You can say Sarah and Bio’s love story is as simple as ABC. The couple first met in their St. Louis, MO elementary school where the two shared the same fifth grade class. Bio and his family left St. Louis for Texas the summer before sixth grade, separating the pair, but distance wouldn’t stop true love. 15 years later after Sarah graduated from Spelman College and had returned to St. Louis to begin her career in Music Education, she received a message from Bio on Linkedin.
“He informed me that he was back in St. Louis getting his MBA from Washington University and wanted to reach out to see if I remembered him. Of course I remembered him! Sarah said. We corresponded pretty regularly via email from that day forward but didn’t officially start dating until a few months later. On Valentine’s Day, almost two years after that initial LinkedIn message, he took me back to our elementary school and proposed right in front of the playground where we met so many years before. It was perfect!”
Just like that, Sarah and Bio’s love was consummated where it all began. Our Coterie member, Muyiwa Adenubi of Forever Day Photos, captured this sweet St. Louis wedding.
Quick Facts:
Favorite item on the menu: Wedding cake
First dance song: Something – Lalah Hathaway and Snarky Puppy
Wedding flowers: Long-stemmed lilies, cream hydrangeas, craspedias, ivory roses, and dusty millers
Bride: Sarah Bilaye-Benibo – Vocalist/Entrepreneur
Groom: Biobele Bilaye-Benibo – Sales Strategy Insight Manager at PepsiCo
Wedding Location: New Town Chapel and Tent – St. Charles, MO
What was your wedding style?
My wedding dress was a sparkling tulle ball gown with a sweetheart bodice. It had a sheer, jeweled neckline and features a jeweled belt. My favorite accessory was my head piece that sat on my forehead.
How was culture incorporated in your wedding?
My husband is actually Nigerian so we had a traditional Nigerian wedding in Corpus Christie, Texas as well as a White wedding in St. Louis, MO. Both incorporated my American/Jamaican culture and his Nigerian culture through the music, the food, and of course the attire.
What was your favorite memory from your wedding?
My favorite memory from my wedding is the dancing! The father/daughter dance was so fun and heartfelt, it was really awe-inspiring! And my husband’s family always energizes the room on the dance floor so they really made it a joyous occasion.
What advice do you have for our brides-to-be?
My advice would be to make a list of the your top priorities; 3 things that you cannot live without on your big day. Once those things are taken care of, everything else is negotiable. Making every item a deal breaker can really be stressful and overwhelming to yourself and those helping you. It is your day, but you have a life to live after! Be wise about your priorities and approach the other things with an open mind.
Vendors
Videography – Complete We Do
Wedding Day Coordinator – Carolyn Burke
Florist – Walter Knoll
Photography – Forever Day Photos
Venue – New Town Chapel and Tent
Photo Booth – Trotter Photo of St. Louis
Cake – Wedding Cakes Unlimited
That was a nice feature. Enjoyed reading it!
Thanks again Munaluchi! It’s such an honor to be featured in a magazine that brought me so much inspiration for my big day!
This is perfection. Such love radiates from every picture. God is in this!!