Photo: Nancy Ebert1/56My mum had two outfits made for the wedding, by a friend in Ghana. One was made of traditional kente cloth and the other was a silk fabric that is often used for making sarees.
Photo: Nancy Ebert2/56My stylist friend Aaron Francis Walker was instrumental on the day. I am wearing a very crinkled Ghost dress! We had to walk some distance from our car to the venue, as the streets were closed off ahead of the parade. Aaron did a fabulous job of keeping my dresses pristine and my nerves calm.
Photo: Nancy Ebert4/56Our wedding planner, the fabulous Michelle Norwood, helped me get into my Johanna Ortiz dress.
Photo: Nancy Ebert6/56The Preservation Hall “stage” is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city.
Photo: Nancy Ebert10/56I walked down the aisle to Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” with both my mum and dad.
Photo: Nancy Ebert13/56Our friend Endy was ordained for the occasion and officiated the ceremony. We wrote our own vows. Mine were lengthy and made everyone laugh; Saul’s were brief and made everyone cry!
Photo: Nancy Ebert24/56Our guests were led outside for the start of the second-line parade, a New Orleans tradition. We kept this as a surprise.
Photo: Nancy Ebert25/56The surrounding streets were closed for the occasion, and we had a police escort.
Photo: Nancy Ebert26/56There are no bystanders in New Orleans, just guests that you haven’t invited yet!
Photo: Nancy Ebert30/56Traditionally, the married couple leads the parade. At one point, we decided to bring our family to the front.
Photo: Nancy Ebert34/56Saul has a great eye for detail; his vintage jewelry brought his look together.
Photo: Nancy Ebert35/56We chose the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum’s courtyard for our reception because of its lush foliage.
Photo: Nancy Ebert37/56Inside the Pharmacy Museum. Our guests were able to walk around and look at all of the incredible medicine jars. It also provided some much-needed shelter from the rain during the speeches.
Photo: Nancy Ebert38/56Our wedding cake was made and flown over from Portland by our dear friend Heather Memarian. She iced it at her hotel in New Orleans, and it was decorated with flowers from Leaf and Petal.
Photo: Nancy Ebert40/56My mum and I had so much fun dancing to “Sweet Mother,” a West African floor-filler. We also had frozen daiquiris, which everyone (including myself) absolutely loved.
Photo: Nancy Ebert41/56We had the most incredible Southern barbecue catered by Little Bushel. Not only was everything absolutely delicious, but it also looked beautiful.
Photo: Nancy Ebert42/56During our first dance, to the Hot 8’s cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.”
Photo: Nancy Ebert46/56Watching the speeches, which took place on the staircase inside of Pharmacy Museum. It was raining hard at this point.
Photo: Nancy Ebert47/56Before the bouquet toss. I didn’t want to throw mine, so we used one of the table arrangements!
