On Valentines day Sunday the 14th of February 2016 this beautiful couple had the most romantic engagement of the year!
The groom to be sent me a gallon of pictures for his engagement to Eleni and inspired me to interview them about their plans for the wedding their romance, their engagement and exciting wedding plans for this year!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FRIENDS ON THEIR ENGAGEMENT!
SEE HOW ELENI'S VALENTINES DAY UNFOLDED IN THE WORDS FROM OUR BEAUTIFUL BRIDE TO BE
Q.1
WHERE DID YOU BOTH MEET AND WHEN?
ELENI: Well I first met Roben In Stoke, he came for a concert and he bumped into me (literally lol) he was coming out of the public toilet and I was going in and we both weren't looking and walked into each other!
It sounds like a movie but it actually hurt! It was literally love at first glimpse!
ROBEN: We met in Stoke in 2013 at a concert event
We literally bumped into each other by mistake
Q.2
WHAT WAS YOUR PROPOSAL LIKE?
ELENI: Emotional! He planned it really well... He organised a treasure hunt where I had to find clues and answer questions about our relationship , which was fun and cute of him because I had to think back to when we first met, our first date etc. Then he blind folded me and took me to these gardens, had music playing with lights decorating the place and I read the message in a bottle he gave me which was a poem and at the end it said "will you marry me" I couldn't stop crying to actually say yes! (eleni laughs out loud)
ELENI: ..When I took my blind fold off, there he was standing, looking at me in a way I've never seen before. Having hired a photographer with music playing and decorating the mantelpiece with fairy lights, he then told me to open the box which I had forgotten about. There was a message in a bottle which was a poem he wrote with the four everlasting words "Will you marry me?" Before I could comprehend what was happening he was on one knee. I couldn't speak and my tears said it all... YES!
NEWS STRAIGHT ON THE INSTA
Q.3
WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR WEDDING?
ELENI: We were thinking of having a simple, not too extravagant wedding. But a day we remember and celebrate God bringing us together in this union.
In terms of colours we are thinking a maroon/red and gold. Because of the season our wedding will be in this year and because I wanted the more calm, intimate feel to the wedding. We are also looking forward to have our family and friends really involved in music, food, decor which would make the day so much better because they had a part in making it so special.
ROBEN: Something halfway between traditional and modern. A trendy young couple having fun on the most important day of their life. Lots of laughter and a light hearted atmosphere with the traditional values and foundations of a marriage.
ELENI: After he proposed,he said he would take me back to my friends house because I had left my mobile phone there.
He had me believe we were going to retrieve it and then go out for a romantic valentines meal together, just the two of us
I did not know he had organised a surprise engagement party with our friends and family. We had a cake, food, took tons of photos and had our friends share speeches and words of encouragement with us. It was amazing to enjoy that day with them.
TWIN SISTERS
Q.4
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG COUPLES THAT WANT TO GET HITCHED?
ELENI: I think that because a lot of young people are in relationships now, the value of true love can get lost. There is so much pressure generally to have a partner even when it's not the right time. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, its ok to be single until you meet the right person there is nothing you need to prove.
You have to know yourself and who you are in God before involving yourself with someone else.
My faith is super important to me, and In this generation there's also a lot of pressure and distractions from different things; education, career choices, family, friends and keeping pure until marriage and it's even more tricky in a relationship because now your decisions affect someone else but when you fully give yourself to God and pray together, he helps you directs you individually and as a couple. We are a young couple so don't let your age define you, when you've got God on your side you'll know your not too young to serve Him or too young to get married. It will only be a blessing and years of happiness.
ROBEN: We believe marriage is for life. I would say don't get married until you're ready in your faith, maturity, and finances.
Coincidently me and my fiancé are really young (21) and (20 soon to be 21).
However being deep into my faith from a young age I've desired marriage from early on. As a result, years of preparationhave brought us to the point we are at today.
So to on the surface it can seem like we are a young couple rushing into marriage but this is not the case. I've been growing in faith for years, learning, teaching, saving and preparing. Therefore it just so happens that at this young age I feel ready to enter into such a beautiful union with the most amazing woman to ever walk the face of this earth.
WE WILL HAVE MORE FROM THIS AMAZING COUPLE OVER THE COMING MONTHS AS WE FOLLOW THEIR INSPIRATIONAL WEDDING JOURNEY, STAY POSTED FOR MORE ON ROBEN AND ELENI WITH BESPOKE VINTAGE CASTLE...
CREDITS:
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
DELA KAFEWU
PARK SETTING FOR PROPOSAL
HANLEY PARK
http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/other-parks-folder/hanley-park.en
BLOG POST Q&A
WRITTEN BY BETTY TIMBO
INTERVIEW WITH ROBEN GAngaidzo & ELENI IOANNOU
www.bespoke-vintagecastle.com/bitsandblogs