Hotel Inglaterra

Traditional Engagement Ceremony

Forte da Cruz

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

The Butterfly Effect

Very occasionally, a random set of occurences can change&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives in unimaginable ways. A left turn instead of a right, missing luggage, a cancelled flight, a casual turn just to find love in a room filled with strangers... Sometimes, this series of unplanned events forms a cascade leading from a chance meeting of strangers on a trip, to a lifetime of shared hopes, dreams and unending love. A trip no different from the one we invite you to!

But first, our story...

Osi sipped his martini and smiled drily. He was smack in the middle of a group of old friends and new acquaintances while his mind wandered, thinking of his lost luggage and the course he had cancelled at the very last minute to be here across the pond with old friends. Burna or Davido played on the airwaves but not enough to distract him, neither did any of the interesting faces around. He must have stood to request a drink or something equally trite, at least that was the intention until his eyes carried right across to the centre of the room.   His eyes fell upon the glowing lady in a black dress that was Imani. His drink could not wet the desert that his mouth had become and it felt like she was a new Eve, and the only woman in the world. Osi felt his breath catch and knew in that instant that his life would change forever- if only he hadn't had his eyes lasered, he may have only seen a blur!   Someone random walked across his field of view and the gorgeous apparition vanished like a Nollywood prop! Osi looked everywhere and anywhere to no avail. The missing luggage was one thing, but this girl he just saw? Nah. Not at all funny.    No Imani, only fake smoke and Burna Boy on the airwaves.   [Enter music here]    Imani had unexpectedly returned to the same venue with her friend, as their previous visit was truncated the day before. They were walking across the dance floor when her eyes caught sight of this tall man wearing a black tux and a bright smile. She felt like his eyes and smile conveyed an unspoken promise of more- whatever more meant. She stopped in her tracks and stopped walking behind her friend. She felt this urge to walk across and talk to him but didn't. She felt this sense of urgency, like this was her future right across the room. But then she kept moving.   Unknown to Osi, Imani ended up seating less than 2 yards away from him. Most of the entire evening, she sat to his left, with a good view of Osi, while he kept looking to his right trying to find her- she kept taking in his smile, and wondering at some of the 'company' around him. Unknown to her, his eyes kept scanning the area, trying to find the girl in black.   They each left the initial location and would never have seen each other again but for the independent and random choice they each made to head out with friends for one last drink for the evening. They arrived separately at the same new spot almost at the exact same time.   The instant Osi saw Imani a second time, he went on full Naija boost- walked up, pulled her close and introduced himself - no way he was letting his future vanish again. He didn't care who the chap next to her was, all that mattered was he had found the girl in black.   A couple of cancelled flights, dinners and really, really long conversations- a lot of dancing too! And it would have been easier to split an atom than these two. The more they spoke and explored each other's world, the more they realised that they had in common- from their general world view, to love for travelling, arts, sciences, healthcare, similar views on family values and a love for laughter and smiling and finding their happy in each other.    Long distance relationships can be scary and add to that chasm, the 'so-called' cultural differences between black America and Nigeria- especially with the typically touted stereotypes. Yet, the more time Imani and Osi spent together, the less different those cultures revealed themselves to be. The more air miles and shared smiles they garnered, the harder it was to avoid the culmination of that pull they each felt that first night.   Like the Alchemist, Osi had found his 'Miriam.'   Osi was there as Imani's live-in nurse when she had surgery. Imani was his rock when his father passed. They explored new places together- from Portugese cliffs overlooking the ocean to Egyptian sarcophagi deep underground. They worked on domestic and business projects together, becoming even more inseparable. The time spent not doing the usually fun dating stuff and just doing daily unglamorous life taking care of each other was just what they each needed to confirm that this was the one they could countdown the years and go gray with.    She met his kids, Alexander and Arielle, both of whom she forged the fondest of bonds with.   Atop the tallest building in Lanzerote, just as the sun cast its final rays of the day, Osi asked Imani to come with him on an adventure of a lifetime. The rest, they say, is history...

...And time will unfold her petals to those who dare to dream,               and in their dreaming, they shall find new worlds, and peace, and love.

Imani & Osi

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Flights

We recommend flying into Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), located about 25-30 minutes from the wedding venue. Direct flights are available from the US and the UK on Tap Air Portugal airline. Please consider booking your flight no later than 3-6 months before the wedding.

Travel Documents

A valid passport is required to enter Portugal. If you do not have a passport, or your passport expires soon, we highly recommend applying as soon as possible. For US and UK passport holders, a visa is not required. Travel authorization through European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) to visit Portugal has been postponed until 2026. Please visit <a href="https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/who-should-apply_en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this site</a> for more information. For holders of a Nigerian passport, please apply for your visa at least 3-6 months before the wedding.

Ground Transportation

For wedding events, Uber or a taxi is highly recommended due to limited parking at the venues.

