When Alison got her first job working in the London department store T. M. Lewis, she was just excited to get her first paycheck. She had no idea she’d meet the love of her life, Akin.
They soon became inseparable, and Akin would eventually propose to Alison in front of her family during a surprise dinner for her birthday.
Their spring wedding featured a gorgeous church ceremony and a stunning, ballroom reception full of chic blue and white decor which perfectly matched the blue, white, and grey attire of their bridesmaids and groomsmen! And, they made sure to represent their Caribbean and Nigerian cultures in their attire, food, and music selections.
Keep scrolling to see all of the beautiful details.
- Couple: Alison Labadie & Akinwunmi Ajose-Adeogun
- Occupations: Football club event team manager (Akin)/ Underground train driver (Alison)
- Wedding date: 4/8/2018
- Wedding location: London
How did you meet?
We met at work. It was love at first sight. It was the first job I (Alison) had. I was working in the lady depart of T. M. Lewis and Akin was working in the suit department.
Tell us about the proposal.
It happened on my (Alison’s) birthday. Akin asked me out for dinner. I thought there would be only two of us. But when we arrived, I found that my whole family was there! There are a few of Akin’s family members as well. I thought it was a big surprise already. During dessert, he interrupted and made a speech. I was not very happy because I wanted to finish my dessert, but… he suddenly dropped down on one knee during the speech. I didn’t know he organized this proposal with some of his family members and my sister! There were 30 family members there and he did it in 3 days. I know his job is related to event planning, so it is easy for him, but I still felt very proud. And of course, I said yes!
Describe your wedding style.
Dress – I had 3 dresses, a white traditional princess dress with a sweetheart neckline, and a long veil. For the evening, I changed into Nigerian attire. Then for the after-party, I was in a figure-hugging fishtail dress
Suit – Charles Tyrwhitt suit with waist coat and a pair of vintage frame glasses
What was the wedding shopping experience like for you?
It was exciting. I went to at least 3-4 wedding shows. Twice with my husband and twice with a sister, but I couldn’t find the dress. I ended up finding the dress in a small boutique in Ongar, Essex. Before that, I have also searched in a lot of wedding dress shops. I enjoyed the whole preparation experience for finding ‘the one’ with my maid of honor and bridesmaid. For Akin, he also looked at 4-5 different shops for his suit. He is very particular as he worked in the suit department before.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
Yes, we changed into Nigerian attire. We have also asked the DJ to play Nigerian and Caribbean music. We chose Nigerian and Caribbean fusion food for the menu as well.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
Everything! Especially walking into the church with my dad.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Akin: Don’t splash too much money.
Alison: Always to see as many options as possible. Try to do exactly what you want to do instead of trying to please family members. Try to avoid arguments by telling your family in advance you want to do it in your way.
Vendors
- Photography: The Snapshot Cafe
- Ceremony Location: Hanwell Methodist Church
- Reception Venue: Fairway Pavilion Banqueting Hall
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