Onye & Sam’s Incredible Cultural Wedding!
Posted on 15 November 2011
Believe it or not I started working with Onye and Sam back in 2008 so have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with them in planning their wedding! With both of them living in Toronto and completing their medical studies, we took some time out during the planning process so they could commit to their studies and hectic work schedules and then re-focus the wedding plans – which is sometimes a very sensible thing to do!
OMGoodness, this wedding really was incredible with a cultural mix from Nigeria and the Caribbean, Italy and the US we really had a great time being creative in the planning of their wedding! But what I had no control over was the stunning clothes the guests wore to the wedding and I was just in awe of their outfits and head pieces, really something very beautiful.
Onye and Sam chose Soft Pinks & Silver as there colour scheme and the Wedding Party wore two different outfits, one for the Ceremony and one for the Reception. Onye and Sam too had two different sets of wedding clothes and changed after dinner for the Party!
With approx 400 guests attending the wedding, it was very cultural for the family members to step in and help out and I must admit they were a godsend! We had two different caterers; Nigerian Caterer’s came in from Ottawa and we used a local Caribbean Caterer here from Lasalle so it was fantastic that Onye’s two Aunts (who have catering background’s) took over the co-ordination of the food and the kitchen!
‘Westcan’ African Dancers lead the Wedding Couple into the room and MC Trixx, an International Comedian had the wedding guests laughing and laughing at his sense of humour and ‘wittiness’ (if that is a word).
Something that was very special and I really loved was that the ‘Elders’ of both families sat at the table of honor with the couple and were the ones to make the first blessing for the food and for the couple and to welcome guests with the ‘Breaking of the Kola Nuts’, which is an Igbo tradition. This is performed as the Welcoming Ceremony at any important gathering, once the Kola Nut is shared and eaten, then the celebrations begin!
“Rachel was instrumental in helping us stay organized, on budget, and in finding ways to incorporate cultural traditions and foods - she is a phenomenal wedding planner and her team is excellent, she and her assistant actually tracked all 600 guest RSVPs for us!! We strongly recommend her to anyone who needs a wedding planner! Thank you so much Rachel! Grazi! Imena! Merci!
Photo Credit: International Photo Imaging (IPI Studio), Flowers by Flora International, Cake by Decor Gateau Montreal
1 Response to Onye & Sam’s Incredible Cultural Wedding!
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Rachel Cripps-Gervais
Location: Montreal and Surrounding Areas, Quebec, Canada
“I love working with clients who really know how to bring a piece of themselves to the Wedding, truly creating their ‘lifestyle’ wedding! Our aim is to remove that weight from your shoulders and have some fun along the way.... After all, you created that once in a lifetime moment when you fell in love and we want to give you a once in a lifetime experience designing and planning the wedding of your dreams!”
..................................................................Wine with a Wedding Planner
RACHEL AND ROXIE
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Wow! Rachel, this is one of the most colourful weddings that I’ve seen on your blog. You are right, the outfits and head dresses were stunning. I’m sure the music must have been fantastic too!