African Sweetheart Weddings: A Story Of Love- Lola Ladipo Weds Shola St Matthew- Daniel

Beautiful bride Lola Ladipo tied the knot earlier this year to the love of her life Shola St Matthew- Daniel. We are thrilled to feature this couples adorable love story on African Sweetheart Weddings. Enjoy.

 I’m Lola St Matthew Daniel (you can call me Mrs SMD), formerly known as Lola Ladipo. I’m 32 years old. I used to live and work in London but have now relocated to Nigeria to be with my husband (who is amazing by the way! :-))

Shola and I met at a wedding in Lagos, Nigeria February 2012 (shout out to Kemi Onalaja). In fact, it was my sister’s friend who was getting married. One of her bridesmaids dropped out so she asked whether I’d fill her place since I was coming to Nigeria to visit my family anyway. So I happily accepted.

Meanwhile, Shola had previously told the bride that he was looking for a wife – seems he was on the prowl. On the wedding day, he spotted me whilst sitting on the stage with the other bridesmaids.

He then saw me standing outside the reception venue and obviously liked what he saw! He approached me but I apparently was quite blasé about him (almost to the point of coming across arrogant apparently – I really don’t remember this!). So he left and went about his business. But he finally obtained my details from the bride and played the whole cool game to pay me back for my blasé attitude! However, within a short time, soon “cool” turned to HOT and he couldn't resist but to call me everyday…

 …We spoke mostly on the phone and on Skype as I lived in London and Shola lived in Nigeria. He was extremely nice, persistent and seemed to want a commitment with the right person. In August 2012 I decided to see what this guy was all about and travelled to Nigeria to meet with him face to face to get to know his surroundings, his people and how he lived. The two weeks we spent together were absolutely amazing and from that time (after he asked me out a couple of times), we started a full blown courtship.

In December 2012, Shola came to London on holiday and proposed! We had spoken about marriage and I knew a proposal was on its way but didn't think it would happen that night. On 7 December, 2012, he got down on one knee at the Somerset House outdoor ice-skating rink, right in the centre in front of other skaters. Shola and his friend has planned with the ice stewards that everything would be captured on camera. It was such a surprise. What I loved about the proposal was that it was well planned with every moment photographed, Shola went out of his comfort zone (he had never skated in his life!) and it was just so romantic (a cold winters evening, on the ice, in front of a large Christmas tree and surrounded by sparkling lights and cheering onlookers). Absolutely perfect!

Lola and Shola St Matthew- Daniel are such a beautiful couple. African Sweetheart wishes you both a fun-filled and blessed married life.

Photography by Duduguy