This Two-Day Wedding Began with a Nigerian Ceremony and Ended with an Italian-Inspired Reception
When it came time for Leigh Weissman and Kevin Olusola to plan their wedding in Simi Valley, California, it was important for the couple, "to have [their] wedding days reflect a celebration and blending of [their] families and cultures." This vision informed every part of the wedding planning, starting with selecting the perfect venue. "We chose the Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Simi Valley, CA because it reminded us of a European villa—a nod to the bride’s Italian heritage. It also had two locations on the property that we loved, which was ideal for the two-day wedding we were planning. Day one was our rehearsal dinner, which doubled as a traditional Nigerian Ceremony to pay respect to the groom’s Nigerian heritage. Day two was our traditional American wedding," the couple shares. At day one of this multicultural wedding in California, "Kevin’s mom made Grenadian desserts and sorrel, a Caribbean drink, for the rehearsal dinner," as a nod to her Caribbean roots. One of the couple's fondest memories from their California wedding weekend is their wedding ceremony. "The pastor who married us, who is a family friend to the groom’s side, had the guests rolling in laughter during his homily, as he likened our love story to that of a romantic comedy," they share. The couple went on to remark that the self-penned wedding vows they exchanged during the outdoor ceremony, "were sentimental and sweet! People complimented us on our vows the whole night; it was probably the #1 thing people remarked on." After celebrating with loved ones in Simi Valley, California, the couple shared this advice for current to-be-weds: "If you have the chance to work with a wedding planner, do it! Our wedding planner quickly became our new favorite person—an expert who was able to take SO much stress off our plate, and for almost an entire year. Also, try to keep the guest list small so that you have a little more time to see all of your guests on the big day."