Welcome Again to My Blog!
My absence
on the hive blockchain has taken forever because of arrangements, appointments, persistent errands, and rescheduling of sessions this is why I have written a reintroduction post. I realized how time has truly flown instantaneously. Keeping a diary of what I do daily became unaccounted for. I can't place those facts on those occurences but it has a major impact on it. You know those moments or times when one is entangled with activities, and after everything, one becomes reluctant about other things? Well, that is my story. All this began during last year's festive season, my brother was going to have a visitation from his girlfriend, Allison Rosin.
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Allison Rosin is a resident of California, USA. She's a pretty lady whom my brother had known for over ten months. Anyways their relationship grew to the point of meeting each other in reality. The distance wasn't a barrier for them as she flew into Nigeria weeks later. My brother had difficulties in searching for an apartment at that time because the deadline for her arrival was super short.
So, we evacuated our current place of residence and put it in a more convenient way to make them comfortable.
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I had promised
myself that I would be consistent on the Hive Blockchain but no way! Life took another turn for me! You never really can predict what life has in the box for you! I didn't wish this upon myself, but I had to turn up for my brother regardless, as a result, I unconsciously submerged myself into this spontaneous reality. And with every passing moment after her arrival, I reluctantly began to lose interest in writing and publishing here. The lengthy saga in summarisation is after the first visit which lasted for approximately a month plus, they planned their wedding which took place at Ikoyi Marriage Registry in Victoria Island Lagos during her second visit.
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| Ikoyi Marriage Registry | Federal Registry | Ikoyi Registry Falomo |
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This post is written to tell you where the wedding took place, oh have you been there? This is the first time I ever had a real connection with a close family going there for a civil marriage, other marriages I attended took place in churches. Federal Marriage Registry at Ikoyi is one of Nigeria's two main marriage registries. It covers all those residents in Lagos, South-South, Southeast, and Southwest, Nigeria. Activities such as Swearing of Oath, obtaining the marriage license, counseling, and marriage ceremonies occur there. Ikoyi marriage registry is located along Kingsway Road precisely at Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi Lagos. This is situated at the hub of Ikoyi at Falomo.
This place is
always thriving with ceremonial activities. It is mostly filled with intending couples and their best-wishers, bear in mind that "well-wishers" are legally called "witnesses" and should not exceed six people. Outside the registry is a big billboard which is the center of attraction for all patrons, you can quickly be updated on the newest movies/products/services which will be viewed probably at a cinema or hopefully on Netflix, you can also pay for your products to be advertised openly and this would in return fetch you, potential customers.
This is me and my uncle and my brother's good friend 'philip'
Well
, I had to make inquiries to know the necessary documents required to wed there and to know how to follow them to avoid being a halfwit. We were asked to bring the following documents for registration;
a. Notice of Marriage.
b
. Affidavit on Application of Certificate.
c. Certificate of Spinsterhood and Bachelorhood then Affidavit of Marriage.
After this form has been filled out, an interview will be scheduled. Those forms above have stipulated fees attached to them. Following the interview, other documents are to be presented;
a
. Declaration of Age.
b. Passport Photographs.
c
. Affidavit of Marriage.
d. Evidence of Divorce.
e
. Death Certificate.
f. Evidence of Annulment asf...
Friday, 5th of May 2023
at 8 am prompt was the fixed date for the wedding. Two days before that very day I had to shop for my outfit and do my hair too, it was a hectic day. Like I said I was mostly the go-to girl jeez! I used to be in different places at a time! I was super stressed to the extent that I couldn't find my bearings most days after taking walks in other markets.
Erm, before those thoughts roam wildly in your mind hehe, my mom wasn't so healthy at that time and my little siblings can't even pick a role to play at all! I was the mom, an event planner most likely, a secretary, an errand girl, the chef, in fact, the consultant of every freaking thing! So yes, I was so stressed!
