Adwoa said that she and Haigo spend a lot of time holding hands and laughing. If that isn’t what love shoud be, what is?
“I wanted it to be simple but refined,” said Adwoa of her wedding day hair.
What a perfect behind-the-scenes shot!
Adwoa had the help and guidance of her mother during every step of her wedding planning. How special and precious.
Adwoa looked absolutely stunning on her wedding day in a beautiful sweetheart neckline blush color Monique L’Hullier dress.
Haigo looked very dapper on his wedding day! His suit and shirt were custom made.
Nothing like the moment when a bride slips into her dress right before the start of her big day.
“In the Baha’i Faith, there’s no tradition around the guy ‘popping the question’ in recognizing that women and men are equal,” said the bride. “Since we had been talking about what we wanted to get out of our relationship since getting to know each other, neither one of us was trying to catch or pursue the other person. We just wanted for each of us to have whatever would be healthiest, most fulfilling and I simply felt I could see myself on an eternal journey with him. I had never felt the profound comfort, ease, assurance, hope and joy with anyone else and I wanted to be with someone who was committed to not just me but also the divine institution of marriage. I felt we could build something strong and joyful together that would not only make our personal lives fulfilling but could bring something positive to our friends and community beyond us. I wanted to be in a marriage that could be of service and I was already experiencing the embers of that flame in our courtship.”
Adwoa’s dress was one that she hadn’t imagined she would try on but it was better than anything she would have picked for herself.
“The day was a whirlwind!” the bride recalled. “I felt at ease but also keenly aware that I needed to be as present as possible for all the family and guests who had travelled so far to celebrate with us. I felt torn that I couldn’t give the attention I hoped to all those loved ones but I felt surrounded in the love and happiness of everyone there and even those who couldn’t make it. It was amazing to have it at home, I think it added to making me less anxious but my mum might have more insight into how I actually was that day since it all went by so quickly for me! OF course, the best part was finally being married to Haigo in a joyful and prayerful atmosphere full of music.”
“I love the picture of me, the handmaidens and the bestman-lady holding the bouquets out front because it’s a fun testament of long lasting and strong newer friendships,” said Adwoa. “Those ladies came to love each other in such a short period of time not knowing one another from before the wedding.”
“He’s a man of integrity,” Adwoa said of Haigo. “He’s exceedingly compassionate and generous to friend and stranger alike, and he’s essentially constantly striving to be of service to others. He is musically talented and profoundly empathetic. He is very purposeful and a great encourager.”
How beautiful does Adwoa look?!
“We got to marry one another with the love and support of family and friends. IF anything went wrong, we weren’t aware of it and we just basked in the joy of the day.”
Haigo proposed to Adwoa over the phone. Even though the couple were apart in that moment, their hearts were deeply connected and neither of them will ever forget it.
“Whenever she is confronted with something that is difficult, she looks inward and considers her inner reality and considers what she can adjust before she assigns blame to something or someone else. She takes responsibility for her own experience of things in life.”
“I couldn’t imagine being married and building a family with someone with whom I couldn’t share and study prayers,” said the Bride. “And not only did he just want to do it that one evening but every night over the phone once I returned home. I felt, with him, I could learn about creating a devotional character in a future home and community and well…he had an amazing sense of humor and could genuinely make me laugh.”
Adwoa had a feeling in January 2015, that she would be married by the end of the year. “I never could have planned it or anticipated any of this but I finally had faith, intention and was open and purposeful without lowering my hopes and expectations,” she said.
Adwoa’s bridal glow is just contagious!
Adwoa’s father walked her down the aisle to “If It’s Magic” by Stevie Wonder which a friend played on the piano.
The couple exchanged rings and swapped their “I Do’s!”
The love these two share is just beautiful!
The couple performed the ceremony themselves by including a verse and vow of marriage.
The couple’s reception was simple and perfect.
“At the end of the Ghanaian ceremony, our entire family came together in a collective and spontaneous hug while Adwoa and her mum sang a prayer in harmony together,” said the groom. “It’s easily the most united experience I can imagine ever having experienced in my entire life and I cherish that moment.”
“We were able to hold back the tears and it was just face cramps from all the smiles. I think we both anticipated tears but we definitely felt so many different emotions in that whirlwind day. “
“The pledge of marriage in the Baha’i Faith, the verse to be spoken individually by the bride and the groom in the presence of at least two witnesses is “We will, all, verily, abide by the Will of God”. So, those were our vows.”
The flowers featured during Adwoa and Haigo’s wedding were gorgeous!
The couple married on the bride’s family estate. What a wonderful place to start anew.
“I’ve said that our theme was rustic but it was really unity,” said Adwoa. “There were so many different cultures and people coming together to celebrate the fact that Haigo and I were getting married. That’s the perfect theme.”
The couple served vegan donuts to their guests and they look delicious!
Adwoa and Haigo’s reception setting was so very charming!
“My dad walked me down the aisle because I wanted to honor him and a tradition that I felt was important to him and I knew he wanted to honor me in that way,” said the bride.
The centerpieces are absolutely stunning! The head of the table was a focal point with had silver dollar eucalyptus, seeded eucalyptus and baby blue eucalyptus.
During the reception, the couple served a variety of desserts instead of just one specific cake. Options included chocolate, hazelnut, mango/passionfruit, lemon, key lime, vanilla, apple, spice. We’ll take one of everything!
As Adwoa and Haigo entered the reception Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours!” played. How perfect!
While the couple didn’t have a traditional first dance, they seemed to party the night away!
Adwoa and Haigo come from different backgrounds and cultures that beautifully blended together on their wedding day. No better way to celebrate than with a smooch for the one you love!
The couple had two ceremonies, including one that was a nod to Adwoa’s Ghanian heritage.
“The qualities of hers that attracted me to her were: her intelligence as manifested through the fact that it was fun and interesting to talk to her—I felt as though I learned things from her,” said the groom. “We could do really fun things together but could also frankly, be bored together. I liked that she was strong and able to stand up for herself and had her own hopes and plans for the future. She had many qualities I admired that I didn’t feel I possessed. I was drawn to her prayerfulness, her adherence to principle and the fact that she put what she said or thought into action. I saw an equal in her.”
“I love his ability and striving for coherence in physical, mental, spiritual health and creating opportunities for that for his friends and he’s just got a sense of humor that I really appreciate,” said Adwoa. “I’m also in awe of his sense of responsibility and how he strives for excellence in all that he does.”
“Praying in a hug with the family at the end of the Ghanaian ceremony was a favorite wedding memory for Haigo and my favorite memory was when all our guests sang “Let the flame of the love of God burn brightly within your radiant hearts’ call and response although there was a diversity of faith backgrounds and most people had probably never heard the some before. I love that it was unplanned and Haigo and I recessed to everyone singing until we reached the front steps of the the house on the last two beats.”
“She’s smart, funny and quirky. She’s very dedicated to the things that are important to her. If she had a super power, it would be making and maintaining friendships,” Haigo said.
Adwoa wore a dress for the Ghanian ceremony that was made from Kente cloth. Haigo wore a matching bow tie that he had made with remaining fabric from his bride’s dress.
