Business Partners Turned Life Partners! Amanda & Toyosi’s Pre-wedding Shoot Will Make Your Day

BNW September 5, 20240 Comments

One of the beautiful things about love is that we never know when or how it’ll show up. This element of surprise is what makes it magical. 😍

Amanda was just focused on her career, unaware that love was quietly leading her a step closer to her soulmate, Toyosi, since her first day on the job. She proposed a business collaboration with his company, and what she thought would be a fruitful partnership turned into something much more. As they worked closely together, their connection blossomed beyond business, evolving into a beautiful love story neither of them saw coming. Sometimes, the best things happen when we least expect them, and Amanda and Toyosi’s journey is a perfect example of just.

Enjoy their pre-wedding shoot and love story below:

Their love story as shared by Amanda:

At 21, I was an ambitious girl, fresh into the media industry, eager to make my mark as a red carpet host. To build my portfolio, I would scour a popular website listing upcoming events in Lagos, calling their RSVPs to see if they needed a host. This strategy usually worked until I kept hearing about a company named CSI handling the red carpet experience. By the third time I heard their name, curiosity got the better of me: who is CSI, and why are they taking my jobs? One day, I convinced an event handler that, since their MC was a man and the event was about Ladies In Business, it made more sense to empower a female MC. Though I lost the red carpet gig, I became their Co-MC.

On the day of the event, I was awestruck by the glamorous red carpet setup by CSI, it was the whole experience, the red carpet, photography, backdrop, and props. Realizing I couldn’t compete, I decided if you can’t beat them, join them. I looked for and introduced myself to Toyosi, the owner, who was wearing a sharp two-piece suit and a fedora. With a playful smile, I asked why his company was stealing my jobs. He laughed and apologized. I then proposed a partnership, and that year, they gave me about 20 events to host. How our professional collaboration blossomed into something much more profound is one of those mysteries of life we often hear about because little did I know, that chance encounter would lead to a beautiful love story and as they say the rest, is history.

Here’s how Toyosi popped the question:

Our proposal was actually a surprise, one he managed to pull off in a way I never anticipated! We had already contacted our wedding planner, LH Events, and were well into planning. So, did I know it was happening? YES! But did I suspect it would happen the way it did? NOOO! I had thought he would call on the help of my best friend, Ewa, and that she would give me a hint. But he outsmarted us all by liaising with my cousin, Anu, who is a medical doctor. Anu told me to escort her to a Hospital fundraising event so we could network. With all the many activities in my life, it was only business opportunities that could drag me out. 🤣

Long story short, she came over, we got dressed, I strapped myself with my business cards, and we headed out to network. When we arrived at the event, she said she wanted to call her friend, the camera guy, to escort us in. In my head, I’m like, “Shey this girl dey whine me?” She didn’t even get a proper invite to this event, and we were passing through the backyard route. So, the camera guy asked if he could interview me, which wasn’t surprising given what I do. But I kept insisting he mic her up too—didn’t she have something to say? Lol. As we got out of the elevator, I saw a whole lot of lights, cameras, and people. It still hadn’t dawned on me that this wasn’t a fundraiser. I thought, “Okayyy, these guys went all out.”

Then I saw my handsome fiancé nervously waiting for me with a violinist playing, beautiful decorations on the rooftop, and it finally dawned on me: OMG, this is my proposal! He read me the sweetest message off a handwritten note, which honestly, I couldn’t really hear over the excitement internally and externally! He then knelt down and asked the question, “Will you marry me?” To which I said a very quick and loud YES!