Real Texas {Nigerian} Wedding: Adetola + Jaison

Today we’re highlighting one of the stunning weddings we featured in the Spring/Summer 2011 Edition. The bride, Adetola, did all of the planning herself…and she really rocked it!  From the purple and turquoise combinations to the adorable flower girl dresses and peacock highlights – everything about the planning was simply on-point.  And as always, the photographic coverage by Raheem of Rhphotoarts, one of our M.Circle members, was brilliant.  Here’s the original wedding story from the issue:

Written by Akua Abeasi

A blind date for her senior homecoming dance was not what Adetola Rahman, graduate of the Art Institue and creator of Tola Taylor Creative, had in mind as a young girl preparing for her final year in high school, however, fast forward a decade later, and she could not  have been more content as she walked down the aisle towards her best friend, her lover, her once-upon-a-time blind date… now her husband-to-be.  Theirs is a friendship turned love story that took ten years in the making…a chance meeting that blossomed into a happy union of two families and cultures.

In July 2008, after ten years of courtship, Jaison Taylor, a teacher for Los Angeles County, asked Adetola to be his bride. Jaison orchestrated an intimate dinner for just the couple, where he served his culinary masterpiece of shrimp pasta, a favorite of Adetola. The dessert menu for the evening included apple pie a la mode and a hearty helping of Jaison’s total commitment and continuous friendship and love; which he promised on bended knees as he presented the ring Adetola had picked out some months prior to his official proposal. Adetola accepted Jaison’s proposal and the couple ended the night with a hug and kiss to seal the deal.

The couple opted for an outdoor garden wedding and eventually settled on a date of May 29, 2010. With experience in event planning, Adetola had a clear idea of what she wanted her wedding day to be like so she decided to plan it herself. She chose Pickwick Gardens in Burbank CA as her venue of choice and  envisioned  a seamless fusion of Nigerian and American cultures presented as an elegant and memorable affair. The bride’s love for peacocks and diamonds was very representative in the décor theme; right down from the floral arrangement to the save the date and wedding invitations. The vibrant colors of the peacock feathers coupled with a cohesive blend of purple, green and turquoise tints played well into the outdoor garden ambiance, transforming the venue into a botanical paradise. Adetola had the arduous task of coordinating a wedding party of 37 people: 4 best men, 4 maids of honor, 6 bridesmaids, 6 groomsmen, 5 flower girls, 5 ring bearers, 6 ushers and a bible carrier.

The ceremony commenced as the bridal party proceeded down the aisle, framed with decorative crystal trees and leading to a canopied seating area, elegantly decorated with delicate white flowers.  The soothing sounds of a violin ushered in the bride, hand in hand with her father. “For the ceremony we wanted to incorporate the Nigerian and American cultures by fusing traditional Nigerian wedding attire (aso oke) with traditional wedding gown attire,” said Adetola.  The bride stood graceful in her sweetheart bodice full white gown, accented with her custom-made authentic Nigerian head wrap (aso oke gele) with a birdcage veil and brooch (a signature masterpiece of Segun Gele). This unorthodox yet elegant look fed well into the couple’s wish to present a flawless union of the Nigerian and American cultures.   “This was my vision and Segun Gele made it into reality.  I was happy we were able to pull it off. “ The groom also wore the traditional Nigerian attire (aso oke) instead of the traditional suit or tuxedo. Under a sunny and clear blue summer sky and amidst nature’s floral arrangements, the couple was formally introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Jaison Taylor.

After the lovely ceremony, guests were invited to a champagne reception held at the Le Foyer Ballroom and Lounge in North Hollywood, CA. The venue was transformed into a reception fit for royalty: the tint of purple cascading on the eggplant table cloths and olive green satin napkins provided a majestic ambiance.   Invited guests were entertained with a live band, superb food and drinks, and a perfect reason to celebrate.

The reception was yet another avenue to showcase the bride’s rich Nigerian heritage, as the couple changed into their matching lace outfits (aso ebi) as they graced the dance floor during their celebratory dance as husband and wife. The couple and their guests danced the night away to vibrant sounds of the Yoruba live band, Ade Royal.  “I am proud of my Nigerian heritage and don’t believe because you marry outside of your culture you have to give it up.  This is an opportunity to share the beauty of my heritage with my spouse and the people around me,” says Adetola.

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Bride’s Corner: “Take it easy and be patient with each other, know in advance that some things may not go as planned and the only people that notice are you and the inside circle of people helping you plan.  Take a visit to your bakery before to make sure that you are on the same page as far as expectations for your cake, especially if your cake is custom designed. Things I would do differently: I would have planned to rest more before the wedding day. I was pretty pooped early into the day. I would have gone to check on the cake one last time at the bakery a couple days before the wedding.” Adetola.

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