Son of the Bishop of Ekiti Diocese of the Anglican Communion Rt. Revd. Christopher Temitayo Omotunde, Christopher, got married to his lovebird, Opeyemi Oluwole, last Saturday at the All Souls Church in Bodija Ibadan, Oyo State. TAYO JOHNSON reports.
It was fun when Christopher and Opeyemi went to the altar to say ‘yes, I do’.
Family members, friends and well wishers gathered for the celebration of love.
The groom, Chirstopher, wore a sharp black suit with a white shirt; his bride was in a flowing cream gown with a pair of white flat shoes.
The groom who arrived in the church at 9:45am, waited patiently before the bride walked into the church around 10:02am, hand-in-hand with her father, Mr Nathaniel Oluwole.
The groom’s father, Rt. Revd. Christopher Temitayo Omotunde, the Bishop of Ekiti Diocese of the Anglican Communion, was clad in a Bishop’s robe. Mr Oluwole was in cream agbada and wine cap to match. The couple’s mothers wore the same cream native attire with a wine head gear and ipele to match.
The event began with a processional hymn Praise my Soul the king of Heaven; the service was supervised by Lord Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa; the sermon was delivered by Rev Titus Olayinka.
Rev Olayinka admonished the couple to uphold the marriage vow.
“You are coming from different background but by the virtue of your marriage, you have become one. You should be open emotionally, psychologically, spiritually and financially. You should not hide anything from one another,” Olayinka charged
The cleric urged the wife to be respectful, submissive, and to the husband, he said: “Love your wife as Christ loved the church”
He urged them to train their children in the way of the lord, praying that God would grant them wisdom, knowledge and understanding to build their home.
Shortly after the sermon, the couple exchanged rings after which they were presented as husband and wife.
The marriage certificate was later signed in the presence of selected family members and friends before it was presented to the couple by Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa.
Thanksgiving followed and the service ended with a withdrawal hymn Father I place into your hands.
After a session of group photographs in front of the church, the reception followed immediately at the Chapel of Resurrection Hall, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The couple’s parents were called to the podium as the ceremony began and their entrance into the hall was welcomed with a standing ovation by guests.
The reception was chaired by the former Deputy Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Dr Gboyega Ajayi.
Ajayi urged the couple to take good care of their children and love each other, stressing that marriage comes with its challenges. He prayed to God to guide them through.
“Christopher, your wife is a banker, so I expect you to be patient, understanding and supportive” Ajayi said.
The groom’s father, Bishop Omotunde enjoined the couple to be prayerful and God-fearing.
“Both of them have been giving me joy with good testimony following them. Opeyemi is a wonderful woman, she is more than my daughter because of the way she has been relating with our family,” he said.
Bishop Omotunde urged them to follow God’s laid down principles for marriage, as it is the only way to a successful marriage.
The bride’s mother, Mrs Funmi Oluwole said:” I am happy for them because they are children of God, they met in the Lord and will live their live with his words.”
She described his son-in-law as a child of God, humble, and well brought up in the way of God.
The groom described his wife as the best partner God can ever give to a man, beautiful, pleasant and God fearing.
“Her good heart and behaviour got me attracted. She is caring and loving” Christopher said
Opeyemi said:” I feel very happy because this is the day the Lord has made and I am getting married to my better half. He loves me and I love him so dearly too”
She described the groom as’ godly, loving caring, hardworking and a man of God.
Among dignitaries in attendance were: Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof Modupe Adelabu; Elekole of Ikole Ekiti, Oba Fasika Ajibade; Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi; Oniyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye; wife of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Olori Bose Adejugbe, among others.
