Facebook chat sparked their love

Ben Rop signs the certificate of marriage as Stella Riunga, his wife looks on. Courtesy photo 

When and how did you meet?
Rop: I saw her picture on Facebook and I instantly fell for her smile and decided to inbox. I was surprised when she responded and from there on our relationship started.
Stella: On Facebook! This was on March 26, 2009. He sent me a message and I responded.

So, when did the two of you eventually become close?
Rop: I asked her out and we started dating the same year.

How was the proposal? When was it and how did you react?
Stella: He took me for lunch at Sopa Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park on June 27, 2015. I had my suspicions that he was going to propose that day but he cleverly threw me so off track that I concluded it was an ordinary date.
After lunch we were idly looking at the lake when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, then a waiter (who had been lying in wait all along) jumped out with a camera and started taking photos! I was so surprised I forgot to say ‘yes’.
Rop: Stella is hard to surprise and I had to be creative with the proposal.

What attracted you to each other?
Rop: Her beautiful smile, hearty laughter, her intelligence and passion for books, and her genuine care and concern.
Stella: His calm, composed nature, his kindness, gentleness and love for God. He is also 100 per cent loyal and very handsome!

What was your budget and how did you raise the funds?
Stella: Our budget was Ksh 700,000 (approximately Shs 25m). We combined our savings and raised the rest from family and friends.

What was the most expensive item?
Stella: Definitely the tents and décor. I had no idea tents were so expensive. The tents alone cost Ksh 13,000 (approx. Shs435,500).

Did you involve a wedding planner?
Stella: No, we did not. We formed a planning committee composed of our close friends. Each member was in charge of a task, which is how we got things done.

What were you doing on the eve of your wedding?
Rop: I spent the day with my best man shopping for shoes and bowties for the groomsmen. In the evening, I was at a friend’s place with my groomsmen. We were just talking and hanging out as we awaited the big day.
Stella: I was busy getting my hair and nails done during the day. Then in the evening I was at my parents’ home with my bridesmaids and a few relatives, mostly chatting and relaxing.

Were you disappointed in any way during the wedding?
Stella: Yes, I did not like how the food tent looked. I also thought the inner lining of the high table tent looked funny.
Rop: I arrived early at the venue and was disappointed that the set up was still going on. I must admit though that they did a good job with the set up.

Where was the reception?
Stella: It was a garden wedding so the reception was at the same place as the service. It was at the grounds of Marist University College, Karen. We decided on a garden wedding because, weather-wise, it was a good month (February) to be outdoors and it was the kind of wedding we’d always imagined we would have.

What did you enjoy the most?
Stella: The church service. Our bridal team looked fantastic, as did the set-up. The exchange of vows and rings made the day real for me. I also enjoyed the cake-cutting part of the reception.
Rop: The church programme ran smoothly and I enjoyed the dance we did before our first kiss. I also enjoyed the food at the reception.

What was going through your mind during the wedding ceremony?
Rop: Stella looked so beautiful; I couldn’t believe I was the lucky man marrying her!
Stella: “Is this real or am I in a dream?”

Did you go for premarital counselling ?
Stella: Yes we did, for 10 weeks as required by our church (Nairobi Chapel). We had several married couples talk to us on various topics- finances, sex, children, in-laws, dealing with conflict, and so on. I think the main thing I learnt was that your spouse comes first in marriage.
Rop: I learnt that communication is very important in marriage.

How many guests did you invite?
Rop: We invited 450. I think 500 or slightly more turned up.

Did you have any debts after the wedding?
A few, but nothing crippling. We were able to pay off what we owed in the first few weeks after the wedding.