Celebrate With Us
Come February 20th, all routes lead to Warri, in Delta state where all festivities regarding the ocassion will hold.
Witness the exchange of vows, as together we take the next step on our journey.
25/03/2024
How We Met
Bolade
A chance encounter, and one phone call were the first two ingredients that went in Cupid’s bubbling cauldron.
Beryl
I think Mi Amor is putting it simply hahaha.
Yes, it was a chance encounter of which I was initially reluctant to participate in – I don’t like being matched especially blind matchmaking.
A little back story:
First, I think this should be “How we connect” or “How we got talking” 😉
Anyways, If memory serves me right, I think for me, it started on January 1st 2024.
My church congregation was having a “Singing and Potluck” crossover supper – where we come together, sing some of our favourite hymns and then share a meal. For potluck, everyone who wants to, brings a dish to share. There are usually different dishes from across the globe. I brought my Signature Nigerian Sweet Potatoes Pottage. I digress, my apologies, talking about food gets me excited 😆.
Back to the story, so, the Congregational “Singing and Potluck” – this was December 31st, 2023, it was such a beautiful fellowship. I love singing.
By 11:59pm of the 31st, we started the New Year’s countdown. As soon as we crossed into the New Year, 2024, Mr. Fisayo started calling me “my in-law”, it was a surprise and totally out of the blue. At first, I was confused, what is happening, “why is he calling me, “my in-law”’ (Mr. Fisayo is married to Mi Amor’s eldest sister, Aunty Taiwo).
He kept on calling me “my in-law” whenever he sees me. I also started low key dodging him but he won’t stop – “who told Mr. Fisayo I was single?” I asked myself. Yes, I was single but I wasn’t interested in dating and most importantly, I was very opposed to being matched with anyone. I definitely wasn’t interested in that and to add to the odd, it was going to be a long distance. When I am ready, I will make my own choice. But also, at the back of my mind, I knew that won’t happen for a long time – not because I wasn’t ready to date, far from it. I was simply exhausted from relationship drama and it seems I would never find my match, my person, my own and I have made my peace with that – it took me a while to get to this peaceful state but I was at peace in my heart. I have prayed to God and my spirit was calm. I was actively avoiding any thing that would bring chaos to my calmness.
So when Mr. Fisayo was calling me “my in-law” I did everything to avoid him but he won’t stop to the extent all my friends from church also started noticing and became curious and stated asking questions about this “mystery guy” then he gave barest info; that the guy is his brother in-law and he thinks we will be a good match. Okay. Oya show us his picture, he said “not yet”. I said okay ooh. I knew the odds were very slim I will ever meet this person. This was late January / early February 2024. Long distance relationships can be difficult and stressful. I just returned from Nigeria January 2023 and I had no immediate plans of going back anytime soon. So, slim chance. Mr. Fisayo was also adamant, he was persistent, he kept calling me “my in-law”.
Mid February 2024 came and the company I worked at for over 7 years was finalizing the company’s purchase agreement, they offered some of us buy-out and I took the offer. I needed a break, anyways. I planned to go visit my cousin in Ireland who just had a baby, and then spent considerable amount of time with my parents because they are getting older and in the last 10 years, I had only visited Nigeria twice, this was perfect. My life was planned. There were no plans about the person Mr. Fisayo was trying to connect me with because mostly, I didn’t take him seriously.
Back to “How We Met”
Forward to Monday March 25th, 2024 at about 2:37pm CST when my phone rang interrupting my video call with my parents and sister. I picked out of ‘reluctant curiosity’. It was a FaceTime audio call and a Nigerian number. Most people just message me and if they want to call, it will be a WhatsApp call. I picked, the voice on the other end of the phone was a male voice. He introduced himself (which I didn’t catch because I was a bit distracted and in a hurry to go back to my video call with my parents and sister) then said his brother-in-law gave him my number. I told him I would call him back that I was on another call with my parents.
About an hour later (after the video call with my parents and sister), at 3:40pm CST, I called him back and we spoke for 1 hour and 36 minutes – Yes! I checked. I don’t like talking on the phone. I prefer chatting via text / WhatsApp. To make it even more weird, I don’t know this man, I wasn’t the one who gave him my number, he was a stranger to me but I spoke to him for an hour and 36 minutes. It felt like I had known him forever. We spoke about everything. We had so much in common. After this conversation, I knew I had just met my person.
