William P Miller: The Visionary Behind Yvette Nicole Brown’s Wedding of The Year

Featured in MunaLuchi Bride magazine Issue 33, get to know William P Miller, the Visionary Behind Yvette Nicole Brown’s Wedding of The Year and her gorgeous bridal shower.

William P Miller is a wedding and event planning legend who’s been making his mark in the industry for over two decades.

Since founding W. P. Miller Special Events in 1999, his renowned, one-stop-shop event production services have brought some of the most prestigious celebrity events to life. Former clients include Vice President Kamala Harris, First Ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, Senators Cory Booker and Kristen Gillibrand, and Emmy Award-winning actors—including our very own cover couple, Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony Davis’ wedding!

Miller’s eye for detail and talent for creating elevated guest experiences have made him a go-to choice for the world’s most elite clientele. However, his journey into the wedding industry spans more than 20 years, built not only on immense talent but also on chance and a willingness to take creative risks.

One of the hallmarks of Miller’s approach is his deep commitment to storytelling through design.

“Every wedding should tell the couple’s love story, and every story should be different,” he explains. “My client and I must get to know each other. By getting to know them, I learn about their love story and curate that story into the design of their special day.”

His keen ability to transform spaces and amplify their architectural beauty is what sets him apart. For example, when designing the wedding of Emmy Award-winning actress Niecy Nash-Betts, Miller opted to enhance the existing charm of the couple’s backyard rather than bringing in rented ceremony props. “We decided to adorn the trunk of an oak tree in their yard with an ombré of infinity roses,” he recalls. “This created a focal point for their wedding ceremony while lowering costs.”

With roots in Chicago, Miller’s journey began after relocating to Los Angeles while working for United Airlines. There, he graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a degree in marketing and international business and quickly immersed himself in project management.

“Before my career in the Special Events industry,” he explains, “I worked in various Project Management, Marketing, and Customer Service positions for 20 years with United Airlines, where several successful consumer experience initiatives were achieved under my direction.”

His first big break in weddings came serendipitously when he ran into Academy Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino at a local farmers market in Malibu, California.

He recalls, “I was selling hand-crafted greeting cards I had created for Mother’s Day, and Mira asked if I could create wedding invitations from my design. Using imported acid-free stationery paper and sparkles, we made a three-dimensional announcement of her wedding to actor Christopher Backus.”

One year later, a chance encounter with Emmy Award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph in a fabric store led to his next major career milestone.

“I introduced myself and thanked her for her philanthropy and her commitment to helping those affected by AIDS through her foundation,” Miller recalls. “During our brief conversation, I mentioned that we shared a friend who was my colleague at United Airlines. Georgina was the Director of Community Relations with United, and she encouraged me to volunteer for Sheryl’s foundation signature fundraiser, DIVAS Simply Singing, as United Airlines was a sponsor.”

They exchanged information, and later that day, Sheryl called him directly to arrange a meeting to discuss her wedding vision. After meeting Sheryl’s family, Miller secured the deal: “This original Broadway Dreamgirl made my Wedding Planner Dream come true.”

Sheryl’s lavish nuptials to Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Pa) were held at The Historic First AME Church in Los Angeles, with a star-studded wedding party that included Jenifer Lewis, Niecy Nash, Loretta Devine, Patti LaBelle, and more.

Capitalizing on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Miller developed authentic and meaningful connections with everyone involved. “Most became clients, and today, I continue to work with them twenty years later,” he explains. “Planning Sheryl’s wedding was the breakout wedding that helped define my career. The wedding appeared in various publications, and after it was featured on Entertainment Tonight, the executives of the reality television show Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? reached out and cast me for four seasons of the hit show.”

Fast forward to December 14, 2024. William P. Miller brought his wedding planning magic to yet another celebrity couple: Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony “Tony” Davis’s wedding at The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. 

Their intimate and elegant wedding was everything they had dreamed of. Keep reading for our exclusive interview with William P. Miller on everything from his first meeting with Yvette and Tony to design details and how he brought their dream nuptials to life–in only 3 months!

*This article was first featured in MunaLuchi Bridal magazine, Issue 33, and features photos from Yvette Nicole Brown’s Bridal Shower. The article has been lightly edited. Purchase a print copy here.

When did you first meet Yvette and Tony? What was that initial interaction like, and what made you feel this was a match made in planning Heaven?

Yvette and I met years ago. I planned a birthday celebration for actress Kym Whitley’s birthday, and Yvette was the host. We kept in contact over the years via social media. As her wedding date was approaching, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Lela Rochon Fuqua brought us together to plan her Wedding. I had recently planned Vanessa’s daughter’s wedding, and Lela and I have worked on several events. 

