On July 27th, 2024, BET’s The Oval star Taja V. Simpson and Ryan Easter said “I do” in a luxurious LA wedding at the Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach. Today the newlyweds are sharing their love story and all the details from their lavish nuptials!
From pretty floral decor to stunning wedding attire and high-profile guests (including members of The Oval, of course!), Taja and Ryan’s wedding day was an event to remember.
Working with all minority-owned businesses, they invited 90 of their closest friends and family to LA to witness their union. The dress code was classic yet chic, with Taja and Ryan’s outfits embodying a timeless beauty with modern flair and lux details.
Taja’s all-white mermaid-style gown by Martina Liana Bridal Designs featured feather detailing and an extremely long train with extensions.
“The sheer yet simple veil made me emotional,” she reveals. “It simply completed the look so beautifully.” Ryan complimented Taja’s gown in a classic white tux paired with a black bow tie and sleek black dress pants.
Instead of traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen, the couple invited their guests to be their “wedding party” and asked everyone to arrive wearing a matching chic color palette.
The couple incorporated their culture through music and infused their favorite R&B tunes into their ceremony and reception.
The overarching theme for their wedding was “intentional love.”
Ryan and I were both very intentional and started dating with purpose before we met. When we met one another, it was like, this is it. We put intention into every single thing, including our love.
– Taja V. Simpson
With all the details coming together flawlessly, it’s hard to believe Taja planned the entire wedding in less than 60 days! However, for Taja, it was the power of manifestation that brought both her dream man and her dream wedding to life.
I threw away all of the doubts and things that people say you’re never going to get and started to only focus on the things that I desire.
– Taja V. Simpson
After being introduced by mutual friends during the pandemic and chatting long-distance for two months, the couple finally met in person.
For Ryan, he knew Taja was the one from their very first embrace. For Taja, it was every conversation they shared leading up to that moment. She was so sure that she even had their first meeting secretly recorded by a friend!
This marked the start of their love story, filled with laughter and romance, and in October 2023, they were blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Now a 10-month-old bundle of joy, the couple’s recent wedding celebrated not just their love but the beginning of their family.
Sitting down with the couple via Zoom for their first interview as husband and wife, Taja and Ryan are still basking in that newlywed glow.
In this exclusive interview, they recount special moments from their wedding day and give insight into their inspiring love story.
Keep scrolling for our exclusive Q&A with Taja V. Simpson and her hubby, Ryan Easter.
- Couple: Taja V. Simpson & Ryan Easter
- Occupations: Award-winning Actress | Regional Sales Manager
- Wedding date: July 27th, 2024
- Venue: Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach
- Photographer: Jorge Meza
Quick Facts:
- Gifts for one another: We didn’t exchange tangible gifts. Instead, we chose to write our own vows and give the gift of words of affirmation.
- Ceremony entrance song: Bride: Snoh Aalegra’s “Find Someone Like You” | Groom: Teddy Pendergrass’s “Greatest Inspiration”
- First dance song: “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross
How does it feel to be MARRIED!?
Ryan: It feels good. Obviously, there’s a lot of give and take. You have to take into consideration the other person’s feelings and make sure that when you’re making decisions, it benefits both parties involved, not just yourself. So I think you have to be extremely intentional about making sure that you think about how it affects the unit, not just the individual.
Taja: For me, yes, all of that. But I’m still excited. I have flashbacks of moments throughout the day. And I would just look at him like, wow, baby, [our wedding] was so pretty.
How did you first meet?
Ryan: We met during the pandemic and at the time, I don’t think either one of us was necessarily looking for anything in particular.
But one day I got a phone call from one of our mutual female friends and one of my homeboys who just happened to link up that day, and they were like, ‘Yeah, we need to find Ryan a girl. I think he’s ready.’
So they hit me up and they sent this picture of this beautiful chocolate woman, and I was like, ‘Oh, okay. What’s wrong with her? No way she’s single and she looks that good.’ I was like, look, I done done enough crazy. So our mutual homegirl was just like, she’s a little crazy. In a good way. Funny, crazy.’
Once they clarified that and had a good laugh at my expense, I sent some photos to see if she would be interested in me as well. After a little bit of going back and forth about what photo should I send, we agreed upon a few and they sent them over and she was interested.
So the first conversation was great. I didn’t think it was possible to be impressed at this point in the game with just an initial conversation, but I hit up my homegirl. I was like, yo, your friend’s dope. And she’s like, I know, don’t mess this up. I was like, okay.
Taja: For a series of months, we just communicated via phone and FaceTime. We were long-distance. I was in LA, he was in New York, and eventually, we decided to meet.
When did you know you found “the one”?
