Featured in Issue 32, these former high school classmates said their vows in a luxurious formal garden wedding filled with high-flying entertainment and nods to their two cultures.
When the bride and groom first met in high school 10 years before they reconnected no one could have even dreamed of the amazing love story that these two were about to embark on. With Stephanie trying to catch some much-needed teen beauty sleep in class, studious Olu came to her rescue after she asked him to take notes. This was the first chapter of their love story.
The ultimate collaboration for their glam wedding day came with the couple’s team at Voltaire Luxe Co. Weddings & Events and Weddings by Natasha. Guests were treated to a lavish celebration of two cultures and spectacular entertainment. Walking into the sun-filled outdoor ceremony, family and friends arrived to see opulent florals spiraling down the massive stone columns.
Echoing the statement-making floral display, the bride wowed guests at their garden ceremony wearing a fabulous custom gown with bold sculptural shoulders, pearl embellishments, and a voluminous mermaid skirt.
More photos from their garden ceremony at The Rockleigh are waiting below!
- Couple: Stephanie Voltaire and Olu Buraimoh
- Occupations: Public Health Professional and an Entrepreneur | Chiropractic Doctor
- Wedding date: July 3, 2023
- Wedding location: The Rockleigh in Rockleigh, New Jersey
Quick Facts:
- What gifts did you give to your bridesmaids and groomsmen: The bridesmaids were gifted with wedding day makeup and an acrylic box full of goodies such as jewelry for the wedding day, Jo Malone perfume, Mortgage Before Marriage book by Alex Edwards, and much more. The Matron of Honors received the same with a designer watch. The groomsmen received a box full of goodies such as DIOR Sauvage cologne, a toiletry bag with their name on it, custom cufflinks, a money clip, a tie clip with their initials engraved, and much more.
- Table Settings: In finding their seats guests were guided with “Where in the World are you sitting?”. For example, table names were Brighton “The town where Stephanie and Olu met”, Les Cayes “The town in Haiti where Stephanie’s family is from” and Brockton, MA, “Where the Buraimoh family church is located.” This allowed the guests to learn more about us.
- Gifts for one another: Olu gave me my first pair of Giuseppe Zanotti heels. I gave Olu a new Macbook laptop and cufflinks with photos of his late mother.
- Ceremony entrance song: “This is Why I Love You” by Major
- First dance song: “In My Arms” by Brian Nhira and “Mesi” by Harmonik
How we met…
Our journey began in 2002 when we first crossed paths as classmates at Brighton High School. Olu was an athlete playing basketball and football and I was a cheerleader who cheered for Olu and the team at various games. It wasn’t until our senior year that fate brought us together in our Health Professions class. I sat in front of Olu in class, one day I mustered the courage to ask him a favor: to take my notes so I could catch up on some much-needed sleep during class. (Clearly, Olu was the better student, lol). Without hesitation, Olu graciously agreed. When I woke up from my nap, I was well-rested and had my notes from Olu. Little did we know, this simple yet meaningful exchange was the inception of our love story.
Behind the scenes with the bride…
Popping the question…
I am a Wedding & Event Planner and Designer in Boston, MA. In addition, I have an intimate event space. Little did I know, my own space would serve as the backdrop for a momentous engagement put together by Olu.
Olu was keen to propose to me at my event space, but he found himself at a loss on how to execute the perfect plan. However, unbeknownst to him, I had confided my proposal dreams to my close friend and florist, Yanique of Yanique Events. So, when Olu called Yanique for assistance, she was well prepared.
Under the guise of booking the space for a “client’s” baby shower, Yanique transformed the venue into a breathtaking jewel-tone setting for our proposal. Meanwhile, Olu’s sister, in on the plan, convinced me to prepare for what I believed was a birthday dinner for Olu along with a family photoshoot.
On January 9, 2022, Olu came to pick me up for what I thought was his birthday dinner.
As we drove our plans took an unexpected turn. Yanique frantically called me, to let me know there was a crisis at the event space and she needed me to come as soon as possible. I told Olu that we needed to stop at the event space, but he already knew what was going on. I was worried, but he was calm as can be. Looking back, I thought, “Why is he so calm?”, it could be anything going on in the space.
When we arrived, I heard our favorite song, “Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition, that is when I realized what was happening, because why else would that song be playing? Yanique held my hands and led me into the event space that was transformed into a beautiful jewel-tone setting with loved ones from both sides, with additional friends and family joining in virtually.
As we walked hand in hand towards a beautifully adorned sign, Olu’s heartfelt proposal echoed through the room, leaving me in awe. Overwhelmed with joy, I tearfully said “YES”.
Our wedding style…
Stephanie: For me, wedding shopping was simple and seamless. From the beginning, I had already envisioned what I wanted: a dress that transcended conventionality, fashion-forward, and BOLD. I kept my vision a secret only with my mom. I went wedding shopping only for the experience but I knew deep down that I would need a custom dress to bring my vision to life.
