall is big enough for your mother’s guests and mine. You know they are going to invite everyone they know”.
We both laughed.

“But how would I even know, if it would be big enough,” I asked.
“Your mum offered to go with you and you vehemently refused,” he pointed out.
I gave him a warning look.
“Ok…ok tell you what, I’m going to ask Chigozie to go with you, so he can help you make the decision on the hall ok”?
“Who is Chigozie,” I asked.

“The new head of admin in my Lagos office. I told you about him, when I hired him. Anyways, he is a very resourceful guy and I am sure he can help with the venue. In short, while I am away, I am going to ask him to be at your beck and call so you don’t have to do all the running around on your own. I know your friends are at work during the week and can’t join you,” he said.

I hugged him and he kissed me on my forehead and headed out the door.
I had to go home…and do the walk of shame in my clothes from the day before. I took a shower, carelessly threw on an orange shift dress and high-heeled slippers, ran a brush through my hair and dashed out of the house.
I was late for the meeting…very late!

When I walked into the first venue, where Ada and I had agreed to meet, I found her seated in a corner, reading a book. I felt really bad for keeping her waiting for almost two hours.
“I am so sorry Ada. I completely lost track of time,” I said, rushing over to her.
“Oh, its fine Adesewa. Nice to see you again,” Ada said, rising to her feet rather gracefully.
“Can we get started,” I asked.

“Yes, but perhaps we should wait for Chigozie. He came in earlier and told me he was here to inspect the venue with you. I think he stepped outside. Would you like to call him,” she asked.It was nice to know Tunji had kept his promise and sent his staff to inspect the venue with me. Of course, I didn’t have his phone number and so, I decided to go find him myself.

I walked outside and spotted a tall guy standing a few feet away from the exit. His phone was pressed against his ear with one hand, and he had a cigarette in the other hand. I wasn’t sure if he was the right person, but as he was the only person anywhere within the vicinity, I figured he was the one I was trying to find.

His back was turned to me, but as I got closer to him, I began to hear his conversation clearly:
“Can you imagine me coming to inspect a venue on a Monday morning, when I should be at work? All these rich kids are so spoilt. Why can’t the little princess inspect her wedding venue herself,” he was saying into his phone.

Obviously, I had found Chigozie. I cleared my throat to announce my presence. He was startled and turned around.
Lord, he was fineeee! Like Denzel, meet Will Smith, meet Idris Elba, meet RMD kind of fine. He gave me a puzzled look and then I realised I had to say something to him.

“Hi Chigozie, my name is Adesewa Ade-Williams,” I said.
“Oh-Oh,” Chigozie said in response.