Of all of the places Leah and Rodney could have first encountered each other, it just so happened to be Kenya. Sure beats your local bar or networking event, right?

It was July 2018, and on the time, Leah, a Wisconsin native born to Nigerian and Panamanian parents, was living and dealing in Nairobi. Rodney, though born in Kenya to Sierra Leonean parents, was just visiting while based out of Lusaka, Zambia. As exotic as all which will sound, despite the dreamy locale, they really didn’t encounter each other in person while, say, perusing an area market or hanging out at a preferred attraction. Their love story actually began on a dating app within the East African country.

“I used to be casually browsing Tinder, as one does after they are newly single, and saw that Rodney had super liked me,” Leah recalls. She noticed they’d various things in common, including their membership within the Divine Nine (he’s an Alpha, she’s an AKA), and decided to attach with him. “I proposed a date at my favorite nightclub on the time because I knew I could at all times signal to friends to rescue me in case he was boring,” she says. “Seems that wouldn’t be crucial.”

While the 2 were immediately interested in each other, in addition they found that conversation got here easy, a warm connection easily being fostered. Once they weren’t talking, they were dancing the night away, literally ending their first outing after 3 a.m. The primary date would turn right into a second the subsequent day, and a 3rd the day after that. They spent every day together until he needed to fly back to Zambia on that Sunday.

And while starting a relationship with someone living out of the country is usually enough to scare away many in search of love, Leah and Rodney weren’t deterred. Through their long-distance relationship, they’d learn more about one another because the days passed, from his compassion and dedication to her, to his appreciation for her tender love and care not only for him but additionally his family. As their bond grew from afar, they’d finally get the prospect to check it in person for an prolonged time period when the world shut down in 2020. That have let Rodney know he’d found his person.

“Because of COVID and subsequent border closures, I got stuck in Kenya,” he says. “We went from seeing one another for a couple of days every six to eight weeks to being together every single day with nobody else around. When you undergo that together and realize you continue to like one another, and need to be around one another, you’re able to do life together.” 

A yr later, he put plans in place to have them do life together officially, aiming to propose in March 2021. While there have been some hiccups to creating that occur (more on that later), he was in a position to ask for her hand, making a scrapbook of all their travels together to pop the query.

4 years after they first met in Nairobi, the couple married removed from where they first connected, opting to say “I do” in Leah’s native Wisconsin, in Milwaukee and Mequon, on July 2 and three. They’d two ceremonies, honoring their Nigerian and Sierra Leonean cultures with a standard ceremony on Saturday and a white wedding on Sunday. Each events were successful, which is a giant deal considering the couple planned the nuptials from abroad while moving to their newest home in Vejle, Denmark. “Planning a marriage remotely whilst moving to a recent country during a pandemic is a recent level of organized chaos, but every part worked out higher than we could have imagined!” Leah says.

And the photos from each days definitely prove that, because the couple, officially Mr. and Mrs. Carew, were captured smiling from ear to ear in all the pictures. Take a look at all the colour, culture and creativity that went into their West African inspired wedding weekend in Wisconsin and learn more about their love story on this week’s Bridal Bliss.

Vendors

• Photographer: @amandaevans.photography
• Videographer: Ashleigh M. Joplin
• Sunday Venue: @Riverclubofmequon_events 
• Hair: @markialashay at @thecharmsuite
• Makeup // @brandywatkinsbeauty & @anai.4.anai 
• Nigerian outfits // @a1clothings 
• Sunday Ceremony Dress // @maggiesottero from @amelishanbridal 
• Brass Band: @marioabney, facebook.com/theabneyeffect/

01

How She Knew She Found the One

“From our first date, it was obvious that Rodney was very compassionate,” Leah says. “I knew he was the one after a nightmarish trip to Lake Malawi in September 2018 for the Lake of Stars Festival. All the things that would have gone unsuitable on a visit happened: Rodney totaled his automobile, there was a freak sand storm that blew concertgoers’ tents and belongings into the water, phones were stolen, cars caught on fire within the car parking zone, friends sprained their ankles. It was chaotic. At one point through the night, I had a terrible stomach ache and needed to sleep. Rodney happened to have a lone magic pill for stomach aches and, to maintain the tent from collapsing within the storm, he sat inside holding it up while I slept. That’s after I knew this man was different!”

02

How He Knew He’d Found the One

“I don’t think there was one specific ‘aha’ moment after I knew Leah was the one (I feel like that only happens in the flicks),” Rodney says. “Reasonably, it was a series of small moments and interactions where she showed me who she was and the sort of partner she can be each day and consistently. It ranged from how she supported me (e.g., going to doctor’s appointments with me after I was diagnosed with sleep apnea), how she cared for my family and hers, the compassion and energy she brings to her community and the people she cares about, discussing life goals and learning about her ambitions, and even how we worked through conflict together.”

