A spiced walk down the aisle

                                               Photo credit: Candid Press

It was in Nsukka, Enugu state. Saint Teresa's Catholic Cathedral saw the gathering of people, faces wreathed in overt expectancy, waiting to see Ebere and Amechi - hands tied - walk down the aisle, all the way to the altar.  It was a moment long anticipated, and today we are here attesting to God's amazing grace. It was a sea of heads in the church, people gorgeously dressed, bearing witness to the only mathematical equation that proves 1+1 is 1 not 2. Today, Ebere joins Amechi in holy matrimony. God is alright.

The bride appeared in flowing immaculate, glowing wedding dress. It was something that - to a large extent - describes her person; too perfect it concealed her cleavages, something that opposes everyday occurrence at wedding ceremonies where boobs drooped, thrusting out in persistent hurry to escape. But Ebere, is different: beauty so clean and pure. She has an air of someone who knows what to expect in a home, whose expectations are much at distance with familiarity with kitchen...and "the other room". The groom? Sufficiently smart. And everybody loved him, moving with such elegance gait and absolute ebullience, legs slicing through the air in moderated succession. He was a perfect man, better than the Best man, any man.

 Besides the witnessing congregation, the couple attracted the audience and presence of six catholic priests. And that evidently is a lucid testimony of their relationship and activity in the church of God. I was awed when the Rev. Fr. presented them with a copy of Pope Francis' autograph - a sign of the pontifical authorisation and blessing of the union. This is rare, and for me, it's a big deal. God is alright.

Tears at the Altar!

The wedding was peculiar in many ways; it wasn't just cheers and felicities. There were tears too; pendant tears pressing hastily, rolling down the cheeks of the bride, creating visible pathways on a face perfectly made-up in expensive cosmetics. But why the tears? It was just to make a 'simple' and regular vow of "I....take you....as my lovely wedded husband, to love you for better... and the bride went through a surge of irresistible emotion. And some thought it was eerie, creepy; and it caused silent whispers among congregants. Somewhere in my mind, there were two reasons Ebere let out those emotive tears, (1) she has supposedly loved the groom, more than any of us, including the priest, could imagine. She has since surrendered herself, like a piece of gold to the blacksmith, and said, "take, am all yours". And here is the priest asking her to make a vow out of a promise she had made long before now and (2) it seemed like the eternity she waited for finally arrived, and it was too magical to be true. And somewhere in her head she squeaks, "yes, I am yours, my adorable husband", and her voice even conjured a plenitude of possibilities, something she could not believe. And tears was the only means of adequate expression.

Most times, we are told to square up against hysteric moments .Men don't cry anyhow. No. You have to be a man! But the groom was not. The idea of watching his beloved spouse's face marked in slow-moving, blubs of crushing tears was too heavy. He let out the tears too. And seeing he's was even more heartrending. It was the summit of it everything that peppered that seemingly contrived, unprecedented moment.

Amechi and Ebere has been officially pronounced husband and wife. The union has begun, and one hopes it consolidates on this platform of unrestrained love.

The holy book holds the institution of marriage to an unquestionable reverence: "he who finds a wife finds a good thing..." Amechi..., obviously has not just found a good thing. He found the best thing. It is not difficult to see.

The Glitz and Glamours

                                      (...the joys)

Jerry Mariot Hotel is an ideal spot. It is safe place fit for the moniker, "come, dance away your tears"; an incredibly luxurious haven, colourful hall adorned in light that reminds you heaven must be amazing. It is perfect place for the glamourous. And Amechi and Ebere obliged us that privilege and yours faithfully moved around, like the son of someone who travels to America to treat cold and catarrh. But I made good use of the opportunity to enjoy myself anyway, taking images of dazzling personalities like you, amidst clattering spoons, and glasses, and all the razzmatazz that spiced the occasion into a real treat.

Yes it was. But can we have the wedding again? No, we can't. You missed, and that's a big deal. And we are not sorry. Ok, we are.