Ryan: The first time we met we hugged.
I knew when I hugged her, I was like, this is home right here. So at that moment, I was like, this is where I’m supposed to be. And from that point on, it just flowed.
Taja: For me, it was all of the conversations leading up to that meeting. It was how we were flowing, how we were getting along.
During our first conversation, I didn’t want to hang up. I was like wow, it’s been an hour. That was nice. So then from there, during our two months of just phone time, I was like, okay, Lord. You ain’t getting me all this in the man that I’ve been asking for and then we meet in person and it’s like, oh, dang. I didn’t know. I wondered, am I being catfished right now? So I wanted to do more video chat. I needed to see him. I’m like hold on, let me look at you. Walk through the house, or something.
I felt like this was “the one.” And I would tell my friends that before our meeting so by the time we did meet in person, I’m the extrovert in the relationship, so I was like, ‘Oh when I see you, I’m going to run towards you in slow motion. I’m going to jump so be ready to catch me.’
I had this whole thing planned. But when I saw him, he came down the escalator, I was frozen. I couldn’t move. I was like, oh my God, there he is. And I just could not move. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t do anything. And he walked right to me and gave me a hug. He picked me up, and it was the best hug ever.
– Taja V. Simpson
Looking back, I’m really proud of myself because I wanted to be with somebody who I could be my 100% authentic self with. I feel like in certain relationships you say that, but sometimes it shifts a little bit and you’re not 100% giving all of yourself.
I got to the point where I was like, look man, this is me. I’m an actor. I’m crazy and I’m funny. I have a bunch of characters that may come out. I may speak in an accent. And he was here for all of it.
Ryan: She must have known before the hug because she had that first meeting between us videotaped.
Taja: All right, yes, he’s right. I did feel like, yo, if this is it, it would be amazing if we had our initial meeting on camera.
So, my friend who lived the closest to the airport, I was like, friend, I need a favor. I told her what I wanted to do. She said, okay, bet. Now this is the friend that’s always late. I was like, friend, this is not the day to be late. I need you on time. She’s like I got you.
So she shows up and we get there and I’m like, okay, he’s coming. I have my spot. I’m like, okay, don’t be all awkward. Don’t let him see you, but get the shot. And she’s like, okay. So she filmed the whole little meeting that we had. And he had no idea, and I wouldn’t dare tell him ever.
I waited until he got deep into the relationship and I was like, ‘Oh, I have a confession.’ And he is like, ‘What’s that?’ And so I told him. He was like, ‘Wait, what?’ I was like, ‘I dunno. I just knew. I just felt it.’
Now we have the memory captured on camera.
What was proposal day like?
Ryan: Anybody who knows me knows that trying to plan any type of event of any significance gives me anxiety.
It’s not something that I consider my strong suit, but I did want to do it myself, and I wanted it to be authentic and sentimental and very much us and speak from the heart.
So at the time, she was finishing up filming and we had to move everything further along just because of the way the schedule played out. So I’m calling up my friends, I’m like, ‘Hey, it’s about to go down. I’m going to do this. I need to find a venue.’ So we’re going back and forth about different venues that would be able to accommodate a big enough group of us and have the type of food, the ambiance, and the atmosphere that we all like.
Then we worked out the financial details of it, and at that point, it was about writing the proposal. For me, that was actually the easiest part because everything that I said in that video was coming straight from the heart. It was how I genuinely felt, not just in that moment, but throughout the whole journey of us meeting and and falling in love.
I was feeling a lot of anxiety, probably self-imposed and pressure self-imposed at the time, but I just wanted it to be good. I wanted her to always look back on that video and that memory, and make her smile, reminisce, and feel all of the joy and the love in that moment.
But we had a great time after and took photos. We ate good, we drank good. We celebrated love with a group of our friends, two of whom were responsible for bringing us together, and just had an enjoyable night.
– Ryan Easter
Taja: I was definitely surprised, but I was also really, really sick.
We were in our first trimester with our son and every day it was challenging just to get up and get stuff done. I had just finished working a full season of The Oval, and I had pregnancy headaches and nausea.
It was all these different things. So every day was hit or miss. We would have plans to go out, and I’d be like, ‘Man, do we have to do this?’. But for whatever reason, that day I felt great.
After every season that we shoot for The Oval, and when we’re in Atlanta, we all try to get together with our friends in a big group. So this was maybe the second or third time we’ve done a big meeting of dinner or something and have everybody come out. So I just thought we were having everybody come to dinner like we planned before.
As I’m sitting there, all of a sudden he gets ready to do it and he pushes the seat back.
