Dana Dillon-Townes and Nonye Onyewu met while studying at Virginia Tech. The two were friends first, but their love blossomed over Sunday dinners at another student’s home. This summer, after nine years together, the couple tied the knot in a fabulous affair.
The couple said “I Do” at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Portsmouth, Virginia on July 31, 2010. The reception was held at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel and the wedding was planned with the help of Antonia Christianson, www.antoniachristiansonevents.com
Dana Dana shut it down with her shoes on her wedding day. She walked down the aisle in a pair of satin, magenta peep-toe Christian Louboutin heels. We saw a few red-bottoms at weddings this year. This pair may be our fave!
Dana kept this pair of blue sandals to change into for her reception outfit.
Kim Wadsworth, www.kimwadsworth.com, kept it fairly simple for Dana’s wedding day, emphasizing her eyes with a touch of shadow and luscious lashes.
One of the perks of working at L’Oreal is you get to hire the experts you work with to primp you for your wedding. Dana’s friend Siddeeqah Raoof, the testing director for Redken, came down to Virgina from New York to make sure Dana’s hairstyle was perfect.
Dana’s florists Lee Snyder and Bobo Smith created a bridal bouquet filled with an array of warm shades like lavender, violet, rose, fuchsia and magenta.
Dana and her dad prepare to be is whisked away to the church.
Dana’s father stares at his soon-to-be-wed daughter with pride and happiness.
Nonye waited patiently for his bride to arrive.
“It’s really exciting to start a new life with Nonye,” Dana says.
Nonye had a crew of good looking men by his side as he headed down the aisle.
Red rose ball bouquets were hung on the church pews for a touch of color.
“When she started walking down I thought, ‘Hey. This is really about to happen,’” Nonye says.
“My dad is a very emotional person,” Dana says. “He was holding back tears.”
Dana and Nonye had a traditional Catholic wedding and read traditional vows.
The bride and groom lit a unity candle to signify their joining together in holy matrimony.
Always a joker, Nonye pulled out lip balm to coat his lips before planting a kiss on his bride.
Both Dana and Nonye expressed how overwhelmed they were by having so many people — nearly 600 guests — to support them on their wedding day.
“Life is much more forward-looking now,” Dana says. “It seems much calmer.”
“I’m always trying to better myself and having somebody that feels the same way about herself is a plus.”
Each of Dana and Nonye’s guests took home chocolates from chocolatier Vosges Haut Chocolate.
The warm colors featured in Dana’s bouquet also filled the reception hall at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel as each table featured a gorgeous, full floral arrangement as its centerpiece.
Dana raved that her and Nonye’s wedding cake was “amazing!” Nonye picked out the whimsical design for the five-tiered yellow cake with lemon filling, created by Emily Patti at Patti Cakes in North Carolina, www.patticakesinc.net
Wedding guests tried their luck at trivia questions to see how well they really knew the bride and groom.
Nonye’s family is Nigerian. Many of the guests wore the traditional dresses and headpieces.
Dana and her father were all smiles as they danced to “Hero” by Mariah Carey.
All the guests watch as the newlyweds swayed to Musique Soulchild’s “Love” for their first dance as husband and wife.
Dana and Nonye share the responsibility of cutting their beautiful wedding cake.
Dana gets some help getting done up in the traditional Nigerian dress for part of the reception.
Dana looks regal in her new outfit.
Nonye and Dana laugh together as friends and family members pin dollar bills to their clothes.
The groom poses with his brothers and sisters, including soccer player Oguchi Onyewu. What a beautiful family.
“I really like it now,” Dana says of being married to Nonye. “It’s like having your best friend around all the time.”
For more on this wedding visit The Brides Cafe
All photos by Eleise Theur Photography
