I was her frequent client

Christopher and Dorcas after exchanging their vows at St Francis Chapel Makerere. 

In Summary

DOWN THIS ROAD TOGETHER. Christopher Okello, an engineer, and Dorcas Loga, a researcher, met in Senior Six vacation in 2006. What started off as a journey to buying candles at one of the local shops in which Dorcas was an attendant blossomed into a very interesting relationship. Five years later, the two walked down the isle at St Francis Chapel Makerere, writes Pauline Bangirana.

When and how did you meet?
Dorcas: We met in 2006, I was attending to my brother’s shop and he came as a client. He was buying candles.
Christopher: I met her in June, 2006 when I had gone to her shop to buy candles. All the shops that I usually went to were closed and it was hers that was open.

So, when did the two of you eventually become close?
Dorcas: He asked for a pack of candles and I told him a price that he objected to. He apologised and paid the money and he did not quarrel as I expected him to. I thought he was different but I left it at that. After that, he kept coming to the shop and then, we became friends.

Christopher: After the night encounter, I decided to go back to the shop and I started buying petty items every chance I got to shop. Eventually, we became close and I started escorting her to the stage where she would board taxis to her home. When we joined campus, we stayed in touch although ours was not love at first sight. It was gradual.

Did you propose to her?
Christopher: I proposed to her three times and she was not saying yes or no either but I was patient with her because I was in love with her.

When was it and how did you react?
Dorcas: He proposed to me about three times; the first time he proposed, he did not have a ring and I was shocked but I wasn’t saying no or yes. On the second proposal, he gave me a silver ring; I accepted the ring and was excited about it but I think I had not yet fully embraced the whole idea and the third time, he proposed, it was a beautiful gold ring with three stones.

How much was the actual ring?
Christopher: (Laughs) I have never told her the cost of the actual ring but it was quite a lot approximately Shs880, 000.

When did you come up with the wedding date?
Christopher: February, a day after she accepted to marry me. We decided that the following season, we would get married.

What was your budget and how did you raise the funds?
Dorcas: Our budget was Shs24.7m. We compared with friends’ budgets although we knew what we wanted: an outdoor wedding. We received overwhelming support from friends and had more than we needed. We covered the church fees and attire. Friends and family offered the rest and we had a fundraising by the youth at church.

How did you come up with the guest list?
Dorcas: We did not have a guest list; we invited as many people as we could since it was an outdoor celebration.

What were you doing on the eve of your wedding?
Christopher: My friends had organised a surprise kasiki for me so I was partying in the evening.

Were you disappointed in any way?
Christopher: Everything was perfect really. I had a lot of fun and everything (food and drinks) was enough.
Dorcas: The weather was good, we kept time and everything was okay although, when we were leaving, one of the service providers had not been paid and the person in charge was not around. But when we got to the reception, the colour used was a different shade of purple that I had not ordered but when you would look at it, you would not easily notice.

Where did it take place?
Dorcas: St Francis Chapel Makerere and later MTAC in Nakawa.
Why? I pray at St Francis and it is recognised by the state.

Where did you buy her ring from?
Christopher: Both rings cost Shs1.5m from Rio Jewellers on Kampala Road.

What did you enjoy most on that day?
Dorcas: I enjoyed walking down the aisle. People ululated and Chris sang for me. I noticed a familiar voice and when I reached the altar, he came out of the congregation. It was priceless. It was memorable.
Christopher: Seeing the expression on Dorcas’ face when she realised that I was the one who had been singing as she walked down the aisle was priceless to me. That is the song she had wanted to be played as she walked in. When she was putting the ring on my finger she burst out into laughter and I found myself laughing as well.

What was going through your mind during the ceremony?
Dorcas: I liked the song that was played when we were getting in; they played “You raise me up” and it was what I wanted to listen to as I was getting in. Also, seeing many people at our wedding and the gifts we received was simply humbling. It felt honourable
Christopher: The MCs were amazing (they were our friends) we were very active and engaged in the whole wedding; we did not just sit at the high table. We interacted with our guests. One of our friends, Sheeba wrote and performed for us a song- Your Day.