A Colorful Nigerian Wedding At The Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle, New York

When Ayobami Fatade first walked through the doors of Absolute Faith in Jesus Christ Ministries in Brooklyn, New York, the new church member had no idea that he would meet Grace Famodimu–the woman with whom he would spend the rest of his life. Grace noticed Ayo’s brilliant smile, and he was captivated by her mesmerizing eyes. Three years later, Ayo sealed the deal by proposing in front of their large families and a group of friends at the church where it all began.

For the wedding planning process, the couple began by hiring Fleur Occasions, setting their budget, and figuring out their wedding vision–classic, simple, and timeless. “Both of us have six siblings each; and with active families, we knew we had to proceed with wedding plans wisely to get the experience we hoped for,” Grace explains. “Planning an American white wedding and a traditional Nigerian wedding in eleven months may have seemed impossible, but this wedding planning feat seamlessly fell into place.”

The American wedding took place on July 3, 2015 at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle, New York. A live harpist played a selection of classical music, more than 100 guests were seated outdoors, and a floral arch was the ceremony’s focal point. The bride read a love note called “Ever So Often,” which the groom had previously written for her, and they both recited vows written on a custom scroll. 

“With friends and family witnessing our union and the sun kissing our faces, our ceremony was like one out of a storybook,” says the bride. “It also set the mood for our cocktail hour, filled with amazing food and music from our talented harpist from Maura & Co.”

The tabletops were adorned with glorious laurel branch centerpieces and other floral décor, which tied in perfectly with the custom table numbers. Guests were also treated to delectable cuisine and a signature Caribbean blue cocktail called “The Wumi.” 

An intimate moment between the groom and his mother took place as he bowed before her–a Yoruba tradition to express absolute respect and honor–putting everyone on the brink of tears. A lighthearted father daughter dance then followed, bringing everyone back from tears to smiles.

By the end of the night, the newlyweds had reached the end of a successful wedding, much to their own surprise. “Mastering an event timeline for a whopping 320 guests seemed like a mess of a plan,” says Grace. “But with great vendors, a great venue, great wedding coordinators, and great family to support us every step of the way, what we thought was impossible came true.”