Bride: Melitta Igwe

Groom: Benjamin Igwe

Wedding Date: 07/01/2012

Occupations: Academic Advisor & Physical Therapist

Location: Samuel’s Grande Manor, Buffalo, NY

Photographer:  Marlon Ming Photography

Hair: Tonette’s Hair Design

Makeup: Janelle Hill

The bride on her special day: 

When my wonderful boyfriend of five years proposed to me and it was my turn to plan a wedding, I pretty much had an idea of how I wanted every element of my wedding. I initially wanted a destination wedding, chiavari chairs and flowers everywhere.

After picking a venue (only venues that had a fabulous outdoor ceremony location made the short list), and after picking our wedding date (we decided to get married on our sixth anniversary), I had a pretty clear idea of what the details of my wedding would look like. I did not have to spend hours leafing through magazines to figure out what “type” of wedding I wanted, I already knew – simple elegance. 

Our wedding had tons of DIY details, from our super chic monogram, wedding invitations, wedding card box, favors, menu cards, escort cards/place cards, table numbers, programs, welcome bags for out-of-town guests, to the sweets table and candy buffet jars and thank you cards. We spent hours of quality time bonding while putting personal touches on the details.

The beautiful grounds of Samuel’s Grande Manor provided an awesome setting for our evening wedding. The sounds of the classical and contemporary music played by the violin students from Muhammad’s School of Music was accented by the soothing sounds of the water fountains located at the ceremony site. It was important to us that our ceremony incorporated many personal touches, which included writing our own vows and having my husband’s mother and sister sing a beautiful song (“The Wedding Prayer”). And to unite our families and our marriage, we had a sand ceremony, in which our mothers poured sand into a vase. My husband and I then poured the rest of the sand into the same vase – symbolizing both families coming together.

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