The moment Seyi and Hermica locked eyes at a rooftop bar in Nashville, she knew her life would be forever changed. She says “words are powerful” and she’s positive that she spoke their epic first encounter into existence. Read their romantic story and see their big day!
Hermica just wowed in her Casablanca gown. “The day of the wedding I wore a pearl studded bird cage,” the bride shares. “I opted not to wear a veil because I did not want to cover any of the details on the back of the dress. I wore pearl and Swarovski studded earrings. I wanted something classy, timeless and functional for my shoes, so I wore the Able by Jimmy Choo, which is a shimmer gold pump.”
“My husband selected the men’s attire,” the bride tells us. “He wanted a more polished look so he worked with a tailor to have custom suits made. He also wanted the men to have a suit they would own after our wedding. It was more of an expense but an investment at the same time.”
“I always knew I wanted calla lilies for my bouquet,” says the lovely bride. They’re our favorite blooms too!
“I wanted to make sure the dress complemented my bridesmaids body types and skin tones,” says Hermica of the girls’ lovely Lela Rose gowns. “I also wanted to make sure that it was something they could use again if they went to an after-five event.”
“I said yes because Seyi truly loves me unconditionally despite all my flaws,” Hermica shares. “His love continues to enhance me as a person each day. I can honestly say he is my best friend and has my absolute best interest in mind at all times. He is literally my dream man inside and out.”
“It was an amazing feeling to have one day that all of your loved ones come together from near and far to celebrate your union,” says Hermica. “It was also amazing to wear a beautiful dress and literally feel like a princess along with your prince all day.”
Hermica and Seyi’s well-dressed bridal party, filled with family and dear friends, posed to perfection on their big day.
“Seyi was specific about his intentions from day one,” says the bride. “I knew that those feelings were genuine but I was afraid to open myself up to another heartbreak or disappointment. I had very difficult circumstances come up in life that I could never have imagined working through with someone so early in a relationship. Terrified, I brought it up one day over lunch and he said it could always be worse and ‘we’ will get through it and then continued eating his meal. It was the ‘we’ he used that showed me he had unconditional love for me undoubtedly.”
“I chose to make Hermica my wife because I knew, without a doubt, that there was no one else in the world that would love me unconditionally like her,” says the proud groom. “Hermica is everything I could have ever asked for in a wife. Her love for kids is contagious and I can’t wait for her to be the mother of my children.”
The lovebirds made it official in a beautiful traditional ceremony inside a baptist church in Nashville. (Could their aisle runner be any sweeter?)
The bride chose to walk down the aisle to “Fall For You” by Leela James with her father and stepfather. “I am blessed to have two fathers,” the bride shares. “My father was still very active in my life after my parents divorced. My stepfather has always been a huge influence on my life and the woman I am today. I could not see it any other way but then to have them both walk me down the aisle.”
We just love the look on Seyi’s face as he watched his beautiful bride come down the aisle. “I felt pretty cool being a groom on our wedding day,” he shares. “The fact that I was about to marry the love of my life in the presence of our loved ones was overwhelming. I felt so grateful that God had blessed me with being able to experience this day. I don’t think a lot of guys dream about this day, but the feeling I experienced was more than I imagined it would be.”
“I was dead set on only looking at him and capturing every moment with him at the altar because we would never get it back,” Hermica shares.
“I was excited that we were finally standing at the altar about to get married in front of our family and friends,” says Seyi.
“Hermica always says I never smile, but I couldn’t stop smiling while we were standing there at the altar because I couldn’t believe this day had finally come,” says Seyi.
“I knew I always wanted to get married in a church,” says Hermica. “There is just something about walking down the aisle and standing at the altar to say your vows to God and the man of your dreams.”
“We elected to exchange traditional vows that our pastor provided,” Hermica shares.
Here come Mr. and Mrs. Alalade.
“I love how he loves me,” gushes Hermica. “Seyi constantly reaffirms his love for me not only by his words but by his actions. Not only does he make me feel like a woman but he makes me feel like his woman. He is so confident, yet extremely humble at the same time. I love how he appreciates life and each day we have together. He constantly reminds me to stop and take it all in, which has had a tremendous impact on my life.”
“I knew Hermica was the one the moment I realized her interest in my culture was genuine,” Seyi shares. “She took it upon herself to learn how to cook Nigerian food. I was dumbfounded when I discovered she asked one of my sisters for private lessons. She was even crazy enough to visit Nigeria with me in 2013.”
“The man I married literally takes my breath away each day,” Hermica shares. “He is incredibly intelligent, funny, driven and handsome to top it all off. He is extremely supportive to all of my goals and pushes me when I have no more to give. He is an amazing example of a friend, brother and son and now husband.”
“We paid tribute to my husband’s mother,” says Hermica. “During the wedding reception we had a moment of silence after we entered and before we started the evening.”
For their first dance song the couple chose “That Girl” by Justin Timberlake.
This classic five-tier round wedding cake left us speechless. It was a real beauty!
Hermica and Seyi made every single photo opp count. Could this couple be any sweeter?
“I have done promotions for different spirit companies in the past,” says Hermica. “I requested that if they provided certain spirits I would feature them in my signature cocktails. This helped with our bar costs a lot.”
The couple hired a live band (Next Level Band) to perform during the cocktail hour and reception that sung R&B music. “We also had another live performer (Kunle Meshida) that preformed Nigerian music toward the end of the evening when we danced in our traditional attire,” shares the bride.
We just can’t resist fun photos like this one. Way to enjoy the moment, Hermica and Seyi!
Hermica and Seyi chose The Great Gatsby as the theme for their big night. “I love that era in time,” says the bride. “The classic black and white suits men wore with slick shoes; the women who wore sexy but lady like pearls and shimmer all the time!” We must say, they executed it beautifully.
The couple were totally surrounded by love on their special night. This photo captures the spirit of togetherness they felt with their cherished guests so beautifully.
Outfit change anyone? The couple and their bridal party changed into traditional Nigerian wedding attire that evening. Fierce!
“I did the majority of the wedding planning,” Hermica admits. “Seyi shared a few ideas and requests and then just allowed me to run with it from there.” Smart man!
The newlyweds rode off into the sunset in style. If you loved Seyi and Hermica’s wedding as much as we did, don’t forget to leave the happy couple a little comment love below.
