A Bel Air Wedding with Nigerian Traditions
Titi and John celebrated their cultural heritage with a traditional Nigerian engagement ceremony and an emotional oceanside ceremony followed by a jubilant, dynamic reception.
As they began to plan their wedding, Titi and John imagined a three-part event: a traditional Nigerian engagement ceremony at The Alexandria Ballrooms, a deeply intentional ceremony with an ocean view, and a celebratory dinner reception at the Bel-Air Bay Club. “We wanted each part of our wedding to feel like a piece of Los Angeles,” says the bride. " We made intentional choices to personalize the event for everyone. “We found space to honor our parents, siblings, and best friends in unique ways throughout the weekend."
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More than 260 guests joined the couple in California for their engagement ceremony on August 22, 2024, and their ceremony and reception on August 23, 2024, but even with such a large crowd, Titi and John made intentional choices to personalize the event for everyone. “We found space to honor our parents, siblings, and best friends in unique ways throughout the weekend, and we left every guest with a journal and a note inside about listening to their inner artist,” says Titi. “We are both caretakers in our own ways, so wanted to be thoughtful about the whole experience and mindful about how our guests would feel taken care of throughout the weekend.”
In lieu of a first look, Titi and John had a first touch before their ceremony. “We wanted that first, heart-stopping moment of seeing each other to happen on the aisle, so we kept a bit of mystery alive,” they say. Despite not officially seeing each other, they found the experience incredibly profound. “Just holding hands and feeling each other’s presence without seeing one another brought a surge of feelings that neither of us anticipated,” says Titi. “It was a moment of pure vulnerability and joy, a bridge between who we’d been and who we were becoming together.”
The festive celebrations allowed Titi, John, and their guests to embrace their cultural roots. “We wanted our families and friends to feel deeply connected to the traditions that have grounded us—beautiful customs, traditional attire, and the rhythms of Nigerian music filled the room with an unforgettable sense of pride and belonging,” says Titi. “We encouraged guests to dress in Nigerian wear or traditional clothing from their own cultures, creating a beautiful, eclectic fusion of colors and textures. This wasn’t just a ceremony; it was a full-hearted embrace of where we come from and the values that guide us.”