Meroë and Ghislain have a wonderful love story, which we shared here as one of our Real Engagements! The two met in the summer of 2011 during Meroë's internship. The couple planned an elegant wedding that showcased both the African American and Cameroonian clutures. "The best part about our wedding was the fusion of two different cultures! From the food, to the music and all the people present, we had a wide variety of cultural backgrounds and languages being spoken. The toasts were given in English and French which made everyone there feel included," said Meroë. Check out their special day captured by Lola Snaps Photography!
From the Bride:
My wedding day was so special to me! It was amazing for me to see our loved ones come together from all over the world to make sure that our wedding was beautiful and fun! We had an outdoor ceremony and reception so the possibility of rain was very stressful for us. It rained for about ten minutes an hour before the ceremony and then the sun was out for the remainder of the day! For the remainder of the day the weather was sunny and warm…just beautiful! I felt so blessed to be marrying this amazing man who God placed into my life, and to have the full support of our families.
From the Groom:
As the big day was getting closer, I was more and more stressed as I felt that we were not quite ready to deal with the details. On the big day however, things went very smoothly with friends and family helping to set the place up. The weather was beautiful and the event was perfect.
The couple's most memorable moment:
Our favorite moment was listening to each other’s vows which we wrote ourselves. It was a challenge to begin the process of writing them but was well worth it. We were both extremely touched by the vows that we wrote for each other and we recommend that all couples do the same.
What makes your love special?
The love that we have is enhanced by our unique cultural backgrounds. We respect each other values and appreciate the unique perspectives that we both contribute to the relationship. Even though our relationship has been mostly through long distance, we have made it work by communicating effectively which has strengthened our bond over time.
Favorite wedding detail:
Our favorite details from our wedding were the personalized decorations. We made our own centerpieces by adhering peach and gold glitter to wine bottles that we collected over time. We had three bottles on each table on top of a round mirror and sprinkled acrylic jewels around them. We also had flowers in each bottle. Each centerpiece looks slightly different which was so nice! Also, our friends and family made tissue paper poms which were hung from the top our tents. All the decorations were uniquely made which is why it is special to us.
What are you most looking forward to as a married couple?
We are looking forward to building a life together! We are both at the beginning stages of our careers so teamwork will be essential in our journey towards owning a home and raising children. Family is super important to us, so we are definitely excited about having children, but we want to make sure we have a solid foundation before we bring them into the world.
Advice for a Bride and Groom on their wedding day:
Please actually eat the food that you paid for! We were so nervous about making sure everything would flow smoothly during the reception that we probably ate 10 bites of food between the two of us! The food was so plentiful and delicious at our wedding but we barely got to enjoy it because of our nerves. As a back-up plan, have someone make you some to go plates because if you do not have an appetite during the reception, you will be starving after you leave! We ended up having to grab some fast food on our way to the hotel because we had barely eaten.
Congrats to newlyweds Meroë and Ghislain! We wish you many more years of wedded bliss!
Vendors:
Ceremony and reception location: Private Residence in Accokeek, MD
Bridal gown: David’s Bridal
Groom’s tux: Connaisseur de Paris
Cake: Cupcakes by Patrick
Caterer: Yolanda Wheatley
Wedding planners: Andrea Davis at Entyse Lyfe
Music: DJ Micky
Curated by our Wedding Features Editor, C.K. Alexander. C.K. is the creator of the Single Bride Blog and the owner and founder of Love Ink and Brownstone Bridal. Keep up with C.K. on Twitter here: @Love_Ink