Collaborating closely with my wedding dress designer, we came up with a daring yet refined, elegant two-piece ensemble, boasting two distinct skirts for the ceremony and reception respectively. When I received the dress it was exactly what I imagined, just WOW! This experience was a true testament to my individuality because I received the dress just two days before the wedding and it fit flawlessly.
Olu: My experience was different from Steph’s, I wanted something that echoed my simplicity with a touch of novelty. After numerous fittings and a consultation with a custom designer, I decided on a classic ivory tuxedo from Suitsupply. Paired with their signature tuxedo shirt, tailored pants, and Saks Fifth Avenue loafers. Overall my ensemble was timeless elegance, perfectly complementing my understated yet distinctive style.
In the end, we both found wedding attire that seamlessly reflected our personalities and preferences, ensuring we stood out while staying true to ourselves on our special day.
– Stephanie + Olu
Say cheese…
The best memories from our garden wedding…
Stephanie: My favorite memory was the first look which gave me an intimate moment to enjoy my husband in his dapper suit before walking down the aisle. We were like two kids smiling and laughing when we saw each other. My additional memory as my mother’s only child was our touching, bold, and fun mother-daughter dance. My mom and I KILLED the dancefloor with Haitian gospel music!
Olu: My favorite memory was the first look. I also enjoyed spending time with my groomsmen and best men before everything started. I also remember the anticipation of waiting for everything to start and waiting to see Steph Walk down the aisle. The tribute to my late mother at the reception was a nice memory as well. I also enjoyed the Cigar Bar with my friends.
A garden ceremony…
The head of ring security made sure the perimeter was secure…
The bride making her way down the aisle…
Portraits in the garden…
How we celebrated our culture…
I am from Haiti, and Olu, with roots tracing back to Nigeria, we were deeply committed to blending our rich “Zoe Naija” cultures into our “white” wedding.
To visualize this fusion we had a custom wedding monogram/logo designed. It displayed a harmonious union of Haiti’s silhouette and Africa’s continent, intricately intertwined with our first name initials and the wedding date. This emblem served as a poignant symbol of our union, bridging the geographical and cultural distances between both of our heritages.
During cocktail hour, guests were treated to a flavorful and exciting “ZoeNaija” cultural food station, showcasing an array of national dishes from both cultures. From Haiti, we had hearty Independence Day soup joumou, crisp fried plantains, pikliz, and griot. Representing Nigeria was jollof rice paired with flavorful stewed chicken, offering a tantalizing taste of West African cuisine.
Instead of table numbers we used cities, towns, and countries that are special to us and our families to assign guests their table numbers.
– Stephanie + Olu
Every detail of our garden wedding was infused with the essence of both cultures.
The menu cards for the bridal party and family tables were crafted in the shape of our monogram, paying homage to our intertwined heritage. Additionally, we invited our guests to proudly display their cultural pride with flags from both countries, encouraging a vibrant celebration of diversity and unity throughout the joyous occasion with tunes and vibes from Deejay Mot.
A live painter captured a moment that will last forever…
The best advice that we can give to you…
Stephanie: DO WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY! It is always great to think of your guests and family as you plan your wedding. But, if the choices you are making are solely for them you may want to rethink those decisions. Your wedding day will go by super fast and a wedding is an investment, therefore, you want to make sure that you will not regret any decisions.
Take it slow, enjoy your engagement before diving into the wedding planning process. Hire a planner or a coordinator to make the process easier for you! Give your potential bridal party a chance to agree to be part of the wedding instead of telling them. When you give your friends and family a choice to be a part of your day, they are more likely to be invested in the process. Last but not least, ENJOY and capture every moment that you can during the process.
Olu: Try to do things to navigate the stress! Planning a wedding can be a stressful process, try to come up with coping skills for the different types and levels of stress that may occur. The wedding will go by fast, try to soak in as much as you can.
Looking for more formal garden wedding inspiration?
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Vendors:
- Wedding Planner & Designer: Voltaire Luxe Co. Weddings & Events
- Wedding Coordinator: Weddings by Natasha
- Photographer: Stanlo Photography
- Videographer: Together Forever Films
- Florist: Wedded Events
- Bride’s Makeup: Beauty By Bless
- Bridal Party Makeup: JDMXCV Bridal Makeup Artist
- Bridal Party Hair: Tyra Bridal Glam
- Stationary & Acrylic Designs: Mel Andrade Design
- Groom’s Tuxedo: Suit Supply
- Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
- Monogram/Logo Designer: The Sofenomenal Agency Group
- Wedding DJ|MC: Deejay Mot
- Cigar Bar: The Cigar Host
- Furniture Rentals: Glam Party Rentals
- Floor Wrap: Go to Shout
- Live Painter: J Howard Studios
- Aerial Dancers: Aerial Acrobat Entertainment
- LED Robot Entertainment: Magic Moments Productions
- Venue: The Rockleigh
- Cake: A Little Cake
- Groom, Groomsmen & Best Men Barber: Joniel Barber
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