Jemele Hill and her fiancé Ian Wallace are very close to saying “I do” and so it’s only right that they bring their closest family and friends together to celebrate.
For their engagement party, the couple brought their closest family and friends together at Fisher Mansion in Detroit — a historic, 16,000-square-foot English Tudor Revival-style home. The theme of the night was “Endless Love,” inspired by the 1981 chart-topping duet by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie.
According to Detroit Metro Times, the place was bumping good music and served delicious fusion foods all night. The couple, styled by Kenni Wallace, rocked green and white as a nod to their alma mater, Michigan State University. Their soiree was spearheaded by Hill’s maid of honor and business partner Kelley Carter and Wallace’s best man Rich Bass.
Hill’s father Jerel Brickerson gushed about the evening, telling The Times, “She could fit in my hand when she was first born. Now I can’t pick her up, but I’m really proud of her and I’m glad that she did it her way.”
Hill’s bridal shower, hashtagged #JemelesFinalFiesta, was held during the same weekend. The journalist once again thanked her BFF Kelly for pulling all of the party details together seamlessly. I have the best Maid of Dishonor on EARFFF … that’s right EARF,” she writes. “@kelleylcarter made my engagement party-bridal shower weekend such a memorable event. I literally just showed up.”
Hill and Wallace have landed on the wedding hashtag #FromMsuToIDo. The two attended Michigan State at different times but met officially during Michigan State’s 2014 homecoming festivities. They began dating in 2015 and got engaged in December 2018.
Hill spoke with ESSENCE exclusively about how it feels to be swept off her feet.
“[It feels] surreal, but right,” she says. “Like a lot of women my age, I’m so used to seeing this happen to someone else. It feels a little weird for it to finally be my turn. But I’ve known for a while that I wasn’t going to let this one get away from me. I’ve found someone who makes me better, takes care of my spirit, and is secure enough to handle the public attention I receive. I truly feel like the luckiest woman on Earth.”
Check out the cutest moments from Jemelle Hill and Ian Wallace’s bridal weekend in the gallery below.
