This South Carolina Wedding Was Filled With Details Reflecting the Couple’s Love Story and Honoring Their Roots
When Houston Rhodes received an invite from fellow NYC investment banker, Ade Okunyade, to meet him at a wine bar in the West Village back in August 2019, she assumed it was to discuss business. “I thought he might be planning to poach me from my bank,” Houston remembers, laughing. “Little did I know this would turn into our first date.” Despite both studying at Duke, the pair’s paths had never formally crossed—she was a gregarious varsity cheerleader majoring in anthropology, while he was focused on finance and economics—so even as they sat inches apart in a romantic bistro and the conversation moved to deeper topics, Houston still had a hard time determining if he was, in fact, flirting. But any doubt she initially had faded before night’s end—she remembers confiding in her mother afterwards, “I think I found my soulmate.”
Three years later, Ade arranged a romantic trip to Italy for the couple with the intention of asking Houston to be his wife. After spending months finding ways to make every detail of their three-destination trip special, everything was almost derailed when an impending passport expiration nearly halted his ability to leave the country. (Just like in any good love story, however, Houston’s godfather stepped in to help and was able to help the two narrowly escape the disaster.) After a quick stop in Rome, the couple landed in Sorrento to stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior. Ade stepped away from the room under the guise of a work call for last minute preparations, while Houston was too blissful to suspect anything. “I didn’t even notice we were the only people dining at the restaurant that evening,” says the bride. “It wasn’t until eight courses in, when an engagement ring was revealed underneath a dessert cloche, that I finally realized!” After saying “yes,” the couple FaceTimed their families, then stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the Sorrentine Peninsula to watch Ade’s final surprise of the night as fireworks lit up the night sky.
When beginning their wedding planning, the couple quickly decided they wanted to tell their love story by honing in on Houston’s South Carolina heritage and Ade’s Nigerian background, and pay tribute to their ancestors through symbolism around nature, traditions, and love standing the test of time. Ade’s full name, Adetunji, translates to “return of the crown,” which soon became a theme for the impending nuptials—the couple wanted to lean into the regality of cultures that have been disempowered for hundreds of years.
When brainstorming venue locations, the couple knew they wanted to showcase their Lowcountry roots. To achieve their vision, they worked with photographer Mo Davis, who helped them compose a team of vendors capable of realizing the depth of storytelling that the couple was hoping to produce. Davis recruited wedding planner Michelle Norwood to ensure each guest’s experience was seamlessly coordinated, Joy Proctor to design the weekend, and Kelsey Willis of Grey and Cake for the stationery.
To honor South Carolina’s coastal culture, and Houston’s love for her “pearl in a sea of muddy oysters” (an early nickname she gave Ade), the couple knew an oyster roast was the perfect way to kick off the weekend with their guests. Houston wore a Dries Van Noten sleeveless gown from the designer’s final womenswear collection which embodied the theme of regality with its shimmering foliage embroidery, draped skirt, high neckline, and princess seams. Lowcountry musician Dean St. Hiliare serenaded guests all evening long, while the tables were adorned by Blossom Bay with silver platters topped with local vegetables from Houston’s grandparents’ farm including okra, collard greens, and the local persimmons from Houston’s childhood memories.
Houston collaborated with stylist Lisa Von Weise on the rest of her wedding day looks. Going into the design process, the bride knew two things: she wanted her looks to feel classic and timeless, and she wanted to incorporate lace into every piece to honor a tradition shared by her mother and grandmother on their wedding days. “One of the most rewarding and unforgettable processes that I experienced was designing my wedding gown with Alison Miller, owner of Monvieve,” says the bride. “Her knowledge of fabric, quality, and tailoring is unparalleled.” She worked closely with Alison to add French Chantilly lace underneath, using a couture process, to create a high neckline and long sleeves, ultimately making it more appropriate for a chapel setting. Meanwhile, Ade wore a custom Grey Clothiers black tuxedo with an ivory vest, Tom Ford Edgar patent leather loafers, and pearl cufflinks.
A formal, traditional ceremony inside a chapel was also a must for the couple, who both grew up playing an active role in their churches, and when guests arrived at Somerset Chapel they were greeted with lush, seasonal arrangements of white florals and a custom chandelier draped in greenery. The ceremony began with a wedding party processional to “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saëns played live by the Kiral Artists’ string trio, and was officiated by South Carolina congressman, high-ranking House Democrat, and longtime friend of Houston’s family, James Clyburn, who weaved in playful banter that nodded to his deep connection with the family. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, who then hugged Ade. “I think what helped the most was that we shared our vows privately before the ceremony,” says Houston. “After we shared our vows, my entire focus was on having the best time with Ade and I forgot about everything else.” Former Presiding Elder Eddie Gadsden provided a brief sermon and prayer, and the Hallelujah singers led the recessional with “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Oh Happy Day” before the couple was chauffeured away in a Rolls Royce Corniche to the River House for cocktail hour and dinner.
There, guests took in scenic views of the May River on the veranda while enjoying South Carolina favorites including tomato pie and fresh crab with soy pearls. Afterwards, they were seated with velvet blue menus bearing each individual guest’s name, followed by a dinner of filet mignon and lobster dinner that reflected the couple’s shared love of a classic NYC steakhouse. The bride grew up playing the piano, and always loved the musical Porgy Bess, so as an interlude between the first and second courses, Christopher Hyatt sang “Summertime,” made famous by Ella Fitzgerald. Then, just as the sun was setting during the final course, the double doors on the veranda opened and gave way to the silhouettes of the father-daughter and mother-son dances taking place against the golden hues of dusk to “You’re All I Need to Get By” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Finally, it was time for the afterparty. The couple’s post-engagement vacation in Paris and the bride’s lifelong obsession with France inspired their vision for a French discothèque-themed afterparty, which was quickly dubbed “La Vie En Rhodes” (a play on bride’s maiden name and “La Vie En Rose”) and “C’est Okunyade” (a play on “c’est la vie” and the groom’s family name). The couple wanted guests to feel like they had entered an upscale French Narnia, so they draped the ballroom from floor to ceiling in red silk fabric, and asked DJ Kennedy of Élan Artists to set the mood, in keeping with the discotheque tradition playing records instead of featuring a live band. They entered the celebrations to “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross remixed with “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems” by Biggie Smalls, setting the mood for the rest of the night. Staying true to the theme, the bride selected a French designer for her second look. Her draped Coperni dress was custom and crafted entirely from eyelet lace, garnished with romantic rosettes, and paired with Magda Butrym rose heels. Then, at the perfect moment, the DJ drops the beat for “Milkshake” by Kelis and actual milkshakes and wagyu burgers were served on platters for the boisterous crowd.
After a private dance to Louis Armstrong’s rendition “La Vie En Rose” and a sparkler exit, the couple retreated for the night with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for being able to tell their love story while honoring their family and community. “I feel grateful that I was able to share my love with Ade through our wedding in so many different mediums, whether it be through food, entertainment, or the ceremony itself,” says Houston.
Photo: Mo Davis Photography1/87Wedding suite save the dates and invitations designed by Emily Baird. We wanted to play with texture, elegance, and the simplicity of water and foliage through watercolor, embossing, and debossing.
Photo: Mo Davis Photography2/87Sweet moment of us set against the Gullah-inspired artistry of Amiri Geuka Farris featured at our wedding venue, Montage Palmetto Bluff.
