Elegant Ghanaian Wedding at the Downtown Club in Philadelphia, PA | Janell and Eric | May 21, 2017

Brides Full Name Janell Davis-Mack
Grooms Full Name Eric Adjepong

Tell us how you met and all about the proposal.
I had just moved to New York from DC, and spotted Eric at a house party. I thought he was handsome, and we were introduced – but Eric doesn’t remember meeting me. A few days later while Eric was looking for the photographer from the party, he spotted my Facebook profile while scrolling on the friends’ list of the friend who the party was for. He took his shot and decided to send me a message on Facebook. We were a few days into the conversation on Facebook before I decided to check his profile and realized he was the guy from the party! (he still doesn’t remember meeting me). We eventually exchange numbers and go on our first date. Eric and I go on their first date at Café Lalo in the Upper West Side of NYC. Afterwards, Eric wasn’t too sure if I liked him. Meanwhile, I thought I hit the jackpot, texting my best friend “Girl. I think I found my husband.” We’ve been inseparable ever since. Eric proposed to me outside of that same cafe the following year.

Proposal –
Eric asked me to meet him at a random address to come meet some of his family one evening. I had a lot going on that day so I was pretty frazzled by the time I met up with him. I was running late so I double park, and hop out of the car and I see only him sitting on the bench. I go over to him and he has flowers. He knows I had a bad day and Eric is romantic so I think “Awww” but I definitely wondered where his family was that he wanted me to meet. He hugs me, starts talking about how much he loves me then I see him get down on his knee! I swear I saw it in slow motion. I was completely shocked! And when he opened the box I saw that it was the exact ring I had sent him from a jewelry designer in Los Angeles. How the heck?! I look up and realize we are right in front of Café Lalo where we had our first date – he had given me the address to a house across the street as to not give anything away. I look further and realize one of my friends is sitting in the window at Café Lalo recording the proposal. It was perfect. He is perfect.

WEDDING DETAILS
Wedding Style: Describe your wedding dress. What was wedding shopping like for you?
My dress was a strapless, ivory lace trumpet style dress with a detachable double skirt with tulle. My dress was designed by Zuhair Murad and purchased at Glamour Closet in NYC. It was not difficult searching for or selecting it. I made appointments at five different bridal shops in NYC, and I found my dress at a casual stroll through Glamour Closet after attending my third bridal appointment. I knew it as the one when I put it on.

Culture: Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? If yes, tell us more.
We did a traditional Ghanaian wedding in September 2016, which took place in Columbia, Maryland.

Memories: What is your best memory from your wedding?
I loved doing our first dance and hearing my mom sing as I was walking down the aisle. Her voice calmed all of my nerves. I also loved seeing Yonathan for the first time. Finally, I loved when my dad saw me in my dress for the first time.

Advice: What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Our best memory from the wedding is the reception – actually getting married and saying our vows in front of all of our friends and family. Eric’s Aunt Agatha was the officiant and was the perfect person for the job.

QUICK FACTS
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen gifts:
Bridesmaids – gift cards specific to each bridesmaid
Groomsmen – travel bags with a bottle of bourbon

Favorite item on the menu:
Muscovy Duck Breast

First dance song:
“Ah Yeah” – Robert Glasper Ft. Musiq Soulchild And Chrisette Michele

Theatrical Trailer


CAST & CREW

Planner: Pinch & Plate
Florals & event design: Q|A Designs
Day of Coordinator: Details Made Simple
Photography:  Anastasia Romanova Photography
Cinematography : Yamean Studios Films
wedding dress designer: Zuhair Murad
wedding dress salon: Glamour Closet
bridesmaids dresses: White Runway
hair/makeup: Bride – LaCretia Barnes of NappturallyU
Groom hair: Ramon Lorenzo;
Makeup: Mali Thomas of Mali Magic Inc.
Bride shoes: Bride – Stuart Weitzman;
Groom Shoes : Del Toro
Venue : The Down Town Club

cake: Jen Roach of Cescaphe Event Group

Romantic Whimsical Wedding at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Ayana and Yonathan | May 6, 2017

Brides Full Name Ayana Powell
Grooms Full Name Yonathan Habtemariam

Tell us how you met and all about the proposal.
We were introduced by a nurse at the hospital where I worked. Yonathan was in his last year of residency and I was a dietitian. Thanksgiving 2015 – He tricked me into thinking we were going to pick my sister up in Philly before heading to NJ to spend Thanksgiving with my grandfather. When I got there, I went upstairs and came back down and my niece, nephew, and sister had on shirts that had a picture of me and Yoni on the back of there shirts. They each turned around one by one and it said Will you marry me (Yoni was the me). Then he got down on one knee. I cried and almost fell.

WEDDING DETAILS
Wedding Style: Describe your wedding dress. What was wedding shopping like for you?
It was easy. I wanted a ball gown but saw my dress during my very first dress shopping trip. I knew I was going to get it before even trying it on.

Culture: Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? If yes, tell us more.
Yonathan is Ethiopian and I am an American born descendent of Africans brought here as slaves (I’m black).

Memories: What is your best memory from your wedding?
I loved doing our first dance and hearing my mom sing as I was walking down the aisle. Her voice calmed all of my nerves. I also loved seeing Yonathan for the first time. Finally, I loved when my dad saw me in my dress for the first time.

Advice: What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Get an end of month planner or a final week planner. It doesn’t matter how detail oriented you are, after doing everything by yourself you will be beat. My venue planners were amazing and did not fall into that group of venue planners who only have the venue in their best interest (everyone warns you about that); however, I realized during the week leading up to my wedding that I required more help than anticipated with things that weren’t related to the venue. I’m very detailed oriented and hands on but wish I would have had a week of planner.

QUICK FACTS
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen gifts:
Cute sandals to dance in, Silk pink/lace robes, Clutch, Earrings

Favorite item on the menu:
Cake

First dance song:
Something just like this – Coldplay


CAST & CREW

Photography:  Megan Keller Photography
Cinematography : Yamean Studios Films
Bridesmaids dresses : Dahnistry Couture
Wedding Dress : Lazarro
Cake : Termini Brothers
Decor/Florals : Pretty Posh Design
Venue : National Constitution Center
Catering : Brulee
Make-Up : Joelle Phillips
Stationary : Minted
Quartet : Philadelphia String Quartet
Selfie mirror : DJ Lou Dimarco