Your initial plans factored in a small, intimate wedding. How different was the one you had with the restrictions that came with Covid-19?

Even though our initial plan was for a small wedding, Covid-19 was not in the picture, and our guest list was definitely longer than 15 people. We had planned to wed last year but unfortunately I lost a brother in an accident and we postponed the wedding. Financially, things were tough but thanks to friends and family we were able to raise funds. With the outbreak of the pandemic, our plans were again altered. At first we did mind having an even smaller wedding but with the situation getting worse, it didn't really matter to us even if the restriction lowered the number of attendants to five people.

Why did you decide to go ahead with the wedding?

We had completed all the plans pertaining to the wedding. Since the number of cases of Covid 19 were growing, we realized that it would be better to go ahead as we needed the Sacrament before starting out life together. We had phone conversations with our parents who gave a go-ahead since we had had the traditional wedding in December 2019 and we had received their blessing. We plan to have a celebration later during our anniversary or if the situation in the country improves, later in the year.

How did you choose who to invite?

It wasn't easy making that choice. We have many friends. The majority of our family members were upcountry and couldn’t access Nairobi. In the end, we had two priests presiding over the ceremony. My niece, whom I live with, represented my family while his younger sister represented his family. To add to the guest list, we had the chairlady from our small Christian community, our best couple, the photographer, two choir members and two friends from my Centre, Roshani.

How did you and Charles meet?

It never occurred to me that I would find my husband in a church choir but that is where we met. Charles had been in the choir at St. Catherine of Alexandria, South C. I love singing. I’m a member of the Strathmore University Chaplaincy choir. So when an announcement was made by the choir chairperson requesting parishioners to sign up, I thought it wise to join. He noticed me first but I was busy with work and school so I would hardly stay after choir practice. I’d rush out to study and finish assignments on Sundays; I was a full time employee, had full time classes as well as evening and Saturday classes. He had a busy schedule as his work as an Electronic Engineer demanded his attention, sometimes even on Sundays when he had an ongoing project.

What was your courting period like?

We maximized on the times we met during choir practice and family visits. We also spoke a lot over the phone and chatted on Whatsapp.

What emotions does one go through on their wedding day? Were you nervous as the wedding approached in terms of making a lifelong commitment?

On the day of the wedding we were both excited, happy, and thankful. But yes, I was nervous. I have been independent since after high school. Now here I was, going to live with someone else for life. But this anxiety wasn’t much of a bother as we were both well prepared. We have been through the premarital classes and we’ve got so much from experienced married family members and married friends.

It would be interesting to know how you prayed for your husband before you met him. Did you go for pilgrimages, take part in novenas?

I did many novenas (I even lost count) and quite a number of pilgrimages. I prayed to St. Joseph and St. Josemaria. I also used the prayer card of the Alviras. I had witnessed many of my friends from high school and from college getting married and having families. I was not getting younger and Mr. Right wasn’t coming along. Before meeting Charles, I went for a May pilgrimage with a close friend to Resurrection Gardens in 2017. I joined the choir in July, Charles and I started dating in September of the same year.

What do you look forward to now that you are married?

We enjoy each other's company and look forward to being together and living 'happily ever after'. We are best friends, we hope to learn from each other and make our marriage fulfill our dreams. We hope to pray together and look forward to raising our children as a blessing from God.

CG

The original version of this article appears here on the Strathmore University website.