At first, I was like, let me get my phone. Then I was like, no, live in a moment. But he had all his friends on it. Everybody knew what was happening so everybody pulled out their phones and was filming and I was just looking at him like, ‘Oh my God.’
And then I stayed up all night. I felt the best that day. God was like, I got you today. I’m going to give you today. I was up to three, four o’clock in the morning calling everybody, sharing the news.
And then that next day it was a wrap. I was done for two days. I was exhausted and could not move. My headache was back. It was like everything, all the pregnancy symptoms came back and it was horrible. But I was sitting there like, yay.
Did you incorporate your son into the wedding?
Taja: We absolutely included him.
My sister walked down the aisle holding him. We got him a little tux, so she walked down the aisle holding him. It was the cutest thing ever. He was very chill that day. He wasn’t as talkative. I think it was so many people that he was just like, what’s going on? Who are all these people? We took a bunch of pictures with him.
How has the transition into parenthood been for you both?
Taja: We realized when we’re so tired, I’m the one who gets really whiny, and he’s the one who may get a little snappy because we’re both vying for rest.
We were exhausted these first few months of him being here. It was just he and I, we needed help. It was like we were walking zombies. We were on shifts. I had the morning shift, he had the night shift, and then sometimes we’d switch it up.
Now we’re getting into a space where we have a really good flow of parenthood and how it works with him. He’s teething now. So this particular time was great for an interview because he’s down for a nap. We got to go baby monitor right here to check on him and make sure he’s good. So it’s definitely been a transition.
I think the first argument we ever had was because both of us wanted to be the best parents. We were never really people to argue. We feel like we can use our words to communicate effectively, which I love. I’m like, yay. Finally, someone who thinks like that.
Ryan: I think the biggest transition is you realize that the free time that you used to have, you don’t have no more. It’s gone.
Now you got a miniature human that dictates the entire flow of your day and your life. So we still try to create space for each other to have a life outside of being a parent.
Everything now requires more planning. You have to coordinate who’s going to do what so that one person doesn’t feel like they’re being overwhelmed with all of the baby duties on a particular day, or if it’s one of those situations where I’m gone all day or she’s gone all day, we prepare for that.
So mentally and physically, Hey, okay, well, you’re going to be with the baby all day, so I’m going to go ahead and let you get some rest because you’re going to need it. Because babies require a tremendous amount of energy. You are constantly on.
So I think the biggest thing was just giving up that free time that you have. And then when you do decide to do something, you have to be more organized and coordinate it. We have to put it on the calendar.
Taja, you talk a lot about manifestation and the importance of positive self-talk and affirmations. How did you manifest your relationship and your wedding?
Taja: Being with Ryan stretched me in my faith. And I say that because for so long I had this image or idea of this man that I wanted to be with, and I would tell people and they’d be like, ‘Okay, good luck with that.’
My friends would be like, ‘I know you work in the movies, but life isn’t a movie.’ But I just believed that when you set your mind to something, you can manifest it. My friends call me a master manifester.
And I was like, that’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Imma’ “man-ifest” him. So when he showed up, I was like, here he is. It gave everyone I know hope. It made everyone a believer.
I threw away all of the doubts and things that people will say ‘you’re never going to get’ and started to only focus on the things that I desire.
And that’s what manifestation is. Whatever you focus on is what’s going to show up in your life. So I started to only focus on those things when we started to date.
I wouldn’t worry about it if he called me first. If I thought about him and if I wanted to let him know, I would just call or text. I would say, ‘Hey, hope you’re having a good day. I’m thinking about you.’
I didn’t do the typical things I had done in the past. I was like, well, you know what? If it’s meant to be, it’ll be. I’m just going to live in a space of this feels good and I want more of it.
To do that with the law of attraction, you have to put more of that energy out there so more of it will come back to you. And the more that I would say different things, that gave him the green light to share his feelings even more.
planning this wedding in 60 days or less was a really big deal because I knew it was going to stretch me.
When I have lack of time, that brings me anxiety. I get shortness of breath and it’s like this whole thing comes over me. I don’t like to say I can’t do something.
Instead, I say, ‘This is an area of growth for me, and I’m going to be able to work on it.’ I’m just going to focus on only the things that I desire, only the things that I want.
And if I like a venue or I like something and it doesn’t work out, it wasn’t meant to be. So that’s what I did. And every little thing was falling into place.
At the end of the day, everything always works out. And that’s one of the things I always say, everything always works out for me. Everything always works out in my favor. All as well. I am safe.
– Taja V. Simpson
How do you affirm each other in your relationship?
Ryan: It started early on when we were dating because we would write each other little love texts every morning or afternoon.
