Culture Fusion Micro Wedding with African Ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland

Couple ties-the-knot in culture fusion micro wedding with traditional African ceremony, classy attire, and lots of love!

In spite of the pandemic, Veturah and Kevon wanted their special day to be filled with as many special moments as possible! Set in the elegant Sagamore Pendry hotel on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, their wedding boasts classic touches and strong ties to their family and culture. 

Celebrating Veturah’s Sierra Leonean background, they held a traditional African ceremony and an engagement party where they wore traditional West African clothing. Kevon’s Jamaican culture was honored on their actual wedding day through their music and food.

Read more about their love story and beautiful culture fusion micro wedding below!

• Couple: Veturah Thomas & Kevon Downer
• Occupations: Veturah is a Clinical Social Worker. Kevon is a Contractor.
• Wedding date: December 27, 2020
• Wedding location: Sagamore Pendry in Baltimore

Quick Facts:

• Gifts for your bridesmaids and groomsmen: Veturah gifted her bridesmaids with African Print Material to make head wraps and matching masks.
• Gifts for one another: Veturah gifted Kevon with Creed cologne. Kevon gifted Veturah with this microwedding.
• Ceremony entrance song: Kevon walked out to “She’s Royal” by Taurus Riley. Veturah walked out to “Giving Myself” by Jennifer Hudson.
• First dance song: “Nana’s Medley” by Nana Mclean

How they met…

On February 13th, 2019, Veturah received a call from a mutual friend exclaiming he’d found a “man” for her! That “man” turned out to be the love of her life! 

Their mutual friends eventually invited her to meet this mystery man at a bar. Veturah was hesitant at first but knew “her friends would not set her up.”

So, that night she met her friends at the bar and was introduced to a handsome man named Kevon. Who knew he’d become her future husband!

They’ve been together ever since!

The proposal…

By December of 2019, Kevon knew he wanted Veturah to be his wife. However, in spite of several meetings with her family expressing his interest to marry her, Veturah’s parents were giving Kevon a hard time.

Veturah says: “They asked him every question under the sun to vet him out and he did not back down.” 

Nevertheless, Kevon planned on proposing on Valentine’s weekend in 2020. However, Veturah’s mother had another idea. She insisted he wait until it was closer to Veturah’s birthday in July. So, he waited. He carried the ring with him everywhere he went hoping for “that feeling” to propose. 

When the couple went on a trip to Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland, he felt the time was right. Then Kevon remembered back when they first started dating, Veturah had mentioned to him: “if and when she was proposed to, she would want Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls” playing somewhere.” 

Standing on the beach, Kevon asked if he could take control of the music for a bit. Veturah gave him her phone unassumingly and a few moments later, THE SONG was playing! She turned around and Kevon was on one knee in the sand asking her to be his wife! She said yes and the rest is history!

Wedding details…

The couple describes their wedding style as traditional (with an African wedding Ceremony) and intimate (in its micro-wedding format).

For her wedding dress, Veturah chose a simple classic strapless ballgown with pockets by Essence of Australia.

Veturah describes her wedding shopping experience as “bitter sweet.”

Inspired by the show, “Say Yes to the Dress,” she went into dress shopping with one style in mind. In the end, she picked a completely different look! With the help of her sorority sisters and best friends from Howard University, she ultimately found the perfect dress!

Kevon wore a striking silver tuxedo with black trim by Stanlion.

Cultural elements…

To tie in their cultures, the couple held a Traditional African Ceremony (along with an engagement/engagement party) to pay respect to Veturah’s Sierra Leonean heritage.

At the micro wedding, they honored Kevon’s Jamaican culture with music and lots of delicious food! 

Favorite memory…

Veturah and Kevon both agree that the best memory from their wedding was the entire night. “We truly could not pick just one moment!”

Advice for other engaged couples…

“Hire a competent Wedding Planner.”

Looking for more culture fusion micro wedding inspiration?

Click here.

Vendors:

• Wedding Planner: 12in12 Design Group @12in12design
• Event Designer: 12in12 Design Group @12in12design
• Photography: Chip Dizard Weddings @chipdizard
• Videography: @class_style_productions
• Wedding Dress Designer: @essenseofaustralia
• Wedding Dress Salon: @bridalboutiquecolumbia
• Officiant: @cokobean30
• Seamstress for bridesmaid’s head wraps and matching mask: @purplegoddess11
• Hair Installation: @jaguardaartist_
• Hair Stylist: @nastasiaedwards
• Makeup: @shannieonthebeat
• Shoes: @Louisvuitton
• Ceremony Location: @sagamorependrybaltimore
• Reception Location: @sagamorependrybaltimore
• Florist: @edgefloraleventdesigners
• Cake: @locrockinclinician
• Groom’s attire: @Stanlion_clothing
• Twins Fashion International (Greenbelt, MD) (@twinsfashionintl)
• African Eleganza Fashions (Beltsville, MD)
• @reneemarieco 
• @elitesecretsbridal