Samuel and Amy’s Cinderella-Themed Wedding Was a Fairytale Come to Life

Samuel and Amy’s enchanting Cinderella-themed wedding at the Baltimore Museum of Arts was a fairytale come to life. (As seen in MunaLuchi Bride Magazine, Issue 33!).

While they are happily married, Samuel and Amy’s love story got off to a bit of a rocky start. When a mutual friend suggested the two single parents connect over text, it only took a few message exchanges before Amy “ghosted” Samuel. “I must say…it was not love at first text!” Samuel jokes.

But when Samuel reached out with detailed plans for their first date, Amy knew she’d found her Prince Charming. 

Samuel popped the question during a trip to Los Angeles for Amy’s birthday. After successfully quashing suspicions that he’d use the vacation to propose, he secretly got to work. With help from Amy’s friends who lived in the area, Samuel collaborated with a Beverly Hills-based jeweler and secured the perfect restaurant for the proposal. “Amy had NO clue she was getting engaged up until the moment I got down on one knee,” he recalls.

In October of 2023, the couple said “I Do” in a whimsical, Cinderella-themed affair at the Baltimore Museum of Arts.

The duo worked meticulously to ensure every detail contributed to the wedding’s fairytale feel; opulent floral arrangements in shades of lavender, blue, and pink filled the venue, and guests were directed to their seats by place cards in glass slipper-themed holders. The bride made sure even her veil was on-theme, hand-sewing blue butterflies onto the garment in a last-minute stroke of inspiration. “It felt like a dream come true, adding such an enchanting touch to the day,” she says. 

They also kept their guests’ experience top of mind, offering time for attendees to explore three of the museum’s incredible exhibits before the festivities kicked off. 

Ultimately, Samuel and Amy’s wedding was a true fairytale, blending romance, whimsy, and personal touches to create an unforgettable celebration. Their magical night at the Baltimore Museum of Art was the perfect way to celebrate their forever love.

Keep reading for a closer look at how the couple celebrated their happily ever after.

*Pre-order a copy of Issue 33 on our Muna Shop!

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• Couple: Samuel and Amy Sarfo
• Location of Wedding: Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, Maryland
• Wedding Date: October 14, 2023
• Photographer for Wedding: Linda McQueen Photography

Quick Facts:

• Wedding flowers: The floral concept was fairytale-inspired. We designed a faux moss base with lavender roses, purple heirloom roses, blue hydrangea, delphiniums, and Alliums.
• Favorite item on the menu: The Wedding Cake, which was a vanilla and chocolate swirl cake with homemade caramel sauce, chocolate ganache, and vanilla buttercream!
• Bridesmaids/groomsmen gifts: Custom Platinum Watches.
• First dance song: “Superstar” by Usher
• Advice for brides: NO matter what time/effort or blood, sweat, and tears you put into your wedding when the day begins, everything is officially out of your hands. Know that no one has a flawless wedding because there are so many moving components at play, so if something doesn’t go as planned… remember… THIS IS YOUR BIG DAY! You are the most beautiful thing in the room, and you DID it. You are marrying the man of your dreams (AND you can ALWAYS get that vendor REFUND!).

How did you meet?

Sam: In 2020, Amy and I were both single parents to our little girls. We lived 70 miles apart, between Baltimore, Maryland, and Woodbridge, Virginia. And had virtually no options of crossing paths. But in November, I was preparing to be a groomsman at my friend’s wedding in Los Angeles. Amy was a friend of the bride and was invited to the wedding as well. 

Weeks before the wedding, the bride happened to see Amy rant, via social media, about a bad date she had experienced. She reached out to her to ask if she was still open to dating because she knew I was single and thought we should meet because we had so much in common. So, she put Amy and I in touch via text, and I must say… it was not Love at first ‘text’! We messaged back and forth a few times, and then she “ghosted” me. 

I, however, had other plans! The week of the wedding, I reached back out to her and asked if she was still coming to the wedding. If she was, I planned transportation from the airport for her and our first date. She had arrangements, but she canceled them! Because she felt I was “a Man with a Plan!” I met her at the airport and took her on our first date… and we’ve been inseparable since that day! 

The Proposal…

Sam: As a unit, Amy and I pride ourselves on planning and preparations. We were planning our first family trip with the kids and her mother. The timing of the trip “happened” to land on Amy’s birthday in July. It would be our first time back in Los Angeles since the wedding we’d attended and fallen in love with each other. There was a lot of speculation amongst her friends that I was getting ready to propose. So, I firmly put to bed the idea and assured her that this was simply a trip for both her birthday and for the family. 

Once I had her convinced, I then proceeded with my plans for our “Engagement Trip!”. To my benefit, the jeweler was in Beverly Hills, and her two best friends resided there as well. They would be my allies in keeping the plans running smoothly. As Amy and I made plans for activities with the kids and reservations for her birthday dinner at her favorite Japanese restaurant, Yamashiro’, I was trying to secure the perfect place to have our proposal dinner. Finding a reservation in LA for 7 adults and 5 children while still under COVID restrictions became a major problem! The Besties came to my rescue, and we managed to find a restaurant, leaving the last obstacle: the delivery of the ring. 

