Real Weddings: Yinka & Christian

Black African American bride Yinka groom Christian ceremony reception wedding marriage married tie the knot color palette earth tones brown beige cream natural neutral outdoor African Ethiopian Nigerian traditions customs religious church venue

Neither time nor space nor never having physically seen one another proved to be a deterrent for Yinka and Christian when they were set up by a dear friend. A mere blind date seems tame compared to a virtual blind date where the two attendees are half-way across the world from one another. Yinka was living in Lebanon, while Christian resided in Seattle, WA, and the only information each were given were each other’s names. A spark of love must have traveled through the computer wires, because the couple carried on this virtual courtship and finally, after five months, they were able to meet in person. Eventually, once the couple could be together in the same location, they moved to Portland, OR. Christian, who graduated from Northwestern University, proposed to Yinka, an alumna of the University of Illinois at Chicago, at Yinka’s favorite park in town called Peninsular Park. Christian threw her off the scent by pretending to need to go on a trip. He had Yinka drop him off at the airport and was given a phony flight itinerary to boot. Later that day Yinka’s sister was instructed to play her a song Christian had co-wrote with a member of their church band while they were heading to Peninsular Park to spend the afternoon with friends. Upon the path, Yinka noticed Christian sitting on the grass and was in utter shock. Then suddenly the fluttering feeling of “he’s going to ask me to marry him,” flashed through her mind and she understood what was about to happen. She gladly said yes after Christian’s poetic proposal speech, while friends jumped out of the bushes to congratulate the couple. Later, Yinka was shocked again by a surprise party filled with their dearest friends and others who flew in from places like New York and California, including her mother and brother to celebrate a marriage to be. The couple was wed in a multicultural celebration consisting of two ceremonies to honor their cultures. There were about 100 guests at the traditional Nigerian Yoruba ceremony, which also featured Ethiopian customs to represent Christian’s heritage, and then 400 attendees at the Western ceremony. In February of 2022, Christian wed his bride at the very church where he is a pastor, surrounded by love and light and a very large bridal party of 34 important people.

Wedding Details

LOCATION: Portland, OR

TIME OF YEAR: Winter

WEDDING STYLE: glorifying, irreverent, natural

MENU: Jollof fried rice, Moin Moin a stewed fried fish, charcuterie, eforiro or egusi, Ofada rice and stew, eva agoyin and dodo, Ethiopian staples such as Injera, collard greens, spicy lentils and green beans.

DESSERT: Wedding cake

INSPIRATION: the bride’s affinity for earth tones and warm colors

SPECIAL FEATURES: the groom had a friend pass around a vintage film camera to have guests take candid shots with capturing their perspective of the special day; the couple had a multi-day celebration, with a traditional ceremony and then a Western ceremony; a friend of the couple hand-painted napkins that adorned the tablescapes; large bridal party with two different outfit changes for both the bridesmaids and groomsmen; custom wedding gowns

HONEYMOON: Mexico

COLORS: