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Ruth Butaumocho and Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Splendiferous is the word, for lack of better diction.
To imagine the wedding was planned in just nine days, is more of a dream or probably befitting a script for a Hollywood movie.
But this is not Hollywood; this is exactly the wedding that Phillip Chiyangwa, also known as Captain Fiasco, and his long-time fiancée, Sarah Frankis, carved, scripted and performed much to the chagrin of his detractors. That is Philip, the real Philip.
The maverick famed for his business acumen, lavish lifestyle and megaphone diplomacy, was at it again, this time beating all and sundry to the game.
No narrative can go beyond this point without acknowledging the wedding planner, Elaine Frankis (Sarah’s sister) to whom the depth, the glamour, grandeur, pomp and zest should be attributed.
For, the chosen 50 guests, June 28 2024, will forever be a day to remember. They understood the assignment and dressed to the dot.
Philip was dressed in a black tuxedo and this was a special suit, which he personally flew to South Africa to buy. And, wait a minute, this tuxedo is not the one worn by Jackie Chan in the movie The Tuxedo. Far from it, the specs are different and for Phillip, it fitted him like a glove.
Sarah looked angelic. She shone luminously against the contrast of the white lily, which complemented the white and black design that was neatly perched alongside the aisle.
Made by celebrity designer and stylist, Ishmael Tsakatsa of the Zarguesia Brand, the gown came from a memorabilia screenshot of a wedding picture Sarah kept in her phone tucked in the gallery section for years.
Like a little girl yearning for a sweet, she would constantly marvel at the silk-and taffeta wedding dress, quietly hoping her fiancée would one day pop the question.
“It was a serene dream. Very unbelievable,” said Sarah.
The bride Sarah
Conscious of the A- guests list, popular Harare events manager and barricade expert Godfrey Ngomani, who runs Gabrem Marketing, added spark to Chiyangwa’s wedding reception by working on a state-of-the-art deco, that was inspired by Sarah’s selection on flowers and accessories.
His team spent three days mounting the main stage, an imposing ramp, which overlapped the swimming pool, eight mirror panels, emblazoned in well-woven and elaborate selection of natural flowers and accessories to give a fine finish.
Ngomani, who has been offering barricading, sound and lighting services at national events, turned Chiyangwa’s Borrowdale Brooke mansion into a little paradise.
“After sitting down with the bride during planning, she said she wanted want to walk on water, that’s where the concept came from.”
“We had to put the balustrades over the swimming pool to create the runaway,” Elaine explained.
When Chiyangwa finally asked for her hand in marriage, Sarah quickly retrieved the photo and immediately hunted down a designer, whose style and ingenuity would transform her long-held wish into a reality.
In an interview, Sarah admitted that turning that designer gown into reality took a lot of hard work.
“The design team had to come to her house for the briefing and the fittings.
“The team worked flat out and what came out was a magnificent piece, something I never imagined,” she enthused.
Tsakatsa said the gown was a reflection of the bride’s serenity, taste, femininity and beauty.
“It was a sweeping floor length mermaid gown with a corset bodice featuring pearl, glass beads crystals and rhinestone embellishments, rounded off with a long white cathedral veil.
“The gown took 215 hours to complete the bead-work and perfecting the fit.”
“The inspiration was a timeless elegance for a modern sophisticated bride who embraces her feminine beauty and flair,” he explained.
Sarah complemented the gown with a pair of earrings bought by Chiyangwa during their courtship days more than a decade ago.
Waltzing in front of her guests, one could not help but marvel at her hair and make-up done by her stylists, who have been dressing her over the years.
On to the cake, the gorgeous bride wanted a simple but elegant three-tier cake.
The Chiyangwas pose for photographs.
The cake was made by popular cake boss Michealson and again it was inspired by a magazine picture.
As with any wedding, people are curious to know more about the rings, the suit and guest list among others.
“My husband went to South Africa to purchase his suit unlike what other grooms do where they work with personal shopper or do a month window shopping a suit. He knew the shop and what he wanted the perfect tuxedo.”
“The rings are from the Browns and I like the design and the carats,” she said.
Guests enjoyed the fruit cake that was served so much that not even a crumb was left.
“We never had left overs of the cake. I had instructed my team that they should cut the whole cake and serve everyone,” she said.
Some of the invited guests included Prophet Walter Magaya and his wife, Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire, legislator for Hwedza East Itai Ndudzo, Chegutu East legislator Webster Shamu, Zanu PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa and Mashonaland East Provincial and Devolution Apploniah Munzwerengi, who was the ring bearers for the two.
The couple has been together for more than a decade has five kids.
“We did everything in exactly the manner the bride and groom wanted,” said Elaine.
More than a week after the wedding, the streets are talking.
They are likely to talk for many moons to come, if not years.
Online Reporter