For the first dance, the groom, Folarin Alakija, the son of Folorunso Alakija, stared into the eyes of his bride, Naza, today at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, London, as if he meant to rediscover a familiar treasure trove. Flo stared into Naza’s eyes wondering how many wonders subsist in the two shiny orbs and windows into her soul. He looked like he would mesh with Naza. Naza looked even more ready to interlock with him in body, mind, spirit and soul. The couple filled up each other’s glances with muted affectation of undying love.
It was a charming, corny, over-the-top moment at an event most noteworthy, perhaps, for how it drew the crème of Nigeria and London’s high societies to celebrate with the new couple. The high society wedding provided a chance for the Africa richest woman to flaunt her amazing wealth and international clout.
The wedding unfurled like a performance-art project set in a modern-day enchanted hall. Granted, it was an expensive one. Tested, able hands oversaw all aspects of the event, from décor to lighting, to conceiving an expensive keepsakes for attendees and selecting its design, in part, to evoke the pedigree of the uniting families.
From the start to finish, scores of guests indulged in bedazzled documentation. Not a few dignitaries in the consummately wired crowd were pleasantly enthralled by the very well-heeled couple’s ingenious way of declaring their undying love for each other and cementing it in holy union—albeit with enormous helpings of fairy tales, expensive perks and elan.
