Celebrating 23 years of marriage and 3 beautiful children, Abby and Bedes Osuala hosted a true celebration of love and family at their glam vow renewal at the Manor in West Orange, New Jersey.
Twenty-three years of marriage is a beautiful accomplishment and one to be celebrated to the fullest! Abby and Bedes decided to host a glamorous celebration honoring their milestone anniversary and loving family in a luxurious vow renewal.
The couple, along with their three children, were styled to the nines for their second wedding! Abby herself slipped into a custom couture gown designed by our very own Muna Coterie Wedding and Evening Wear Designer, Yemi Kosibah. The 2 in one gown featured a removable overskirt and intricate beading details.
I love Yemi’s creativity and his connection to me as a bride, it felt like we were on a journey, and he was there every step of the way.
– Abby (The Bride)
Kosibah’s expertise didn’t stop there! He also designed custom looks for her two daughters as well, including an emerald sash and corset for them to slip over their original custom gowns to add a pop of color for their reception looks.
Additional Muna Coterie members who had a hand in making their dream wedding come true include Nana Annan Photography, Luxor Wedding Films, and Felicia Graham Beauty.
Overall, their clean, chic, and timeless design aesthetic was executed through the skilled team of Pretty Posh Events who created an all-white look that perfectly captured their vision. An evening with amazing food, drinks, entertainment, and a combination of Nigerian and Cameroonian music followed that kept everyone on their feet all night long!
More sweet details from their wedding at the Manor in West Orange below.
- Couple: Abigail Epane – Osuala & Dr. Bedes Osuala
- Occupations: Dr. Bedes Osuala is a Dentist & Mrs. Abigail Epane-Osuala is the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer of GE Healthcare
Quick Facts:
- Wedding date: August 13, 2022
- Wedding location: The Manor in West Orange, New Jersey
- What gifts did y0u give to your bridesmaids and groomsmen: I have a group of friends who I refer to as my sister circle. Some of whom I have known since childhood. I wanted them to be part of the big day without designating them as bridesmaids. Our children served as our wedding party members, however in appreciation for how impactful my sister circle has been through my life, I gifted them with Hermes bracelets.
How we met…
We met in the US through family friends. My grandmother and Aunt knew him. In 1995 when my aunt was getting married, she decided to invite him for the occasion. He had apparently been asking my family for my number, but they did not provide him with that information. We met at the event and hit off, he was then in his 1st year of medical school and the rest is history.
Our proposal story…
I have always been a bit nosy, wanting to know everything that was always going on, which didn’t make it easy for Bedes. On the day he planned to propose, he had previously talked to my family about it and my sisters had come into town to witness this. He took them with him to pick out the ring and planned a night out to a play at NJ Pac and dinner afterwards.
Throughout dinner, I kept wondering if he was going to propose, but he threw me off by not proposing then, and we ended up going to a party for a friend. Towards the end of the party, he acted a bit upset about some guy at the party talking to me. When he got home, he brought up the issue again and when I turned around to address his concerns, he was already on one knee, and he proposed. I was beyond emotional and happy all at once.
The ceremony…
Mr. & Mrs… again!
Wedding style & attire…
My wedding dress was a dream. It was made to fit me perfectly. I loved that it had an overskirt on it which enabled me to have 2 different looks: with and without the skirt. My husband was clad in a well-fitting Tom Ford suit.
What was the wedding shopping experience like for you?
Working with Yemi from Kosibah Bridal was nothing short of fantastic. I gave him the vision and he produced it to perfection. I love his creativity and his connection to me as a bride, it felt like we were on a journey, and he was there every step of the way.
For my second outfit, I wanted to find ways to bring touches of color into my daughters’ dresses, and he creatively came up with a corset and sash that beautifully accented the original dresses he made for the girls, giving it a whole new look and vibe.
The reception…
The cake…
Incorporating our cultures…
Having roots in Cameroon and Nigeria, it was imperative that we incorporated elements from both cultures in the wedding. We had 2 DJs each specializing in music from one of the two cultures. Additionally, as is tradition in Nigerian culture, we also had kola nut breaking ceremony.
Favorite wedding day memories…
Every part of it, every detail, every moment was perfect thanks to my planner.
Advice for other engaged couples…
Get the right planner because it makes all the difference. It is important to have someone who can bring your vision to life and alleviate the stress that comes with wedding planning. Secondly, start planning early. This will enable you to find the right vendors and to enjoy the process without feeling flustered at any point.
Looking for more glam vow renewals like this one at the Manor in West Orange?
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Vendors:
- Venue: The Manor
- Planning & Design: Pretty Posh Events
- Photographer: Nana Annan Photography
- Cinematography: Luxor Wedding Films
- Floral Design: Pretty Posh Events
- Stylist, Bridal Gown Design & 2nd Dress: Kosibah
- Bridesmaid dresses: Kosibah
- Makeup: Felicia Graham Beauty
- Hair: The Curlective
- Cameroonian Music: DJ Barack
- MC: MC Chaz
- Violinist: Priya Deberry
- Ballet Performance: Clarissa Newby Philips & Elements of Style Dance Company
- Floorwrap: Trust J Events
- Base Dance floor: New Image Dance Floors
- Linens: Table Wraps
- Stage: Prestige Luxury Rentals, LLC
- Dancing on the clouds: Lyfe DJs
Thank you very much for publishing this beautiful wedding vows renewal ceremony featuring the two couture/custom dress I made for the bride Abbey, as well as the bridesmaids dresses for her two daughters. The ceremony was beautifully captured by photographer Nana Annan.
Thank you, Yemi! We always love sharing your work and your fellow Coterie Members as well!