We met 12/22/23. Our eyes locked at the passport office in Nigeria, and we couldn’t look away. Entrapped in our own world, nothing else seemed to matter as he approached me and asked for my number.
My first date with Nnadozie Augustine Uzoamaka (Oscar) was the following day. In the spirit of keeping things lighthearted, we decided to make it a group outing with his friends. As we sat in VIP, he held my hand and proudly introduced me to everyone. Long story short, before the night was over, he asked permission to kiss me. It was our first kiss, and it was indescribable. I was on cloud nine. We later went out dancing with my sisters and cousins, talking and dancing all night long.
Our second date was Christmas Eve. He cooked for me, and I was overwhelmed with emotion when he began to feed me. I wasn’t feeling well earlier, so it was a kind gesture. I cried tears of joy as he gently kissed my forehead and wiped my happy tears away. All I could do was smile through the tears as I enjoyed the meal he prepared. It was then when I knew I was in love.
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Building A Genuine Connection
Our third date was the day after Christmas. He came over to my Mom’s house, and we spent time with my family in the living room listening to music and vibing. We stayed up later than everyone else. He was a gentleman and never tried anything, but if I’m being honest, I wanted him to.
Instead, he taught me a few Igbo sayings (the language of our culture) and patiently let me practice with him. I never felt closer to my roots. After yet another lovely date, I texted him on the way to the airport and video-chatted when I got home to the United States.
Taking Our Connection To The Next Level
Speaking every day became a routine. I stopped going on dates with other men and only looked forward to our video chats. It became apparent that we were more than just friends.
He made his intentions known that he wanted to try a long-distance relationship with me. I was hesitant at first, but he was all I could think about…and our first kiss still lingered on my lips long after the fact, so I agreed.
We both knew from the first day we met that we had found something incredibly special in each other. The spark was immediate and electric.
We both wanted to be as open and honest as possible. We talked about everything: exes, our families, our mistakes, betrayals, dating, past relationships, sex, and marriage. We discussed our childhood, growing up as the oldest in our families, what brings us joy, past relationships, trauma, heartache and our goals. We didn’t leave any stones unturned.
Waiting for intimacy was difficult for me, but worth it in the end. He said he felt it was important that I knew he wanted me for me and that getting to know each other was important if we were going to move forward. He was right. Building a foundation of trust was essential if we wanted to grow and thrive as a couple.
After deep discussions, we decided that this was what we wanted forever, so I told him to show me how serious he was about me. First, he told my Mom how he felt. Then asked my father for his blessing to marry me. It was received and as you’d imagine, I was overjoyed.
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The ‘Asking Ceremony’
The “asking ceremony” was held in April 2024.
In Igbo tradition, during the “asking ceremony” the groom-to-be presents himself to the bride’s family and seeks permission to marry her. Generally, the bride list and dowry are specific to the village of the bride’s father. Each village/region has their own list of what’s required, and the father of the bride and his people determine what’s on that list and how much the dowry is.
My Mom was there, along with several prestigious members of our families. During the ceremony, he received my bride list and dowry price.
Although the groom-to-be is allowed to negotiate terms, my now husband handled the pressure effortlessly and confidently. He didn’t negotiate. He gave everything on the list and some. It was impressive.
I wasn’t allowed to be in the room, but after learning about how he handled himself and how confident he was, I fell even deeper in love.
The Traditional Nigerian Wedding Of My Dreams
We chose our wedding date, and he paid my bride price. We had our court wedding on 8/22, exactly eight months from the day we met. We had our traditional wedding ceremony on 8/24.
As a Nigerian-American born and raised in the U.S., I knew I wanted to immerse myself into my culture after visiting Nigeria for the first time in second grade. This is why it was super important to honor my Nigerian heritage and involve both families in the celebration.
I knew how much it meant to my mother, who is a titled Chief in Nigeria (high position of honor). I also knew many of his loved ones couldn’t attend our stateside wedding, so I wanted to create a special day for both of us.
On my wedding day, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t stop smiling. It was a day I’ll never forget. One of the highlights from my ceremony was dancing with my husband. Being in his arms is the safest place I’ve ever known. As we danced, people shower us with Nigerian Naira (Nigerian currency) to “bless us” and our union.
When You’re In Love, The Honeymoon Never Ends
I’m utterly smitten. He’s the epitome of a gentleman; opening doors, pulling out chairs, and always holding my hand. He proudly parades me around, introducing me to everyone with a radiant smile. He spoils me rotten, from pampering me with hair and nail treatments to catering to my every whim during our honeymoon.
He consistently expresses his love, checking in on me and showering me with affection. He’s shown me a love I never knew existed but always dreamed of. I manifested this and I intend to spoil him back for the rest of our lives.
He is literally my heart’s manifestation. To this day, he checks on my family and relatives just to see how they’re doing and greets me daily with a smile on his face.
Our love grows stronger every day, and I am so grateful to have found the one true love of my life.
