New Yorker Venus Scaife and Londoner Ikechukwu Okeke kept their long distance romance going for three years before tying the knot. Realizing that they wanted to always be close to each other, Ike moved to the States and the two wed in a beautiful family affair.
Ike and Venus got hitched on May 22, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, Texas. Their wedding reception was held at the Fort Worth Club.
Venus’ hair was swept up into a bun with a feathered hairpiece by family friend Renee Rochin.
Another family friend Deana Costa added a touch of plum to her lids.
Venus found her wedding gown at Kleinfeld just a few months before she had to walk down the aisle. Not knowing then how long it takes to alter wedding dresses, Venus now suggests that brides should not wait too long to try on dresses. Luckily for Venus, she still found the perfect dress for her special day.
Purple is Venus’ favorite color. She made sure she had the vibrant color on her feet on her wedding day.
Ike’s mother gives Venus her love.
Venus and Ike’s florist Fete De Fleurs in Dallas prepared gorgeous bouquets of orchids and tulips for the couple’s big day.
Venus’ father passed away in 2003. In the absence of dad, she asked her two closes male cousins to escort her down the aisle.
Venus and Ike read their own vows on their wedding day. The bride says, “I didn’t tear up until I started reading my vows.”
Venus slips the wedding band on her beloved.
Venus’ uncle was proud to be the officiant at his niece’s wedding ceremony.
Venus’ wedding band features diamonds individually set in platinum. Ike went the non-traditional route with a black Tungsten ring.
Venus places a big kiss on her new husband’s lips.
“It just felt amazing,” Venus says of being able to finally call Ike her husband. “It felt right and it felt amazing.”
When he first met Venus, Ike told her he didn’t believe in marriage. On the night they got engaged, he said, “I didn’t believe in marriage because I didn’t meet someone I could be married to.”
“Everything about him was markedly different from the people I’d dated before,” Venus says of why she fell for Ike.
Venus takes a break from her new hubby to pose with her mother Georgia Scaife, younger sister Carliss Scaife, older sister Michelle McKay and older brother Eric Calloway.
Venus’s mother couldn’t ask for a better son-in-law.
Ike’s parents are thrilled to welcome Venus into their family.
Venus and the entire wedding party are psyched about the big day.
Ike’s family and friends traveled from all England, Nigeria and all over the states to see him get married.
“We’re just kind of looking forward to getting to know each other as far as living with each other,” Venus says. “It’s been really awesome so far.”
Venus and Ike’s wedding reception was held at the Fort Worth Club. The country club catered the event.
“The food was phenomenal,” Venus remembers.
Ike and Venus gave each guest a DeBrand chocolate truffle shaped like a three-tier wedding cake with a rosette on the top. The tiers were dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate.
Venus and Ike chose Stevie Wonder’s “As” for their first dance.
“We didn’t want to do some slow, redundant song,” Venus explains. “We picked something that is us — fun and upbeat.”
Ike and his mother dance and smile together at the wedding reception.
Venus’ mom teared up while dancing to Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father” with her newlywed daughter.
Venus and Ike’s wedding cake was sculpted by Frosted Art Bakery in Dallas Texas. The tiers were white cake filled with either chocolate or creme brulee.
The grooms cake was a chocolate cake with a cashew and caramel filling.
Ike is British-Nigerian. Venus took on one of her hubby’s customs of wedding guests pinning dollar bills to the bride and groom at their reception.
Venus’s mother knows how to boogie. We’re loving that strapless royal blue gown, by the way.
Venus says, “We’re still on cloud nine and we’re just wondering if this feeling ever goes away.”
