A Glamorous Wedding at Leopold's in Minneapolis, Minnesota

With the help of ballerina “angels,” dreamy floral installations and glamorous gold and silver details, chemists Awura (Ama) Oppong (22) and Zavontae Holmes (22) created their own heaven on earth. “We picked the venue because it is the closest to our imagination of heaven,” Ama says of Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens Event Center. After exchanging traditional vows along the Mississippi River, the couple and their guests retreated to a luxe reception, where a mixture of African and African American music kept everyone dancing all night long. For the royal-inspired affair, Ama paired her beaded gown with a Swarovski tiara and wore a total of four dresses throughout the day. The couple treated guests to macarons and creme brulee, as well as a six-tier wedding cake finished with an ornate monogram. Floral arches lined the ceremony aisle, creating a flower tunnel for the new Mr. and Mrs. to walk through. Ama carried a Swarovski crystal bouquet custom-made by her wedding dress designer, Leo Almodal. Her bridesmaids, in blush-pink dresses, carried feather fans with metallic accents instead of traditional flowers.
Tall arrangements of hydrangeas, orchids and roses topped gold mirrored tables “to keep the feeling of heaven alive,” Ama says. The couple chose “You’re So Beautiful” by Fred Hammond, which Zavontae loves to sing to Ama, for their first dance on a monogrammed dance floor.