Chichi and Stan are set to wed soon and the beautiful couple shared their story and photos from their engagement shoot with us via their wedding photographer, Klala.
Below is their love and proposal story.
HOW WE MET:
It
all started in the mid- year of 2003, when I had just graduated from
High school and was trying to get into the university. I had a couple of
months to wait for admission and so I was spending more time with my
family and friends in my neighborhood.
One
sweet evening, I was on my way to the video rental store to return a
movie I had rented, when I noticed a fair, young, pretty girl coming
home from school. I had never felt that way, seeing her pass by. Being
the shy person I was back then, I did not say anything to her that day.
However, I followed her to know exactly where she lived. As soon as she
vanished into a black gate on a popular street, two streets away from
mine, I felt my mission for that day was accomplished and so I retired
home to strategize.
The
next day, I went back to the street where I saw her the previous day
with the hope that she would pass by again. Luckily, I saw her coming my
way again. I immediately got closer to her and said “Hi, “, she replied
“hello” and then I asked, if she lived around and she said she lived
around the corner. That was how far the conversation went that day.
After then, I could not get her off my mind as I started to wait on that
same street every day at that time in order to see her and say hello.
One day I was bold enough to get her email address and proceeded to bomb
her mail box with passionate greeting cards and words of praises and
affection. Few months down the line, we got closer and then I asked her
out but she refused. I did not give up as I continued to pester her with
phone calls (with the help of her sister’s phone), emails and continued
to wait at her street to say hello. Finally my efforts proved fruitful
after 2 years of disturbing her lol. She finally agreed to give it a go.
So we started our “puppy love”, hanging out and spending more time
together.
Shortly
after our relationship started, I gained admission into the university
and then we were no longer in close touch but we still chatted on phone
and text messages but it seemed, the distance had taken a bigger toll on
our relationship. Sometime in 2007, the puppy love ended and we both
remained close friends. Her mum was fond of me and I always went to
visit each time I was home. We talked about almost everything and even
shared our relationship experiences with other people. I always joked
with her, saying she should invite me for her wedding soon and she would
say the same. We both felt we had ended that chapter of our lives and
if anyone told me we would be ending up together today, I would have
told the person to visit another soothsayer.
Fast
track 2015, I had just gotten out of a relationship that did not work
out. I was depressed and almost never wanted to date again. I even got
into a minor accident in the process of trying to get my emotions back
together. It seemed like the accident had to happen for Chichi and I to
reunite because as soon as she heard, she called me and tried to visit
me. She consoled me and I felt strong again. All the while I thought she
was still dating some guy but when we got to hang out more, she told me
she had been single for months. It was close to Valentine’s Day and so I
asked her to be my val, since we both didn’t have a date. She agreed
and we went out for dinner that day. As we continued to hang out more
often, my feelings for her started to rekindle. Better yet, I realized
she was no longer that little shakara girl I used to know. She had grown
into a mature, intelligent and descent lady. I fell hopelessly for her
all over again and after a few months of spending time with her, I asked
her out and she agreed to date me.. (Mature love this time lol). Ever
since then, Chibaby has always made me happy and I feel like we have
known each other since like forever. I do not have to pretend because I
am real, when with her. I have learnt a lot from her. There are truly
angels here on earth and Chichi is one. I love you more today than I did
yesterday.
THE PROPOSAL
It was the 23rd of August 2015.
And
as usual I already started planning him a surprise birthday party,
three months earlier. I contacted his best friend Spy who helped me get a
list of his high school friends, former colleagues and other friends I
hadn’t met.
Stan
already said he wanted a low key birthday with just the two of us
lodged somewhere for the weekend and so I played along. The night before
his birthday I remember us having a conversation (Me asking him) about
the future of our relationship and his exact words were: “I HAVE NO
PLANS OF GETTING MARRIED NOW, MAYBE I WILL START THINKING TOWARDS THAT
DIRECTION NEXT YEAR”.
I
was sad, upset, disappointed, and immediately told him: “GUY, I AM NOT
CELEBRATING HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WITH YOU IN THIS RELATIONSHIP, SO ONCE WE
GET TO A YEAR I WILL MOVE ON”. I went to bed that night feeling so bad.
The
morning came, and I decided not to ruin the perfect day, so I let go of
all the hurt I was feeling and made up my mind to make it a memorable
birthday for him. We started that morning by going to church, after
which we had lunch and stopped by a Spa to get a massage. In the
evening, I suggested we go have a drink at N-TYCE KARAOKE LOUNGE and
that’s where it all began.
I
recall walking into the lounge with a double mind, on whether to carry
on with this party or not? But then again I kicked that doubt off my
mind and told myself, “I will go through with this”. And so we walked
into the lounge and he was surprised to see all his friends, from way
back screaming and singing for him, he got so emotional and gave me a
tight hug. You could see he was very happy from the expression on his
face. It took him some minutes to comprehend how we planned all of it
and how we got all his friends to be there that day.
He
called his brother and close friends outside the lounge and told them
of his plan to pop the question that night, and while they were all
contemplating if it was the best time, since he had already planned to
do it on my birthday 5th October.
He decided to do it because it would be more spontaneous than proposing
on my birthday and I would not be expecting it. So he placed a call to
my Dad asking for his permission.
He
then asked his flat mate to rush back home and get the ring he had
bought 3 months ago, waiting for the right time to pop the question. As
soon as his flat mate returned with the ring, he went over to the
Karaoke box, picked a song and brought me out to the centre to stand
with him while he was singing.
So
I’m smiling and wondering why there were so many paparazzi making
videos and taking pictures, but then again I thought, “Oh he just wants
to express his gratitude for the surprise party by dedicating a song to
me”. Suddenly he got on one knee and popped the question and the whole
world flashed before me. I remember my eyes popping out like I had seen a
ghost. I was so shocked, I didn’t even hear anything he said but I said
a big YES to my friend, partner, and my Crush. I can’t wait to spend
the rest of my life with the most Loving, Selfless, Hardworking and God
fearing man I have ever known. Love you baby.
Kemi Filani Blog wishes Chichi and Stan all the happiness they deserve.
Credit
Chichi @delishconcepts
#chichistan2016
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