03

The Proposal

Planning his proposal to Leah was stressful for Rodney. He spent months trying to seek out the sort of rings she likes (pink sapphire with a rose gold band), having to receive the help of a jeweler all the best way in India. He desired to create a scrapbook of all their travels together, but on the time he was in Kenya and all of the boarding passes and artifacts from their adventures were in Zambia. Along with all that, Leah was extremely busy, working and studying full time. So he decided to attend until she had spring break so he could woo her and pop the query. He flew to Zambia to assemble every part he needed and to get the ring (the jeweler agreed to fulfill him the day he was leaving back for Kenya) ahead of the proposal, and assumed all of his stress can be over. But after booking a stay at her favorite luxury hotel in Kenya, The Cliff Nakuru, they bumped into more obstacles. Those issues included locusts flying over the hotel on the day he planned to propose, leaving Leah scared to go outside. There have been other hiccups, but eventually, he was able to provide her the scrapbook, which led to the proposal. “I persevered and Leah was presented with the scrapbook which included a letter from me and a final trivia clue stating ‘that is the place we agreed to spend our lives together’ and at that time, I played our song and proposed.”

04

Wedding Planning

Having two ceremonies to plan from internationally is sufficient to make anyone exhausted. But what worked for the couple was sticking to their goals for the weekend. “We winnowed down our list to a few goals,” Leah says. “1) connect and rejoice the community that raised and proceed to support us individually and as a pair; 2) honor our parents; 3) and honor and rejoice our culture. Each time we needed to make a call, if it didn’t help us advance our goals, the reply was no.”

05

The Traditional Venue

For his or her traditional wedding ceremony, the couple selected to have it on the Igbo Community Center in Milwaukee. “The community center was a meaningful meeting place for us growing up and means loads to my father and the Igbo Community in Wisconsin,” Leah says.

06

The White Wedding Venue

As for the space for the white wedding, the couple selected the River Club of Mequon, which is a rustic club. “The country club has beautiful grounds and we wanted a straightforward elegant backdrop that will be timeless and that wouldn’t require much additional decor. Plus, we knew that our guests would bring the flair of their attire!” Leah says. “We also loved how spacious and airy the hall was. We had enough space for our 360 photo booth, backyard games, a popcorn bar, two buffets, and lots of room to bop!”

07

The Details within the Attire

For the 2 days of events, Rodney wore five outfits, Leah six. Suits were custom made in Nigeria and Kenya. He also wore “something borrowed,” utilizing his late father’s cufflinks.

08

Serving Looks

As Leah said, guests actually brought the flair with their ensembles for each events.

09

A Blushing Bride

Leah was all smiles as she showed off the very first look of her traditional attire for Saturday’s ceremony.

10

And the Crowd Goes Wild!

She had the complete support of her bridal party who loved her look! They looked pretty gorgeous as well!

11

The Groom Getting Ready

Dapper indeed!

12

The Traditional Treat

The couple made sure to have food from the entire cultures they love, including Nigerian, Sierra Leonean, Kenyan and Wisconsin staples. Pictured here is the cake from the standard ceremony. “We had a themed cake on Saturday which depicted a Bible, coral beads, kola nuts, and a gourd – all significant items in Igbo culture,” Leah says.

13

The Groom’s Guys

“We also wanted to make use of our wedding as a probability to spoil our closest friends!” Leah says. “Rodney gifted the groomsmen items that represented the places he has lived: a pocket square comprised of garra, a material from Sierra Leone, coffee and tea from Kenya, and personalized cufflinks and whiskey glasses.”

14

The Bride’s Tribe

Leah also showed like to her troupe of bridesmaids. “The bridal party had a better of made in Kenya bag that included tea, wine, jewelry, a jewellery box, and monogrammed Masai blankets called ‘shukas.’”

15

The Newest Mr. and Mrs.

The couple hold hands as they’re presented as husband and wife.

16

A Special Surprise from Down South

“He surprised me on Sunday with a brass band that led our guests in a second line across the venue!” Leah recalls. “I lived in Latest Orleans for five years and made a few of my closest friendships there. Rodney knows that Latest Orleans is my favorite American city and it meant loads that he arranged this!” The band was Mario Abney and the Abney Effect.

17

Rodney’s Favorite Thing Concerning the Weekend

A favourite moment that’s not likely a moment but special nonetheless, based on the groom, is “the love and support we were surrounded with throughout the weekend and the mixing of our families, cultures, friends, communities, and different parts of our lives. This got here out in so many moments comparable to swag browsing with all our guests (including aunts and uncles who’d never done it before), dancing to Sierra Leonean and Nigerian music together, or strolling with my Alpha brothers and Leah’s dad (who can be an Alpha).”

18

Leah’s Favorite Moment From the Weekend

“Each days were amazing, but my favorite moment was the surprise second line!” she says. “Because the fireworks ended, I used to be prepared to return to the reception and to bop the night away. After I turned around, I saw guests wearing Mardi Gras masks and beads, waving customized handkerchiefs welcoming a Latest Orleans themed band! I shouted ‘Where did you get a brass band in Milwaukee?’ Second lining across the country club with friends from a dozen countries who all traveled to Wisconsin will eternally be my favorite memory from our wedding weekend!”

19

The Look of Love

The Carews looking ca-ute!

20

What the Future Holds

“The longer term is ripe with adventure,” Leah says. “As recent residents in Denmark, we’re desirous to explore Europe while learning Danish! We’re also focused on constructing wealth and laying a powerful foundation for whatever the longer term might hold. We’ve discussed children but first need to spend a couple of years just having fun with married life: traveling, hosting friends, game nights, Sunday brunches, and plenty more dancing the night away!”