And just in that moment, we would affirm each other and speak life into each other and pour into each other with love and positivity, because sometimes a lot of adults don’t have anybody saying anything nice to them on a consistent or daily basis. And that’s unfortunate because it affects their mood, it affects their environment.
So if we weren’t going to be physically close to each other, we were going to pour into each other, speak life into each other, encourage each other, and remind each other of the great attributes that each other possesses.
And we did that, and we still do it. When we’re apart, we always are going to send those affirming messages. Even now when we’re living together, we always make it a point to say something affirming towards each other.
Being new parents can be challenging. It requires a lot, but there are moments when we both take the time to acknowledge the great job that the other person is doing. And some days you need that because you get frustrated, you get tired. Sometimes you feel like you’re making more mistakes than you are doing things right.
Being a great parent is tough. It’s challenging, it’s hard. So it’s always good to have your partner be your sounding board and be your anchor. Having someone remind you, ‘No, you’re doing a great job.’ We try to incorporate that into everything we do.
Your character on The Oval, Priscilla Owens, deals with a lot of drama. How do you both deal with “drama” and problem-solve?
Taja: One of our biggest things is if something is bothering us, we have to say it. We’re not allowed to just sweep it under the rug or say, ‘Oh, I’m not going to say nothing.’
It could be the smallest thing or the biggest thing, whatever it is, you have to tell the other person, because I may not be aware that when I say something, it hurts your feelings and vice versa. So I need to let you be aware of that.
So we are really, really, really, really big on communication. That way, no matter what it is, we can nip it in the bud right then. So unlike Priscilla and Sam who don’t have great communication, I try to learn from that and have great communication in my real marriage.
Ryan: Communicating, sticking to the facts, and being respectful towards each other.
If something is wrong, you have every right to state what that person said or did and how it made you feel. But once you start making excuses and assumptions about why that person did it versus sticking to the facts, it just creates a more difficult problem to overcome. So we try to stick to the facts.
Like anybody, we’re going to have our moments where we’re not in agreement, and in those moments we have to remember one, we love each other, so we need to communicate with love, even if we’re upset or angry or frustrated or tired, whatever it may be. And then to stick to the facts.
Even when we’re not necessarily in the best of moods, the key is how you approach that challenge that makes all of the difference.
– Ryan Easter
What do you love most about each other?
Taja: Gosh, I love so much. I would say his support. I‘m so grateful for how he shows up for me.
For me, I believe support is in action. I love how he pours into me. I like that he sees me in ways that I don’t even see myself sometimes. And then he’s always there to remind me of my greatness and my value and my worth.
When I read some of the messages he sends me, I’m like, that’s me. It really, really, really truly builds me up and makes me believe in myself more than anything. And that’s something I struggled with growing up, was a belief in me, knowing my value, and knowing my worth. He knows how to speak to that little girl inside me to remind me of who I am.
Ryan: One of the things that I value the most is her mindset. Because your mindset dictates your entire world, your entire universe.
So when we first met, we were both on the path of manifestation and the law of attraction and taking ownership and accountability for the life that you create for yourself.
She was obviously way further along in that journey than I was. I was intrigued. Typically I was the only person that was speaking that way amongst people that I associated with and they would be open to it and be like, oh, that sounds cool. But she was on a whole ‘nother level. She inspired me to catch up.
Sometimes when I would revert back to old programming, she would be there to get me back on track. And it all had to do with mindset. You set the limitations that are in your life, nobody else can do that. So if you say, ‘It’s not possible, you can’t do it, or this is going to be challenging,’ that’s exactly what it’s going to be.
Because whether you are aware or not, we’re all master manifesters. We all create the world in which we live based on the thoughts we think, the feelings we have, the words we speak, and the actions we take. So you’re manifesting your universe daily, whether you’re conscious of it or not.
In those moments, she would get me back on track and say ‘No baby, you can make this happen. This is possible. Nothing is impossible. Anything is possible if you believe and you’re willing to do what it takes to get where you’re trying to get to.’
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Taja & Ryan: Remember to take time to enjoy the day and be present in the moment as you celebrate your love with family and friends and not overly concerned with the production of the day. If possible, designate or hire someone else to worry about the details of the day.
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Vendors:
- Bride: Taja V. Simpson
- Groom: #RyanEaster
- MUA: DeMario Ward
- Hair Styling: Kaleel Joy
- Hair unit: Mwanasheria Edwards
- Groom Hair: Swins Jean-Charles
- Assistant: Shamya Jamerica
- Venue: Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach
- Flowers: Flowers by Lady Buggs
- Cake: Torrance Bakery
- Dress: Martina Liana Bridal Designs c/o Bridal Elegance
- Shoes: Betsey Johnson
- Photographer: JMPhotos
- Videographer: Art Green III
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