The Ekene Wedding Magazine

THE

WEDDING

DECEMBER 30, 2023

THE WESTIN MEDICAL CENTER

EBERE & ESKOR are getting married MARK 10:9

WHAT THEREFORE GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER #ETERNALLYEKENE

WELCOMING

HOUSTON’S NEWEST COUPLE GIFT REGISTRY

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MEET THE NEWLYWEDS Ebere Florence Osemele

Asuqwo ‘Eskor’ Francis Ekene

BIRTHDAY: November 26, 1984 HOMETOWN: Owa Oyibu town, Ika North East LGA of Delta State, Nigeria EDUCATION: Bachelors of Business Administration, University of Houston-Downtown OCCUPATION: Senior Oil & Gas Analyst FAVORITE MOVIE: Interstellar DREAM VACATION: Bali

BIRTHDAY: July 6, 1982 HOMETOWN: Abilene, Texas EDUCATION: Bachelors of Science Kinesiology with a minor in Psychology, University of Texas; Masters of Arts in Professional Counseling, Texas State University OCCUPATION: Psychotherapist FAVORITE MOVIE: The Godfather DREAM VACATION: Vail, Colorado

2

HOW WE MET as told by the groom

I would have never guessed that I’d find the love of my life during a worldwide pandemic! One Sunday afternoon, August 15, 2020 to be exact, my brother Edem reached out to me via text to ask if I would be interested in a woman that he had met months ago at an event. He provided a link to her Facebook, so I clicked the link and immediately saw how beautiful she was and told him, “Of course, bro. What do you think?

Set it up NOW!” After I received her number from him, I figured I was good and would wait till the next day to reach out. My sister-in-law Sabbath volunteered to be the gobetween and get questions asked between the two of us, but I decided that anything I wanted to know, I would just ask Ebere directly.

I figured that I would wait a day or two to reach out to her, but to my surprise, I received a text from a number not saved on my phone, and it was her! I thought, “ I am not ready for a conversation tonight”, but it was a message I needed to answer. After messaging back and forth for a few minutes and ignoring the fact that she had an iPhone and looked down on my Android,

I had a great feeling that she was a woman I wanted to know more about.

After months of talking, messaging, and Facetiming, we agreed to meet in Austin, Texas for our first date.

October 31, 2020, we agreed to meet at 6:00 PM for dinner. I made reservations at a classy yet casual restaurant, thank you Ernie, in the Domain. That time was later pushed to 8:00 PM, since neither one of us was going to be ready in time. I arrived early and sat in the booth. 8:00 PM, and she had yet to arrive. 8:15 PM, and still no sign of her. 8:30 PM, came and I started to wonder if she had turned the car around and returned to Houston. Time went by, and because this was during the pandemic, the restaurant closed at 10:00 PM. Then, out of my peripheral vision, I see her. I am telling you, this woman floated towards me, sparkling, shimmering, and glowing in the light. She apologized for her extreme tardiness and we hugged for the first time. It was an amazing first date, as we learned more about each other and tried to beat that 10:00 PM cutoff. She may not have known it, but it was then that I knew we were going to be a part of each other's lives for a long time.

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MEET THE

WEDDING PARTY

Stacy Proctor

Kelsi Rankins

Judy Obiofuma

Matron of Honor

Bridesmaid

Bridesmaid

Elizabeth Obielu

Ijeoma Oguh

Chiemeri Collins

Bridesmaid

Bridesmaid

Honary Bridesmaid

Rev. Edem Ekene

Gabriel Garcia

Best Man

Groomsman

Dr. Michael Richardson

Ernesto Perez

Leonard Castillo

Ike Ramos

Groomsman

Groomsman

Groomsman

Groomsman

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ORDER OF EVENTS RECEPTION

Introduction of the MC Introduction of the Bridal Party Introduction of Mr. & Mrs. Eskor & Ebere Ekene Opening Prayer Min. Maaka Poi

Opening Remarks Rev. Caleb Effiong

Bride & Groom First Dance Dinner Is Served Mother & Son Dance Cutting of the Cake Speeches to the Couple Stacy Proctor Rev. Edem Ekene

Toast Bouquet Toss Games Dance - Dance - Dance Vote of Thanks Closing Prayers Rev. Dr. Imelda Okwubunne

Dance - Dance - Dance

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FIND YO

6

OUR SEAT TABLE 1

TABLE 2

Stacy Proctor William Proctor Ijeoma Oguh Ebube Chukwurah Kelsi Rankins Roland Pinkney Elizabeth Opara Keside Obielu Judith Obiofuma Jennifer Obiofuma

Milli Osemele Jennifer Nielsen Casey Nielsen Moriah Nielsen Aliyah Nielsen Cardell Collins Brent De Kay Lindsey De Kay Millicent Eke Kyle Eke

TABLE 3

TABLE 4

TABLE 5

Valerie Broils Jayla Marquez Paola De Cesaris Marshall Stewart Gaby Gonzalez Steven Perry Antauis Byrd Marion Cramer Ela'n Preston Mike Braggs

Brenda Adimora Renita Madu Adaeze Onyebuchi Adaora Obierika Ashley Otuonye Emmanuel Otuonye Kim Nezianya Diane Nwokey Nneoma Chuta Chidera Nicole Nwanna

Ijeoma Anadu Okoli Okwuchukwu Okoli Stephanie Acho-Mbah Ernest Mbah Njideka Ukaegbu Emeka Ukaegbu Brandi Oguh Chigozie Oguh Diane Ofili Victor Nwaezeapu

TABLE 6

TABLE 7

TABLE 8

Ike Ramos Chrystal Ramos Gabriel Garcia Michael Richardson Ernesto Perez Leonard Castillo Jessie Morris Gabriel Garcia Kayleigh Garcia

Maaka Poi Ema Poi Mary Ekene Macaria Thomas Myla Thomas Constance Essien Michael Essien Caleb Effiong Etta Effiong

Cebelia Ekene Stella Essien Mike Essien Princewill Zeblon Nasa Obi-Zeblon Humphrey Zebulon Amaka Onyendi Jane Zeblon Bernadette Etoama Tony Etoama

TABLE 9

TABLE 10

TABLE 11

Edem Ekene Sabbath Ekene Edem Nyanibo David Johnson Marissa Johnson Danny Korf Erin Korf Blair McCoppin Brian Powell Andrea Flores

Jake Perez Samantha Perez Kiko Marines Linda Marines Vikki Perez Vikki's Guest Tamara Price Sonia Price James Todd Riddle

Destineē Eke James Robinson Nnenna Esther Eke Jiuba Eke Imelda Okwubunne Rev. Benson Dike Chinasa Ogidi Pastor Florence Ekwuruke Ruth Adi

Dear Beloved Guests, As we stand united in love and commitment, we extend our deepest gratitude for gracing our wedding with your presence. Your shared joy has amplified the beauty of this momentous occasion. Thank you for being a cherished part of our celebration and for surrounding us with your love and warmth.

With heartfelt appreciation, Eskor and Ebere Ekene

! u o y k n a h T