Satisfashion UG Weddings

Take in The Beauty of Daniel & Linda’s Intimate Civil Wedding

By Isa King | May 23, 2023

Groom: Daniel Onzimai

Bride: Linda Onzimai

Daniel is an Investment Specialist and Linda is a Procurement Manager.

The wedding happened on Saturday 8^th April 2023 at Zara Garden Hotel and Apartments. The couple met in their second year at university and started dating in 2017 after school, they got engaged on Valentine’s Day of 2021 at Izumi restaurant.

Planning the wedding:

My experience planning the wedding was smooth because I’ve always wanted a very small wedding and very few people. I had about 50 people – initially, the plan was about 30 people from both sides so planning for a very small number was really easy, and also the fact that I already knew the service providers that I already wanted. The whole journey was very fine and not exhausting because I did it in the last two weeks before the actual ceremony. For most of the service providers, we decided in the last week, and they pulled it off perfectly.

How did you choose your bridal gown?

I wanted something timeless and elegant but not the normal civil wedding looks that we see. I didn’t walk into a shop that had a gown ready, my gown was made from scratch. I met Lillian Kyabaki about a month before the wedding and I told her, “I’m only around for one week, the next few weeks I’m not around and the week I’m coming back, I’m having this wedding – can we have this gown?” It was a tough one, but she pulled it off. She told me to give her 5 days, and in five days I went for the fitting to try on my shell dress. I loved it! It wasn’t complete yet but something about its simplicity made me want to take it home. Lillian refused, urging me to wait for the full design details as initially planned. We reviewed the original design, exchanging ideas for changes to be made, I loved the side detail most – so when I returned, she had added more adornments to it. It came out perfectly when I saw it; it was more than what I wanted in the best way, and it surpassed my expectations.

What were your theme colors?

I have always wanted a white wedding, so all white, with gold and green accents.

What informed your decision to choose the service providers you worked with?

While planning the wedding we didn’t have to ponder a lot about it because it was a civil wedding and at first, we just thought about going to court getting married, and then going to dinner, but then we were like no let us switch it up, we wanted a very minimalist ceremony but something that screams luxury, class, and elegance and it’s based on that, that I chose my service providers.

First was Lillian for the gown as already explained and then for the photos – as I was talking to Lillian, I explained to her what I wanted: I wanted attention to detail across all my service providers and something different from the rest. I always mentioned that I wanted the wedding to be a ‘magazine wedding’ and that I needed someone that would give me time and value for my money. Lillian suggested DW photography, and I agreed because I had always loved the work that he posts on his page. I scheduled a meeting with him, he came to my office, and I told him what I wanted. I explained to him that I didn’t want staged pictures but something candid and spontaneous, where I don’t have to pose and he pulled off exactly what I wanted, I wanted emotions in the pictures, pictures that tell a story even if someone wasn’t at the wedding, they would still feel the strong emotion in the pictures. He reassured me and I trusted him from there, we didn’t need to have any more talks. Honestly, DW was my main highlight.

Hair

I wanted something simple, so I went with a beautiful bun done by Sununu Effect.

Makeup:

Faith Presh has mastered my face and color and always gives me what I need. We opted for a very natural and nice look.

Location:

We wanted something that screamed ‘classy’, and Zara Garden Hotel just topped the list, their interior is beautiful plus the ambiance; we mainly I needed a place that had a terrace, I wanted to be able to see the sky and their service was fine.