Attorneys say “I Do!” in a romantic outdoor ceremony at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia. Featuring classy decor, gold details, and a gorgeous custom gown by Berta Bridal.
Nonny and Brendan’s sweet love story began on their college campus in 2009. While heading back to their dorms after soccer with their respective teams, the pair found themselves walking side by side. Unbeknownst to them, these were their first steps together in their love’s journey! They struck up a friendship and continued seeing each other more through mutual friends and in shared classes. Gradually, they grew closer, and by their senior year, they started dating.
The wanderlust couple proceeded to travel the world for a year, move to New York City together, and support each other through various phases in life from Law school to living in separate boroughs, to the pandemic, and eventually setting down roots in Brooklyn.
Nonny is so special to me because she gives great hugs, and her smile lights up every room she is in. She is someone I can learn more about every day, even after 13 years of knowing her.
– Brendan (The Groom)
Following Brendan’s surprise photo shoot proposal on Nonny’s girls’ trip to Joshua Tree, California, they tied the knot in a romantic outdoor wedding at the Lansdowne Resort in Northern Virginia. Surrounded by their closest friends and families, it was the perfect way to officially begin their lives together!
More sweet details on their love story below.
- Couple: Brendan George & Nonny Onyekweli
- Occupations: Blockchain Lawyer at Steptoe & Johnson LLP (Brendan) and Civil Rights Lawyer at Department of Justice Headquarters (Nonny)
Quick Facts:
- Date: June 19th, 2022
- Wedding location: Lansdowne Resort (Leesburg, VA)
- Wedding Hashtag: #OnyeGeorge
- Groomsmen Gifts: Traditional Igbo caps, scarves, custom-tailored senator suits, and gold necklaces with the Arsenal Football Club emblem to remember their trip to Emirates Stadium for the bachelor party.
- Gifts for one another: Brendan to Nonny: A thin gold chain necklace tied in a knot. Nonny to Brendan: Planning the best night of my life.
- Ceremony entrance song: “Loading” by Olamide
- First dance song: “Dancing in the Moonlight”
How we met…
Brendan: Nonny and I met on one of the first days of my sophomore year of college in 2009. We were both playing soccer as part of the men’s and women’s soccer clubs and during the walk back to our dorms with a small group of friends, we ended up walking next to each other for a bit.
We saw each other more through mutual friends and started sitting next to each other in our psychology class later that year and walked back from class together often. Gradually, we became closer through lots of hangouts over the years, and finally, friendship turned into dating our senior year.
After a year traveling the world, often to different places, we moved to NYC together. We have been through so many phases together: Law school, living in separate boroughs, living in the same studio apartment, living with each other’s families at the beginning of the pandemic, and eventually making our Brooklyn apartment a real home.
Nonny is so special to me because she gives great hugs, and her smile lights up every room she is in. She is someone I can learn more about every day, even after 13 years of knowing her. She is someone that I enjoy sharing with because she is so kind to others and has a selfless approach to the world. It is easy to want to see her smile and do well.
Wedding attire & shopping experience…
Brendan: I wore a Navy Giorgio Armani Tux with a Grosgrain shawl lapel and navy bow tie. My shopping experience was so much fun. Since it was really cold when I started shopping, I was so glad to be inside the warm Armani store. I didn’t want to go back out and walk up and down 5th Ave. I stuck with them, and they made it a lot of fun.
The Photographer: Nonny not only looked like a princess, she literally is a princess, descended from Nigerian royalty. For their white wedding, she wore a gown from Berta Bridal that was basically a work of art.
The proposal…
Brendan: Nonny’s friends had a girl’s trip to Joshua Tree, California. A few months in advance, Nonny casually suggested they have a photo shoot and snap some pics in the desert. I insisted they needed a photographer.
Since I love a good photo (maybe too much LOL), Nonny didn’t think anything of it. So we dressed up and started the photoshoot in front of the magical landscape. The shoot ended at sunset when Nonny turned around to see me on one knee; the rest is history!!!
Favorite activities to do together…
Brendan: Nonny and I enjoy playing soccer together, walking around our neighborhood in Brooklyn, going to the farmers market, chilling, and dancing to music in our apartment. We laugh at my poor singing or made-up songs, at lots of inside jokes about silly things, at made-up scenarios about our future selves or family and friends and old stories.
Selecting wedding vendors…
Brendan: Victoria, our wedding planner, had great recommendations. We narrowed it down by having phone calls with everyone and picking the vendors who showed that they could see and carry out our vision.
