Vows: On Cloud Nine
In what they describe as destiny for two stranded travellers, Oji Jaja, CEO of Jaja Culinary Service, and Terry-Ann Campbell, executive assistant to the CEO at CB Group, met in the departure lounge at Fort Lauderdale Airport on April 2, 2017. Both frequent travellers, Terry-Ann had a routine for choosing a particular seat in the departure lounge. As she approached her usual spot she noticed a young man she had previously seen on Instagram occupying the seat beside an empty chair. They exchanged pleasantries but engaged in a more meaningful conversation as their flight got delayed three times over a couple of hours. They talked for hours and ended up being the last two to board the flight. Terry-Ann was instantly smitten by his charm and mystique while Oji was intrigued by her beauty and witty rebuttals.
Within months, Terry-Ann fell in love with not only his culinary skills but, too, his creative mind and love for people and family. Oji, for his part, fell in love with Terry-Ann’s peaceful, reassuring, and calming spirit. Oji’s youngest son Mahari felt the same energy too and upon meeting Terry-Ann professed his love for his soon-to-be bonus mom.
The proposal took place at an intimate dinner with family on January 22, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale. One year later, on January 21, 2023, the couple tied the knot at an intimate garden ceremony with close family officiated by long-time family friend and pastor Rev Astor Carlyle.
Terry-Ann wore a white mermaid dress from Petals and Promises and the groom was dressed in an all-black custom-designed dashiki by local designer Zaid Smith.
The groom made his entrance to Love Has Found its Way by Dennis Brown, while the bride, escorted by her son Tarique Anderson, made her elegant entrance to Grover Washington Jr’s Just the Two of Us.
The elevated dining experience later was naturally handled by Oji’s Ashebre team and reflected the team’s creativity and the couple’s love of gastronomy. Other reception highlights included a special choreographed dance by Oji’s six-year-old niece Zoe Chimedza to Burna Boy and Ed Sheeran’s For My Hand.
After the ceremony the bride changed into a black floor-length sequinned dress as the couple graced the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife to John Legend’s Cloud Nine.
Soon after, the entire dance floor was filled with family dancing to old favourites such as Wife, Strength of a Woman and the latest afrobeats hits.