When my lifelong Friends Eric & Delphine asked me to plan their wedding with them I was honoured! For one, it’s a union our community has awaited for years! A Rwandan Wedding in London and of course , wedding planning is my passion turned profession.
From our initial conversation, one thing they emphasised was they wanted a wedding with meaning and one that reflects their relationship and heritage. Culture is a strong part of Rwandan Weddings- Even following the Gusaba (traditional Rwandan wedding/ Knocking) the white wedding is steeped in many traditions and ceremonies that I myself had to find out the meaning of each.
Orsett hall hotel was our reception venue and where the bridal party and family stayed before and after the wedding. Guests flew in from all over the world such as New Zealand, South Africa and the states so the 450 guests were in good hands with the EBP team and vendors for the day.
Delphine and the bridesmaids were glammed up by Deborah Lola and Edith Williams and Wore Custom Peridot Cobalt blue gowns which were seamlessly designed and a perfect fit for each girl. One of the difficult things is finding a silhouette that all bridesmaids will love and look good in. Peridot Official was an amazing choice for our bridesmaids!
Anthony’s London created a bespoke suit for our groom befitting of this worthy occasion. Eric was dapper and along with the 9 groomsmen who were all elegant in their navy blue attire. One of my favourite parts was the individual gifts Eric prepared for his boys as they stood by his side on his wedding. We had 9 customised whisky flasks presented to the groomsmen in the morning before they headed out to the church ceremony. Personal Touches such as these really enhance the day and are a wonderful way to show gratitude to your bridal party.
Following the photo shoot with the girls in the morning, our Bride looked stunning headed to the seventh Day Adventist church ceremony held in the couple’s home church. The ceremony was touching, with music from the couple’s family and a special rendition from the Grooms mum and her friends of a song they sang to her on her wedding day 30 years ago in Rwanda- a tradition of welcoming the bride into her new family following the vows.
Throughout the planning, Delphine was always clear on her vision for the reception in terms of the colour pallet, feel and overall look! We went with the Amazing Lux collection from Anaiah Grace- an elegant and regal tablescape with hues of blush and purple. Candlelight created the backdrop for the romantic reception with ample floating candles in mixed sized cylinder vases and hanging bauble tea lights.
One of my favourite designs was of the wedding Logo which incorporated rich florals along with the elegant gold infinity circle surrounding the couple’s initials. The Logo was centre stage on all stationery such as Invitations, menu cards and framed the reception on the dancefloor.
Guests were welcomed into the reception with a traditional drumming ceremony that mesmerised everyone before the official procession from the families and bridal party. The night saw a host of entertainment from traditional Rwandese dancing to games played with the couple and a few performances from traditional drummers. The reception itself was anchored in the strong cultural traditions of our couple with speeches, presentations of gifts and heart-warming votes of thanks from both families.