The joys & pitfalls of wedding planning…
Brendan: The joy was our wedding planner, Victoria, and our amazing photographer, Michael! The pitfall was living 5 hours from the venue.
Favorite ceremony moments…
Brendan: Nonny’s mom read a poem that made us feel so loved and supported.
Nonny: Brendan’s dad read a poem that has been in the family for years; it was very moving too. Our close friend Ose was the officiant, and when she said “By the power of love and commitment,” we kissed, and everyone lost their minds. There were so many good moments; the whole ceremony was incredible.
The kiss…
Brendan: FINALLY – It was short but sweet, and I have never felt more close to Nonny and loved by my friends and family.
Cultural elements…
Brendan: Two days before our white wedding, we had a Traditional Nigerian wedding. Nonny is part of the Nigerian Igbo tribe. Our families both had substantial roles in the Igbo tribal ceremony which involved exchanging of gifts, breaking of the west African Kola nut, and the Bride searching for the groom among a crowd of filled with “suitors” and eventually presenting the groom to her family and then ending with the grooms family. I wore a traditional Igbo outfit called agbada that was blue and gold. Nonny had multiple outfit changes.
The vows…
Brendan: We both wrote our own vows. I looked at pictures of us over the years. Looked through my “journal entries” on my phone and listened to our favorite songs. The gist of mine was that our life will continue to be the most amazing party.
Life with Nonny has already been more fun than I could’ve ever imagined. I look forward to going wherever she goes, and I vow that we will never stop making incredible memories.
– Brendan (The Groom)
Favorite wedding memories…
The Ceremony. Hearing our friend officiate, our friend’s readings, our families participate with community vows, hearing each other’s vows, kissing, and walking away with the grand prize: each other! Throwing rose petals as we finished our entrance dance and got the party started was another favorite moment.
The reception…
We had a series of songs play, and each time the music stopped, couples would leave the dance floor based on how many years they had been married. The last couples standing gave us advice. It was so inspiring to honor all of the married couples and hear their stories. And of course, dancing with our families and friends. The dance floor was packed.
We actually had a moment where the venue cut the lights on and turned off the music. We thought the night was over, but they realized they had the wrong time. When the lights went back on, and the music started again, everyone danced like there was no tomorrow. That last hour of dancing was on a level I never imagined possible.
On the dance floor…
The dancing was incredibly hype from everyone, but the core family particularly, came prepared. Our entrance dance made of popular Nigerian dance moves made everyone lose their minds, (our secrets: we practiced with an instructor for 4 months), as well as Mr. Onyekweli’s dance to “Buga” by Kizz Daniel during the father-daughter dance, Mrs. Onyekweli’s dance to “Joanna” and The Georges’ leading the crowd in the “Jerusalema” dance. The dancing was on another level.
Looking to the future…
This winter we are moving to DC for Nonny’s job with the Civil Rights Division at the DOJ! Before that, we have a bucket list of things we are doing in NYC before we end our 10 year run, they include – seeing a broadway show, trying as much food as we can, playing more pickup soccer in awesome locations, and supporting our artistic friends by attending their events!
Wedding hiccups & advice…
We stayed up late partying after our welcome party! That was fun but a classic mistake!
Our best advice: On the day of, let go of the details and just take it all in.
Waking up Mr. & Mrs…
We both felt so loved! We put so much of ourselves into building our relationship and planning the wedding and we felt like wow, we have arrived.
Looking for more romantic weddings like this one at Lansdowne Resort?
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Vendors:
- Planner, Designer & Coordinator: Enchanted Events & Weddings
- Photographer: Michael Bethea of Michael and Carina Photography
- Cinematographer: Fine Art Wedding Film
- Film Development: Richard Photo Lab
- Bride’s Makeup: Adedayo Abisola of Bpolishedbeauty Studio
- Hair: Londons Beautii
- Decor & Florals: Event Studios VA
- DJ & Floor Wrap: Max Powers
- Flower wall: DNK◇GlamEvents & Flowers LLC
- Wall Signage: Phemstar Productions
- Bride’s wedding dress: Berta Bridal
- Groom’s Suit and accessories: Giorgio Armani
- Bridesmaids makeup: Vow by Alondra
- MC: Bolade Ola-Ojo
- Cake: Cakes by Abiola
- Venue and Catering: Lansdowne Resort
- Saxophonist: Olumomento Show
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