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Home • Weddings

Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance

The couple's stunning outdoor venue and floral-filled reception were a hit!
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
By Jasmine Grant · Updated November 4, 2020
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Tolu and Lekan’s love story began in 2013, where they met at a mutual friend’s game night. Though they didn’t hit it off initially, their connection we reestablished when they later reconnected on Twitter. “I remember asking my followers if anyone knew how to unlock an iPhone and Lekan responded,” Tolu remembers. “He likes to tell people I slid in his DMs because of this exchange.”

After exchanging numbers, their conversation became about more than just troubleshooting. Lekan began to check in with Tolu, and his persistence made a great impression. The officially began dating in 2015, and by 2018, Lekan knew he’d found the one. “I couldn’t stop thinking about her, especially when we made things official,” he says. “I was always texting her and always wanting to see her, it actually took me by surprise.”

To ask for her hand in marriage, Lekan arranged the ultimate surprise as Tolu stepped out for a girl’s night. When she and her friend’s arrived at the lounge they’d planned to meet at for drinks, Lekan appeared down on one knee. Knowing they wanted a wedding venue that offered tons of greenery, a dual ceremony/reception space, the couple landed at the lush and spacious Pristine Chapel Lakeside in Jonesboro, GA. Without the help of a wedding planner, their big day went off without a hitch. Best of all, Tolu found phenomenal ways to honor her late parents throughout the ceremony.

See the best moments from Lekan and Tolu’s fresh and fun garden chic wedding.

Want to see your wedding featured in Bridal Bliss? Send your story and a link to your wedding photos to [email protected] for consideration.

01
Meet The Alase’s
Bride: Tolu Ojo, Healthcare Manager, 29 Groom: Lekan Alase, Marketing Director, 35 Theme: Garden chic Venue: Pristine Chapel Lakeside, GA Photographer: Fotos By Fola Bridal Shop: Winnie Couture Tuxedo Tailor: /savviformalwear.com/one-on-one-with-sal-the-savvi-tailor/”>SaaviBride Makeup: @killakosmetiks Florist: Kroger Cake: B.A FauxCakes Caterer: Buka 2 Restaurant Bride Hair Stylist: Rochelle Jones Bride’s Makeup: @killakosmetiks Bridesmaids’ Makeup: @ksummah and @makeupanahya Bridesmaid dresses: @peridotofficial Bridesmaids’ hair: @vanitytrap Transportation: All American Limousine Service
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
02
A Date With Destiny
Tolu greeted her husband at the end of the aisle after walking down to MAJOR’s “This Is Why I Love You.” The beautiful bride was walked by her uncle in place of her father, who passed away.
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
03
Nature’s Beauty
Tolu and Lekan’s ceremony had minimal décor, as they wanted the natural beauty of their lakeside venue to do the talking.
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
04
Confessions Of My Heart
“The ceremony lasted less than an hour as we wanted our guests to enjoy our personal vows, feel the emotion between the both of us, and enjoy the views”.
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
05
Forever And A Day
“I dreamed and prayed about so many things for this day,” says Tolu. “But the best feeling was seeing the man that God placed in my life and knowing that I was about to take this divine journey with him for forever.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
06
God’s Plan
Tolu and Lekan feared their plans for an outdoor ceremony would be foiled by the rainstorm that began earlier in the day. However, as assured by their wedding coordinator, the weather cooperated. They even got a stunning sunset!
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
07
Tailor-Made
Tolu ventured to eight different bridal boutiques before discovering her dream dress at Winnie Couture. “once I saw myself in the mirror, I burst into tears. I’m not a crier at all, so I knew at that moment that this was it for me.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
08
Pretty in Pink
“I knew I wanted my bridesmaids in blush pink and something very fitted,” says Tolu. “Finding them was easy. I was following a bridal page on Instagram, @bellanaijaweddings, and they tagged a dress page, @peridotofficial, that had some dresses that I thought were gorgeous.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
09
Partner, Lover, Friend
“I knew he was ‘The One’ when I realized I was my total self with him,” says Tolu. “My silly, crazy, loving self. Sometimes in relationships, we become so consumed by the other person that we tend to lose ourselves. But he helped me grow in so many ways.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
10
This Journey Is Ours
“I had a moment on our wedding day when I looked in Tolu’s eyes and remembered all the chapters that brought us to this moment,” says Lekan. “It felt right. It felt momentous. The journey that brought us to the altar was everything I anticipated.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
11
Don’t Worry About A Thing
“On my wedding day, I learned that in the end, everything will be alright,” says Tolu. “I had a few dramatic moments, but honestly my main focus was marrying my husband.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
12
An Ode To Tradition
From the food and music to the money spraying ceremony, everything about the Alase’s reception paid homage to their Nigerian heritage.
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
13
Showtime!
Tolu slipped into a glamorous sequin and surprised her new hubby with a performance. Way to go out with a bang!
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
14
Family Ties
“During the mother-son dance, the music changed to a more upbeat song and all of a sudden my mother in law came dancing towards me,” Tolu says of this moment. “It was a total surprise, she and my husband and had me join in on their moment. It made me feel as though we were one. It was a very sentimental moment for all of us.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
15
DIY Glam
As a clever cost-saving strategy, the couple chose to have a gorgeous faux cake on display at their reception. “The real cake we served was from Publix and cut in the back. We always loved how moist Publix cakes are. so we knew we wanted to do this idea since we started wedding planning.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
16
Flower Power
“We had an ivory flower wall behind our sweetheart table with a custom sign in gold that read ‘The Alase’s.’ We sat underneath a chandelier, which added just enough to where the spotlight remained on us.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
17
Tolu’s Advice To Future Brides
“My advice to future brides is don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t try to please everyone. Do what’s best for YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND. At the end of the day guests are going to remember how they felt during your wedding – not if the periwinkle napkins matched the blush flowers.”
Bridal Bliss: Tolu and Lekan's Garden Chic Wedding Gave Us Classic Romance
fotosbyfola.com
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