Okay! Okay!! Okay!!! I take it back, our meeting wasn’t chance, It was preordained. It was arranged by God. I know this because of all the backend stuffs that were happening to pave way.
If he had sent me a WhatsApp message, I most likely wouldn’t have responded. If he had called via WhatsApp, I definitely wouldn’t have picked or returned the call.
I wasn’t interested in a long distance relationship because it would be a while before I could travel. I just returned from Nigeria January 2023 and I had no intention of going back anytime soon and long distance relationships can be exhausting. The company I worked at for over 7 years offered me a buy out option which was totally unexpected. This provided me the opportunity to travel back to Nigeria in July.
The icing on this perfectly delicious encounter was that he was everything I had ever hoped for and I got what I never thought was possible. You know when we pray and then at the end we say “Lord, you know what my heart desires, please do it for me according to your riches in glory”. Mi Amor is my “Riches in Glory” Gift from God.
So, you see why I said he was putting it simply. I wanted you to know all the back stories – I know you like gist like me 🤣. Long episode, I know. I love to write, my people know this about me and encourages it hahaha.
20/04/2024
We Fell In Love
Bolade
A few weeks of magical moments and cathartic conversations, was all it took. Next thing we knew, forever came knocking!
Beryl
During one conversation three days later, I told him, “honestly, I didn’t get your name when you called me on Monday”. He told me his name and I like when my curiosity runs wild. I digitally snoop on him, I wanted to know more, quickly 🤭.
After our first conversation on March 25th, I knew right away that this was my person. But I also did not want to be forward. I also needed to give him time to process and decide if he wanted to keep talking to me. When he called back on March 28th 2024, we picked up without missing a beat. We also had our first video call. My hair was a mess but it was a good call.
We spoke everyday for hours at a time. With every call, I was more intrigued – I wanted to know more.
On April 20th, 2024, he asked me to me his girlfriend and I said yes. We are official now!
It was smooth sailing from there onwards. We worked hard to always communicate and express ourselves. We got to know each other with each passing day. I was certain this is it. My person.
On this same day, he also invited me to his younger sister, Tolu’s wedding that was coming up August 1st and 3rd. At last! we would be meeting face to face, sooner than I thought. After accepting my company’s buy-out offer in February, I had planned to come home to Nigeria second week of August after “Young Adult Weekend” at Church and stay at least 8 to 9 months, spend time with my parents and just take a break. This wedding invite meant we would meet sooner than my initial plan.
On July 31st 2024, we officially met face to face – physically, for the first time. 128 days after the first phone call and 102 days after we officially started dating. He was everything I ever dreamt of and more. He was exactly as he presented himself – no falsehood or pretentiousness.
We continued to get to know each. When Mi Amor speaks, he speaks as though he is certain that this is it for him. I knew this was it for me. In my heart, I already knew where we were headed. We talked about the future and about everything in between.
On the monthly anniversary of the day he officially asked me out – on the 20th, I send him a face card – a selfie which he sets as his wallpaper and sends me a screenshot. This is one ritual I always look forward to.
Even better! On the 20th of February 2025, I will be Traditionally Married to My Person according to the Itsekiri custom, Temotsi. Now, more anniversary / celebration on the 20th.
02/11/2024
We Got Engaged
Bolade
When whirlwind romance makes the transition to eternal love story, there’s no better time to put a ring on it!
Beryl
I arrived in Lagos, Nigeria on July 31st 2024, Mi Amor asked me to marry him and become “His Mrs. Odeniyi”. Of course! I said ‘Yes!’ He is my Person.
For us, this is a case of when you know and are sure, you go for it. I have known from our first actual conversation, the conversation that lasted 1 hour and 36mins.
This is where our forever begins.
On September 13th, he met with my parents.
We made arrangements for both families to meet.
On November 2nd 2024, both families met and were introduced to each other. The purpose of the visit was made clear. They had come to marry from the family – To ask for my hand in marriage and to get the list for the traditional rites / dowry (Temotsi).
We got engaged and now, we are getting married.
I am glad you are joining us to celebrate this magical preordained divine union – either physically, virtually, spiritually (via prayers) or if you have generously gifted us, we are thankful 💜💛💜.
This is our Love Story
Welcome to #BerylAndBoladeLoveStory 💜💛
#BeBo25
#PurpleButterflyAndBolade 💜