Allen Met Dennis Through a Stranger She Sat Next to in a Taxi!

If anyone had told me that this is how I’d meet the love of my life, I would have laughed in their face!

Dennis Wantante, an IT Specialist, and Allen Asiimwe, a fashion designer, met through his brother, whom she had become friends with after sharing a front seat in a taxi from Kiwatule to Kampala, on a crazy Friday morning. The couple tied the knot on 28th August, 2020 at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero.

How they met

Allen: It was a Friday morning, Kampala traffic was noticeably building up and so, I was not in a great mood. For some reason, I usually do not take the front seat, but due to the scarcity of taxis that morning, I decided to simply take any that came my way – it was a front seat from Kiwatule to my work place. I sat with a young man, very determined to change my mood. He showered me with all his attention. I did not know his intentions, but I got to know that I shared Equatorial Hotel as our work premises, and that his name was Jowasi. Now, this was not a Harry and Meghan story of a friend hooking up two strangers, but I was eager to connect and we shared a lot on business and one day, Jowasi invited me to check out their business. It was not a hustle since we shared the building. If anyone had told me that I’d meet the love of my life with the help of someone I’d meet in a taxi, I would have laughed in their face, but when I walked into their business premise, I saw a handsome athletic young man. I realized he was Jowasi’s brother, whom I had met in the taxi. We talked for the first time, and we’ve never stopped being friends since then.

Dennis: On a rather normal working day, I was expecting business as usual, but what came my way was going to change my life forever. A tall, beautiful young lady walked in and forced me to sit up right. She tickled my senses and I became more alert. My heart was beating differently. She was so gracious that during our conversation, she promised to support our business. But when she left, I realized there was something I was missing, it was her. This pushed me to visit her shop at Allen Rosy Couture to order for a blue suit. Her artistry left me in awe, the suit fitted me perfectly well. So today, I am not shocked that we fit and match so well like that suit she made for me. A few days and weeks and months, we became business partners at her brand Alyn Rosy Couture. She got my attention and affection from the start to date.

Pre-proposal!

In 2018, the we decided to go to Zanzibar for a vacation as we tried to get to know each other more. The passing of time was slow as the cool breeze and ocean tide made the palm trees rattle and bend as if they would break. The stunning sight of the Indian Ocean was always interrupted by Dennis’ well timed jokes of “nzeno ngenda kuwasa gweno daawo!” At times like this, jokes simply faded away like the ocean tides as we laughed holding hands and having fun. He would tickle my legs under the sun just to make me laugh, I felt great and he was social to everyone around the Ocean beach.

Without my knowledge, Dennis mobilized some Swahili natives and Italian friends to beef up his plan. He was to execute it for the first time ever in his life. This was an eco-friendly ring that ecologists would love, for it was made of slender stick, wrapped with white polythene to give it a diamondesque finish.

Dennis making a ring out of a stick and a polythene bag to propose to Allen

He went down on one knee and asked “…will you marry me?” I said yes, but to be frank, I did not mean it, but also did not want to dampen his vacation mood which had so far been incredibly beautiful for both of us.

When he realized that I was not pleased about his knee down moment, he thought it was the ring that had turned me off. He went and bought me a costly Ivory African ring from the Beach Shops close by. Even this did not quite make me have a change of heart.

I was so determined not to change who I am, and I have no shame to say that, I left the Ivory ring in the hotel in Zanzibar as we checked out for Kampala. To forget all the memories in Zanzibar, I erased and made sure all the videos and photos from Zanzibar got lost.

Later, I realized I was selfish and may be I was pushing away my true love. Time, as they say, is the best test. I fell in love over and over, my heart and eyes opened to his great effort and I realized I was the one not putting in as much.

Proposal

Abryanz Style & Fashion Award is more than just a memory of fabric and style to me, it reminds me of love. And, the beginning of something beautiful! As the actual event date for Kampala’s biggest fashion show drew closer, I got so busy and anxious. The pressure was mounting as the day drew closer. I was working on a complex haute couture dress.

So, ny friend Debbie asked me to accompany her to a very sumptuous dinner. The idea of a dinner was not so timely but, I should say, I needed a bit of relief from the pressure I had at work.

I agreed to go with her but, what I was about to witness at the dinner was going to be a shocker. Before I made my way to the venue when we arrived, I was welcomed by Dennis holding a bouquet of red roses. At first, I thought he was apologizing for our last argument, and so I immediately offered to forgive him, but not at the dinner.

When I turned my attention away from him, to scan the mall corridor to the parking, I was pleasantly shocked to see familiar faces including those of family members. That’s when I realized that Debbie’s date had been a trap. When I turned to Dennis, he was on one knee asking me to be his wife. As he was still saying sweet nothings, cheers from the corridor were met with my YES! I had never truly felt like this my entire life. I felt so loved and honored to be treated with love.

The wedding

It’s 2 months and since my husband Dennis Wantante and I sealed our marriage. That day seemed, and indeed was, a special day. Seeing a dream come true that I’m still held captive. The excitement is still raw up to now. I’m not boujee but he implemented all his promises. Everything I ever desired happened no matter the situation (post covid) that the experience of each step blew me away. We also didn’t encounter any disappointments because of the team of service providers we had.