Bukola and Howard’s love story began on a dating app where Bukola recalls “after a couple of days on the app, I connected with Howard and noticed that he was very good looking…”
Over the next few weeks, their online connection continued to prove that it was time for that first date. One date led to another and it wasn’t long before Bukola and Howard became inseparable. Soon they were discussing marriage, and though Bukola knew a proposal was on the horizon she had no idea when it would occur. Howard created their perfect proposal opportunity in an intimate setting in San Francisco…
Continue reading all about Bukola & Howard’s love story, romantic proposal, and experiences in their modern Nigerian wedding in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Bride & Groom: Bukola & Howard
Occupations: Director of Innovation & Engineering Manager
Wedding Date: 10/26/2019
Wedding Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
How did you meet? Like many couples these days, Howard and I met online using an app called The League. My expectations were low but after a couple of days on the app, I connected with Howard and noticed that he was very good looking and also attended Howard University. We started chatting and went on our first date a couple of weeks later.
Tell us about the proposal. Howard and I had been talking about marriage and we had gone ring shopping together a couple of months earlier so I was expecting a proposal sometime soon but I was completely oblivious on an actual day. We had a pretty busy day planned. We spent the afternoon in Napa with some friends and co-workers and then drove back to San Francisco to attend a friend’s dinner party. I was having a great time and kept putting off Howard’s suggestions that we leave. When we finally got back to his place (at 2 am!), Howard had candles lit, music playing and a gallery wall of photos of us taken throughout our relationship. I was so confused and overwhelmed. It wasn’t until he asked me to sit down that it clicked that this was going to be a proposal. Needless to say, I was incredibly excited and could barely sleep until the morning when we could share the news with friends and family.
What was the wedding shopping experience like for you? Howard and I both have understated styles. Our goal for our wedding day was to look timeless yet modern and to feel special. I chose an Atelier Pronovias gown which I had originally tried on pretty early in my shopping process. After trying on probably 50-60 other dresses afterward, I came back to my gown because I loved the fit and flow of the fabric. I worked with my tailor to add sleeves to the dress to make it more formal and give it a custom touch. Howard found the style of his tuxedo online and worked with a bespoke tailor to create it to his specifications. He also designed a custom lining for his tuxedo. It features three of his favorite Pokemon characters from his childhood.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? My family is Nigerian (of the Yoruba tribe) and quite large. So Yoruba culture was present throughout the entire wedding weekend. The biggest cultural event was our Yoruba traditional marriage ceremony where Howard’s family formally requests my hand in marriage and our two families become one. It was a very special event witnessed by friends and family. Howard’s family have such beautiful hearts and were so gracious and excited to participate in our culture. It was a lot of fun for us all.
What is your best memory from your wedding? My top memories from our wedding are feeling the love and support of friends and family who came from all over the world to support us. At every moment, we could feel pure happiness and excitement from everyone for us and our future together. It made us both feel special and we’re very grateful to have so many wonderful people in our lives.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Don’t sweat the small stuff. I worried about so many tiny details that even I didn’t notice during the rush of the big day. There were things my husband was worried about during wedding planning and it took him weeks after the wedding to notice that some things weren’t done. With all that said, we continue to get feedback that people had an amazing time. Focus on what’s actually important and save yourself from the stress of over-planning.
Vendors:
Wedding Dress Designer: Atelier Pronovias
Wedding Dress Salon: Novella Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: (bridesmaids chose their own)
Hair/Makeup: Different by Design Salon (Hair); Brittany Edwards (MUA)
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Ceremony & Reception Location: Founders Hall
Photography: Temilola Ajibulu Photo; Second Shooter: The Slim Creative
Videography: Ryan Pham
Wedding Planner: Ivy Honeycutt, The Silk Veil Events
Florist: Chelish Moore
Cake: Sweet It Is Bakery
Stationery: Minted
Event Designer: N/A
Groom’s Attire: Daniel George Suits
Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux
Cocktail Hour Band: Dynamic Vibez
Catering: Arial Tuscan Grill (cocktail hour); Rea Catering (dinner)
DJ: DJ Krazy T
Amazing post. I am really curious what their first dance song was because this wedding is gorgeous! That would be fun to know. Beautiful couple. Can Muna Luchi always include the first dance song of each wedding they share? It makes the blog posts so much more exciting.