The wedding ceremony and reception was held at the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa. This was the location that we took pictures at after our ceremony. I absolutely love the Spanish architecture of the building!
The ceremony was held outside in the courtyard with the beautiful staircases and fountain.
Bokeem is African-American, so the ceremony was partially following traditional African rituals. When the ceremony began, the groom's family came down the staircase to drums. Bokeem was the last one down the stairs, wearing and playing his own drum.
He then presented Mahiely's family with baskets of fruits and flowers. These were gifts to the family in return for them giving him their daughter. Her family agreed to allow them to be married.Then Mahiely came down the other staircase, escorted by her father. She looked gorgeous!
In order to prove himself to both families, Bokeem was asked to pick up his bride. He then asked both families if they would also help him take care of Mahiely.
Next the minister had Mahiely remove her shoes in order to step on two blocks of clay. Once she had successfully molded her footprints into the clay, he presented them to Bokeem. He told him that he needed to keep those molds close to his heart and in a special part of his home because the footprints of his bride were something to be cherished.
They then exchanged rings, and the ceremony was complete. As they made their way away from the ceremony site, the Mariachi band came in.
We were then instructed to enter the ballroom where the reception would be held. They had cocktails & appetizers for about the first hour.
There were plenty of speeches, then salad and dinner. We danced for a while before the First Dance, and then continued dancing before the cake cutting.
We had a wonderful time with our friends!
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