What was Yvette and Tony’s initial vision for their wedding? Were there any new ideas you introduced that they embraced and loved?

The couple’s initial plan was an intimate ceremony with 75 guests. Once the guest list was finalized, it became clear their original venue couldn’t accommodate everyone—including spouses and plus ones. I introduced the couple to The Maybourne Beverly Hills because

I had a relationship with their Management Team. Yvette and Tony loved the venue, its

location, its spaces, and what I was able to negotiate, so I moved the wedding to The

Maybourne Beverly Hills.

Tony’s proposal to Yvette was a big part of their love journey. He used a scratch-off lottery ticket to ask the big question, and learning this helped me to incorporate this into their wedding day. I suggested they give each of their wedding guests a scratch-off lottery ticket as a wedding favor. This simple and inexpensive wedding favor idea was personal and well-received. 

You only had three months to bring their nuptials to life! How did you tackle such a quick turnaround? Could you share details about your design process, the challenges you faced, and how it all came together in the end? 

The color palette was inspired by Yvette’s last name—Brown—paired with soft blush tones reminiscent of the keys on her computer keyboard.

The biggest challenge was the short time we had to complete everything, and Yvette’s availability was limited because she cared for her father. The couple relied on my eye for design and planning experience to make their wedding day memorable.

I had complete control over deciding which vendors would be best for their wedding production. I carefully vetted and hand-selected everyone, including the venue, photographer, bakery, florist, deejay, and other vendors. When organizing high-profile events or weddings, I must build a team of professional, trusted vendors. I look for their reliability, responsiveness, and reciprocity. Because they represent my company, I need them to understand me, my style, and my vision. 

Crowned ‘Wedding of the Year’ by Entertainment Tonight, what were your favorite details from Yvette and Tony’s big day?

My favorite detail of the wedding was the fashion experience for the couple. Working with the Bridal Style team, Yvette and I traveled to New York to attend the Ines Di Santo Fashion viewing, and I arranged to have my tailor in Los Angeles, Vinnie Custom Tailors, custom design a suit for Tony.  

Yvette’s Dress was a long-sleeved, trumpet-shaped gown with a circular skirt featuring vibrant floral appliqué, a corset top, and a molded natural waist. It is paired with a matching mantilla-style veil with floral applique detailed trim to match Yvette’s dress. Tony’s custom tuxedo was a single-breasted brown suede jacket made with a shawl collar lapel. Their wedding day looks complemented each other beautifully, creating a mesmerizing fashion moment.

One of the most emotional moments of the day was the surprise appearance of Yvette’s father. Due to his battle with dementia, he wasn’t expected to attend—but Tony, determined to make it happen, worked closely with his care facility to arrange a surprise appearance to see his daughter marry.

Two other favorite surprise moments were when Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer, and songwriter Leslie Odom, Jr. serenaded the couple and when Grammy Award-winning singer Deniece Williams performed an impromptu tribute for them. 

As a seasoned expert in the wedding industry, what is your top advice for aspiring wedding and event planners?

I invested in myself when I began in the industry more than 20 years ago. I developed a signature style by volunteering for several organizations and I looked for opportunities to learn from other event professionals and made myself of service to them.  

At my core, I knew I was a great project manager who loved to design and create incredible experiences, and I wanted to perfect these gifts in the wedding industry. So, I established relationships with others by having honest, meaningful voice conversations and in-person meetings.  

I advise aspiring wedding and event planners to remain positive and stop using social media as a standard for measuring success. Instead, they should focus on building relationships and less on gaining followers. 

Know that doors will open for your gift. Do what you love, and the money will follow. As my client, Sheryl Lee Ralph, says… “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”

Want to see all the design details of Yvette Nicole Brown’s wedding by William P Miller?

Click here.

Bridal shower vendors:

• Wedding Producer: William P. Miller 
• Floral Design: Serafina Floral Design 
• Photographer: Karim Saafir
• Venue: 1010 Wine and Event 
• Bride’s Make-up: Beth Carter for Danessa Myricks Beauty 
• Bride’s Hair: Tara Copelend 
• Mistress of Ceremony: Kym Whitely 
• DJ: Candice Manier
• Photo Experience: Tri Destined Studios 
• Celebration Cake: Southern Girl Desserts 
• Signature Cocktails: SV Vodka 
• Catering: 1010 Wine and Events
• Mixologist: Smile Bartending 

Gift Bag items:

• Ex Nihillo 
• Sunshine de lites 
• DorNee’ Natural Body Luxuries
• Absolute JOI
• The Body Butters by Curtisha Thomas
• Yvette is gifting her seven hostesses with body products by OSEA
• Cake in a Jar by Flour House Cakes and Company