Visits to iconic sites, a road trip to a tourist haven, and tastes of exquisite cuisine, all cumulated to the success of the one-week European destination celebrations in honor of the 25th wedding anniversary of Dallas based Dr. Tunde and Mrs. Ope Adeyemo. The series of events were the outcome of an extremely studious and meticulously planned process which took not less than one year to execute. I’ll attempt to summarize the entire trip with the main daily activities.
Monday, September 2: My arrival in Paris on an Air France Airbus A330 was timed with the arrival of the celebrants to ensure adequate preparations and fine tuning of all details. My initial 2-night stay at the Star Champs Elysees, allowed me to take an initial 5 mins walk to the Arc de Triomphe for a quick social media photo.
Tuesday, September 3: I stationed myself at the Marriot to capture the arrival of guests who were welcomed with hugs and handed welcome packs which included light bites. Most guests arrived promptly and checked into the 5-star Marriot on Avenue Champs-Elysees, which in my opinion, is the busiest tourist street in Paris.
Later that evening, the celebrants hosted a welcome dinner at the classy La Maison de l’Aubrac, where we had starters which included bone marrow, a first for me, with main meals comprising of exquisitely marinated lamb chops, among others. The dinner was the perfect setting for an eventual week-long experience.
Wednesday, September 4: The celebrants appropriately set this day as one for sightseeing and a general tour of Paris for all guests. The serene mid-morning Paris weather was the right catalyst to set some of us on a track to the world renowned and upscale designer store, Louis Vuitton.
It was a perfect escape to designer dreamland, and for others, an exercise for America Express cards. We created so much fun out of this visit and later gathered for high street shots with the Arc de Triomphe in the background. Later in the day, it was all about a comprehensive scenic tour of the Eiffel tower, a symbol of love and unity. The group had first made a pit stop at the Liberty Flame, the memorable site of the crash of Princess Diana.
Thursday, September 5: On a rainy morning, we gathered outside the Marriot hotel for a scheduled coach road trip to Brussels, Belgium. In the creative wisdom of the celebrants, we were clad with matching attires, the men in blue t-shirts, while the ladies in pink. The early morning 3-hour road trip was characterized by fun and praise, as signified on our attires. Again, we were ushered on a guided tour of three groups, and eventually fused for an anti-climax display of outdoor passionate love, during an unscheduled live dance exhibition by the lovely couple.
Friday, September 6: After thousands of click, alternated on my pair of Nikons, we had finally arrived on the day of the much-anticipated boat cruise, and African Night. Neither disappointed. The boat cruise was characterized by dance, drinks, canapes, and the serenity of the city of love. Staging photos on a moving vehicle and trying to capture iconic contraptions was no easy feat, but it was achieved. We wrapped up the cruise just in time to allow guests to refresh and slip into traditional ensembles to compliment the ‘Naija Night’ theme of the next event.
The intimate evening turned out to be a soft launch of a project that is very dear to the hearts of the celebrants. It was a dual gift, from them to us, and from us to them. After some jollof rice, suya and a mixture of Nigerian cuisine, we returned to our accommodations well after midnight.
Saturday, September 7: Gala night and photoshoot! Yes!! The excitement when it occurs to you that everyone will be dressed to kill. And so, it was. Guests arrived on schedule for their individual photo sessions. Three life sized step-and-repeat banners were strategically positioned around the delectable banquet venue. Tunde and Ope, accompanied by their children danced into the venue to the delight of all. The gala night was the perfect climax for a weeklong celebration in Paris. Sometimes emotional, the gala night was characterized by tributes to the couple, dance, and farewell hugs. This was surely one for the memory books.
Tosan Aduayi writes and photographs from Mansfield, Texas – [email protected]
Wishing the couple more beautiful years together in good health and happiness with sound mind. May God bless the fruits of their union.