• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Weddings

Bridal Bliss: Hermica and Seyi's Nashville Wedding

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!

By Charli Penn · January 28, 2015October 27, 2020
01
And Then I Saw You

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!

Frozen Exposure Photography
02
Accessory Time

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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
03
Own The Look

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
04
Favorite Flowers

“I always knew I wanted calla lilies for my bouquet,” says the lovely bride. They’re our favorite blooms too!

Frozen Exposure Photography
05
Compliments To You

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
06
A Dream Come True

“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.” 

Frozen Exposure Photography
07
It Feels So Good

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
08
One Big Happy Moment

Hermica and Seyi’s well-dressed bridal party, filled with family and dear friends, posed to perfection on their big day.

Frozen Exposure Photography
09
Unconditionally Yours

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
10
I Can’t Wait

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
11
A Lovely Occasion

The lovebirds made it official in a beautiful traditional ceremony inside a  baptist church in Nashville. (Could their aisle runner be any sweeter?)

Frozen Exposure Photography
12
Falling For You

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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
13
The Look Of Love

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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
14
Save The Moment

“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.

Frozen Exposure Photography
15
Standing Tall

“I was excited that we were finally standing at the altar about to get married in front of our family and friends,” says Seyi.

Frozen Exposure Photography
16
Smile For Me

“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.

Frozen Exposure Photography
17
Dreamy Love

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
18
Exchange The Love

“We elected to exchange traditional vows that our pastor provided,” Hermica shares.

Frozen Exposure Photography
19
Meet The Mr. and Mrs.

Here come Mr. and Mrs. Alalade.

Frozen Exposure Photography
20
Take It All In

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
21
Learn To Love

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
22
You Take My Breath Away

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
23
Love and Honor

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
24
The Only Girl I Love

For their first dance song the couple chose “That Girl” by Justin Timberlake.

Frozen Exposure Photography
25
Beautiful Decadence

This classic five-tier round wedding cake left us speechless. It was a real beauty!

Frozen Exposure Photography
26
Make It Count

Hermica and Seyi made every single photo opp count. Could this couple be any sweeter?

Frozen Exposure Photography
27
Savvy Sips

“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.”

Frozen Exposure Photography
28
Keep The Party Going

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.

Frozen Exposure Photography
29
Enjoy The Moment

We just can’t resist fun photos like this one. Way to enjoy the moment, Hermica and Seyi!

30
Remember The Time

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.

Frozen Exposure Photography
31
Beautiful Moments

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.

Frozen Exposure Photography
32
Change It Up

Outfit change anyone? The couple and their bridal party changed into traditional Nigerian wedding attire that evening. Fierce!

Frozen Exposure Photography
33
Planned To Perfection

“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!

Frozen Exposure Photography
34
Leave A Little Love

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.

Frozen Exposure Photography

Read More

Op-Ed
Biden Should Add 'The CAREN Act' to His List of Executive Ac...
News
An Inauguration Day of ‘History and Hope’
Ledisi And Columbus Short To Play Mahalia Jackson And Martin...
News
Rihanna, Reagan Gomez, And More React To Trump Being Out Of ...
Entertainment
Twitter Wants Janelle Monáe To Be The Next Willy Wonka, Her...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now