B.D's Open Letter to Wife...

To my one and only Calidara,

If you're reading this, know that I've succeeded in stealing and escaping with your heart for good...

As I write this, I pause every second to imagine how this will impact your mood...

But since I finished writing it on my way to this wedding's reception, I'm afraid you'll notice it was done in a haste...

However, I'm also certain that you'll observe that it smells strongly of my most personal taste...

So here I go, straightforward as never before...

And since it's an open letter I'll read it aloud from my heart's core... 

You know we've only known and dated each other now, four years plus...?

I really would have sang about it, but we are not Styl-Plus...

So I would first of all thank you for exercising your faith in God for me...

Yes, because I know it takes only faith to start a journey that requires walking with your feet and more times with your knee...

You see, I am free to promise you the moon, the stars and even the sun...

I could promise that it will be all smiles, laughter and fun...

But nay, I only promise you one thing; and that is my constantly developing self...

And that very me shall be there within, beside, bedside, and even on your shelf...

Together, we shall conquer every challenges, create our world and cause it to advance...

A world where I would only defeat you with my poetry and you shall finish me with your dance...

And even though our company might be intermittently distracted by microbiology, epidemiology and every other scientific gobbledygook...

We shall forever enjoy our companionship and our togetherness shall be stronger than that of a fish kissing a hook...

And while I may not sing for you every morning, or always come home bearing a gift of Suya while smiling, I'll forever be jealous for only you and eat all your meals as though I'm the most greedy... 

Come my Calidara, we are wasting time, they've joined us, let's get this world started already...

©20.04.19 B.D for B.T

 

When you're your Wedding Planner

Preparing for a wedding ceremony can be really tasking. Even frustrating! One of the things you can do to ease the tension for yourself is to hire a really good wedding planner. But Just in case you didn't remember to get one,  or perhaps your budget, in it's infinite authority strikes that out... don't worry,  you can survive and even still get your dream wedding! 
Ask me how and I'll tell you... 
Wait... before I go ahead, I must warn you earnestly. Bring your best ear let me whisper into it... (I'm still preparing for mine. So it's not that I'm one expert in 'wedpreneurship'. Therefore, take this advice as you would a slice of carefully toasted bread from a first time passionate Baker).
OK let's get to business now that we've straightened that out.
There are two basic steps for landing a successful wedding ceremony. But before I go ahead, I'd like to say that 'success' of a wedding ceremony can be perceived in different lights. To some, a successful wedding could mean making the headlines and featuring in major magazines and blogs in town (for the best reasons); for others, it could mean the talk of the community and envy of all neighbors, friends and enemies alike. And lastly, for others,  it could simply mean that the marital vows were exchanged without any disturbances whatsoever, and the bride and groom get to their new home and begin to consummate their union!
So that brings us to the first step in wedding planning...
Step One. 
The first step is decision. This is the most crucial step in planning the wedding. In fact,  it is so important that even if you had a wedding planner, you'll still be the one to do this part. It entails your CAREFUL, (and I really meant to capitalize that word careful) decision of what you really want and define as a successful wedding ceremony. This decision could include your choice of venue, style of reception, kinds of food, vendors to hire, size of guests,  etc. Arriving at any decision is principally influenced by two factors though:
First is the AGREEMENT reached between you and your partner after sharing your dreams together.
Secondly is the AGREEMENT of your bank statement. Yes! Your bank account statement must agree with the decisions you make about what your wedding should look like and you must carry it along all the way. I would still do a special edition about this agreement in the nearest future. Watch out!
So, after you and your partner have decided on what kind of wedding ceremony you want and your finances also say yes to all,  then we are good to go!
P.S: all your plans, deliberations,  contemplation, decisions and even indecision must be clearly written down. Or if you don't like writing down with pen and paper like me,  you can employ the use of some resourceful apps e.g Evernote, or you simply Google Drive them. But by all means, record all your plans!
Unto the next step! 
Step two.
Step two is simply the execution of your plans and decisions for your ceremony. You can see why I stressed the need to write down and diligently record all your plans in black and white (or colored devices)?
This is the stage where energies are usually dissipated the most, so you'll have to do all you can to reduce your being stressed out. For that,  the weapon you need the most is ample timing and efficiency of execution. Call all your vendors and finalize all agreements with them. One of the vendors to settle is your tailor; you don't want to show up on your wedding day with your old clothes after paying a tailor that couldn't deliver! Another vendor of utmost importance is the caterer. We all know the importance of food on a joyous day as this. Another Chief vendor is the photographer. Sights and sounds recorded help to keep sweet memories alive long after the ceremony; it is very important to finalize logistics of the order of photography to avoid glitches and disappointments. 

What do you do when there's a no-show for vendors? Very little if you ask me. So by all means, start on time and yes,  it's not bad to have plans B, C or as much as your resources can afford to recite the alphabet of plans! 

For all the above logistics to be sealed successfully, you must realize that you need a team. Yes, don't be afraid to call a friend! Reason is, you'll need your energy conserved as best as can be! And this is where you'd know the kind of friends you have and you can even decide to un-friend as many as you find wanting (OK, just a joke. But it's an advice)! You really need a team of proactive people around you that can support you, run with your plans and turn them into the reality you'd dreamed of.
For instance,  I have really great friends that even from a distance have been helping to set up to-do lists for me and keep me in check to make sure the items are checked out as at when due. Other friends run around with/for me, while others always call to encourage me with prayers and wedding salutations (that's important too). This is also the time to reconnect and discuss with your married friends (if you have any), especially those who did exactly,  or close to what you're looking forward to. You can contact me if you don't have any married friends (winks). 

After getting your team of volunteers, clearly point out each person's responsibility and constantly check up on them to ensure they are up to the task and if possible, appoint a foreman that can see to this. 
Point is, you need all these good people to run things before,  during and even immediately after the wedding ceremony. A good team helps to ensure the success of the wedding plans. So get a team. If not, don't wed! (another joke).
In addition to helpful friends,  I'll recommend knot.com, a very useful wedding planning website and app that can help you organize your wedding list and does the countdown to your W-day.
After you've applied the above steps,  you're guaranteed (I say the word guaranteed in a low pitched voice. You know how my resume looks like as a wedpreneur) a successful wedding ceremony. The next thing is to sit back, relax and enjoy your wedding ceremony videos and pictures after your honey moon (I shall write something on this during, or shortly after my training on it).
To conclude I want to ask you for a favor... Kindly help me insert this last advice  in the very first paragraph. It is that important!  It is called TIMELINESS! In all that you do, start very early and don't leave anything to chance or last hours or minutes.
It me,  B.D.
Cheers!