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| New couple standing | Establishing their presence | Officially recognized |
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Newly wedded couples must pose in front of the billboard (the one written with Ministry of Interior, Federal Marriage Registry Ikoyi Lagos) as proof of their presence and bonded oath at the Federal Registry, Ikoyi, which is acknowledged to be the only Registry with an authentic and prominent marriage certificate within and outside the country.
I had to
also pick up the wedding cake from Cakes and Creams located on Ogunlana Drive Surulere, Ojuelegba Lagos. They are the best so far for cakes in all varieties and shades of color, so I am recommending them if you are a cake-aholic person because it was recommended to me too! yay!
I will do better next time to save my waypoints as this is my first time posting here, surely, I almost raid the whole of Lagos state to get foreign items that were for Rosin's necessity as she isn't acquainted with Nigerian meals. Even the foreign market I know doesn't have everything she asked for, but I did make sure she was satisfied with most things I bought even with her picky nature. I did mention that I picked up the wedding cake from the cake store and brought it back to my hostel. Hostel, I didn't say!
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| Her Regular Vanilla Cake | Her Regular Vanilla Cake |
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| Her Wedding Cake | Her Regular Vanilla Cake |
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Allison Rosin
has a sweet tooth! She is a cake-aholic person and has been so picky when it comes to flavors. She loves vanilla as this is her favorite flavor and during the booking of her wedding cake, she wanted a buttercream icing cake unfortunately the circumstances surrounding that choice won't work because the cake would melt down before the next day and so fondant cake was the best option at the moment. Icing cake should be consumed on the very day it was baked! And being a two-step cake, buttercream icing won't sit well too, and might fall off, so fondant cake was the best option!
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| Me and Uber Driver | Driving to the venue | Getting prepped up |
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The scheduled time for the wedding was 8 am and the fact that the couple was coming from a very far distance, uh another waypoint I missed! made everyone including the Uber drivers all ready and prepped up. The Uber Driver I had an appointment with picked me up around 4 a.m. from my hostel alongside the cake and within 45 minutes we arrived at the destination where the couple resided. On a normal day, it would have been two hours plus drive to get to that very destination lol. It is not funny because that is where I live knowing fully well that during working hours on a working day the estimated time getting to that destination is about three hours and a maximum of four hours. I was flabbergasted.
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| Simple and Classic Bouquet? | Artificial Bouquet | She chose my choice😄 |
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Upon arrival at
the premises, I was amazed by the number of intending couples! Geez!! Didn't know there are a lot of people who want to be wedded haha! If I was to count them, it would be approximately fifty (50) of them. Most appear excited to be husband and wife while few looked like they were forced to Wed... no offense though but it appeared so! Maybe a contract marriage or something. This is me scanning the entire premises to get familiar with it while I look for where to get a rechargeable hand fan cause Rosin was hot. The weather in Nigeria isn't friendly at all! I also stumbled upon an artificial wedding bouquet seller although she rents them out at an affordable price and the prices vary based on the quality of the bouquet. I took pictures and sent them to my brother for her to make her choice.
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| Registry Hall | People standing outside Registry hall | Surroundings of Registry Hall |
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When we arrived though each intended couple was given a number. Immediately your number is called upon, female security will usher them into the Registry Hall for an official interview by the magistrate.
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| Second Registry Hall for officiating the union | Many couples waiting to be called upon to legalize their marriage | Second Registry Hall |
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| Taking oath | The last process to be married yippee | Exchanging rings |
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Then they move to the second registry hall to be officially and legally wedded. And after that, each couple will take pictures with the background “Happily Married Life” and after that over the background with “Ministry of Interior, Federal Marriage Registry Ikoyi” to acknowledge their presence and wedding. After some activities here and there to finalize the whole process, they were issued a Certificate of Marriage and then we left for home.
As soon as
my brother and his wife entered the car, they fell asleep after a few conversations. It was one hell of a day! I'm going to share videos and pictures of how our day went! Quite a stressful day!
This post was supposed to be submitted but it was prolonged because of procrastination.
| The Witnesses | Family & Friends |
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ALL IMAGES ARE MINE AND TAKEN WITH MY IPHONE CAMERA!!!