I had been in contact with the jeweler since April designing the ring, and while it was completed in June, I couldn’t very well just have it delivered to the “queen of packages” doorstep.

So, the plan was to pick it up during our trip. I waited until we’d taken the kids to the pool, and a courier delivered the ring to me downstairs. I had to lie and tell her that I needed to take a work call on a Saturday! This was the day of the proposal, mind you.

Everything afterward went smoothly; Amy had NO clue she was getting engaged up until the moment I got down on one knee. She was so shocked during and even after saying yes, that she admittedly stated, “I don’t know which hand it goes on!”

How did you know they were “the one”?

Amy: I knew Sam was “the one” on the night of his first birthday we spent together. Sam is a December baby, and all December babies get a little bitter about sharing their birthday with Christmas! So, I made it a point to make him feel super special and planned a birthday party for him. His birthday marked one month of us meeting, and we had the most amazing night in D.C. with our close friends! Watching him have such a special moment made me realize that I never wanted to have another special moment without him.

Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? 

The most important cultural aspect of our wedding for me was “The Jumping of the Broom.” We had our officiant share the history behind the act of jumping the broom and the significance of the ritual to our guests before we jumped! It is an African American wedding tradition that honors our ancestors as we take our very first step into marriage, but it also has historical Ghanaian heritage in the belief that the broom holds spiritual value and signifies the sweeping away of evil spirits and past wrongs.

Describe your wedding style.

Our wedding style was a mystic, fairytale with hints of glamour. The theme of our wedding was Cinderella and Sam and I were all about the details. We loved sourcing as many detailed accents to complement the theme, from the Glass-Slipper Place Card Holders to the Royal Wedding Invitations!

Describe your wedding dress and your favorite wedding accessory. 

“Romantic-glitzy” would be the best description of my gown. When I visited Ese for my first fitting, I was COMPLETELY against the princess/ball-gown silhouette! I had made up my mind that I was a “Mermaid” Bride! But I am so happy I let the pros guide me to understanding the best of BOTH worlds! 

My bespoke gown was a 2-in-1 creation, so I was able to keep with the theme of a fairytale ballgown and also achieve my dream of being a “mermaid-bride” at the same time! However, without a doubt, my wedding veil stole my heart as the best accessory; it completely took my breath away when it arrived! I never imagined it would be so stunning in person, with the delicate sky-blue rose petals woven into the white tulle fabric. 

In a last-minute burst of inspiration, I hand-sewed pastel butterflies to capture the whimsical essence of our Cinderella theme. It felt like a dream come true, adding such an enchanting touch to the day.

What is your best memory from your wedding? 

The best memory from our wedding for Sam was our entrance to our reception! I’m not much of a dancer, and he was worried that I was going to be too shy to dance in front of a crowd because he’d literally never seen that side of me. For weeks, he’d been asking me what I would do, and I told him, “As the bride, I didn’t have to dance!” (while secretly planning to SHOCK him to his core!). If you ask him today, He’d say I did just that! 

My best memory was our first look! I think it was literally the one moment during our wedding when time slowed down. I was so excited to see him and for him to see me and visualize all our hard work finally coming to fruition. It was a very magical moment for me.

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? 

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make while planning a wedding is your choice of a Wedding Planner. What good will a team full of stars do if the coach can’t lead them to the win?! The planner is essential to how your day runs and how it turns out. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

Other details… 

We put a lot of thought into the experience our guests would have while attending our wedding. We wanted them to have an experience they’d never forget! They had private time in 3 exhibits to view the art prior to the ceremony. At the reception, we made sure they’d have a blast with an open bar, a champagne wall, an instant photo booth, and a 360-camera booth. 

But the decor was the main event! Our florist and stage production team literally created a whimsical fairytale with live flowers that filled the room! The ceremony and the reception smelled as if you were sitting in a garden of roses. The reception tables were set around trees that cascaded the tables with hanging roses. And everywhere you looked, there were small notes to Cinderella.

If you have the budget, get that videographer AND the photographer because when the day is over, those memories they document last a lifetime!

Want more fairytale wedding inspiration?

Click here.

Vendors:

• Videographer: Iris Films 
• Photographer: Linda McQueen Photography 
• Florals: Bethel Events Production 
• Production: The LightSource Company 
• MUA: Blush by Makki
• Flower Wall & Photo Booth: eyeObee PhotoBooth 
• Champagne Wall: My Dream Party Productions
• Catering: Eleven Courses Catering & Event Co. 
• Cake Designer: Blue Lace Cakes
• Hair Stylist: Tyiesha & Jimmy Museau of Hair Chemistry Miami
• Bride’s Dress: Ese Azenabor
• Groomsmen’s suits: Billionaire New York   
• Venue: Baltimore Museum of Art
• Officiant: Rev. Omari Hughes