Uber is widely available.Public transportation is safe and reliable.Many areas are walkable. If you would like to explore greater Lisbon, you may consider renting a car. Rental car prices are usually much cheaper than using ridesharing or taxis over a few days. Parking is easy to find and is affordable, even in the city center. Please note, when renting a car in Portugal, a large deposit (around €2500) on a credit card is standard. This deposit can be avoided if you pay the full coverage insurance with the rental company.

Currency & Payment

Portugal uses the Euro (€). Tipping in Portugal is not customary or expevted. Locals may round up the bill or leave a small amount (like 5–10%) at restaurants or for great service, but it’s completely optional. Please don’t feel any pressure to tip—kindness and gratitude go a long way here! Credit/debit cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for smaller shops and markets. ATMs are easy to find, and most accept international cards. ATMs in the airport tend to charge high fees. Please check with your bank or credit card company for international surcharges or conversion fees.

Phone Service & Electricity

Travelers may want to check roaming fees with their phone carrier or get a local SIM/eSIM. We recommend downloading WhatsApp, as this is the preferred messaging/calling method. Free Wi-Fi is common in cafes, hotels, and airports. Portugal uses type C and F plugs (European standard), with 230V voltage. Bring an adapter if you're coming from outside of the EU.

Safety & Tips

Travel insurance is highly recommended in case of delays, medical needs, or lost luggage. Check if your credit card or provider includes coverage. Lisbon is generally very safe. Just keep an eye on your belongings, especially in touristy areas. The official language is Portuguese. English is widely spoken in Lisbon, especially in hotels, shops, and restaurants. Tap water is safe to drink.

Travel Information

Recommended Hotels

Due to the prevalence of small, boutique hotels in the area, we are unable to secure hotel room blocks for our wedding. We have provided the below list of recommendations near the wedding venue.UPDATE: Hotel occupancy is limited for the our wedding weekend. Please consider other hotel or private rental options utilizing Booking. com or AirBnB.

Clube do Lago

Cascais City Beach Hotel

Accomodations

Nestled along the expansive and scenic Atlantic coast, Lisbon is a beautiful ancient city, lost in time, yet modern in its outlook. It is infused with sunshine and an inescapable charm that appeals to young and old alike. With its cobbled streets, colorful tiles, and breathtaking views from hilltop miradouros, it offers the perfect blend of history, romance, and modern flair. We’re so excited to celebrate our special day in this magical city—and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Explore Lisbon & beyond

Relaxing beach front with lots of great restaurants.

Tamariz Beach

The largest casino in Europe! Live performances daily.

Casino Estoril

A lively area filled with bars and restaurants. Great for nightlife.

Barrio Alto

Iconic and quaint town filled with wineries and breathtaking palaces. Group tour or private driver recommended as the roads can be difficult to navigate.

Sintra

Things to Do

Registry

The Edo Wedding

Our celebration begins with our Edo traditional wedding— a vibrant and colourful fusion of ancestral customs and a demonstration of undying love and unity. This beautiful gathering of our families is a celebration of a convergence of a shared heritage that was once separated by time, distance and ancestral histories. Like many Nigerian ethnicities, family plays a central role in the traditional wedding, with elders from both families playing key roles. Prior to the traditional wedding day, both families would have met to know each other better and to agree to a union. They would negotiate and agree to a ‘bride price’– a token given by the groom’s family to the bride’s. Usually, this token is less than a dollar but symbolizes that the bride becomes a member of the groom’s wider family. Both families also agree a list of items to be provided by the groom’s family including yams, palm wine, palm oil, kola nuts, salt, rice and clothing for the bride’s family. Many of these items are symbolic and the exchange is accompanied with prayers for a successful, happy and fruitful union.

The Afemai people of Edo, in southern Nigeria, place a lot of import on women’s independence and choice. On the day of the wedding, the bride-to-be is given a bottle of palm wine (a potent alcoholic beverage), which she offers only to the man she chooses to be her husband. This reinforces the belief in a woman’s choice and autonomy both at the inception of and throughout the marriage. It is said that none rivals a queen like an Edo bride. Dressed in her regal red dress, the bride is adorned in coral beads and her okuku. As a symbol of royalty and cultural heritage, the okuku is the traditional Edo bridal hairstyle and headwear, often featuring coral beads and other decorative elements. Following the bride's presentation of palm wine, the bride’s father presents the beautifully-adorned bride to the father of groom who in turn presents the bride to the groom. This involvement of family illustrates the responsibility of family in promoting harmony and love in the nascent relationship. The ceremony culminates with the giving of heartfelt blessings and prayers. Family and friends celebrate the union with exchange of gifts and displays of wealth thought to foreshadow success for the couple. Next stop- party central!

We welcome guests to celebrate with us in traditional or formal attire. Ladies are encouraged to wear vibrant colors or traditional African fabrics like Ankara or lace, while gentlemen can opt for native wear or dressy formal outfits. Don’t worry—dancing shoes are highly recommended!

We are so excited to share this joyful, colorful, and meaningful part of our journey with you, and we are deeply grateful to have our families and friends be a part of it.

Imani & Osikhenai

Imani & Osikhenai

Photos