Tell us a little about yourselves!
Both of us are designers by trade. Debo is an architect and Katie a digital product designer and florist. As lovers of details and cozy gatherings, we had a lot of fun planning our wedding together.
Debo was born and raised in the plains of Illinois to Nigerian immigrant parents. Katie grew up in the woods of Western Washington. We matched on Hinge days before the lockdowns started in 2020, and spent the first few months of our relationship getting to know each other virtually from different cities.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We had recently moved to Los Angeles from New York, and getting married in LA felt symbolic of the beginning of a new chapter of our lives together. The lush greenery and industrial tones at Millwick felt like the perfect marriage of our visual interests.
How many guests did you have?
105.
Tell us about your outfits.
A photo of Debo’s parents’ wedding in Nigeria in 1977 was on our vision board. We were inspired by 70s fashion and wanted the day to have a warm, nostalgic feel. For the ceremony, Katie wore a long sleeved satin dress by Watters, paired with her mother’s wedding veil that a local seamstress remade in ivory (from white) to better match the dress. Debo wore a custom Indochino ivory tux, with a vintage ruffled shirt. We did an outfit change during the reception to honor Debo’s Yoruba culture. His attire is called Aso oke, which is worn by Yoruba people during special occasions. The outfit consisted of an Agbada (long tunic/robe), Buba (long shirt), and Sokoto (pants). It was designed by Debo and custom made by a seamstress in Nigeria.
Katie wore a dress by Solace London, with voluminous sleeves that felt inspired by traditional Nigerian silhouettes. To continue the 70s theme into the dance portion, she wore a print from Debo’s Agbada as a headband, paired with gold sparkly boots.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
We wanted our wedding to feel like we were hosting people at our home, but better. Great food, laid back vibes, and aesthetic details that felt like us.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
As our wedding was a union of two cultures, we merged Western and Nigerian wedding traditions. It was important to Debo that we celebrated with a traditional Nigerian money dance during the reception, where guests shower small bills on the newlyweds to symbolize good fortune. We also really wanted to honor Debo’s late mother during the ceremony, so we saved her a chair and placed flowers on it during the processional.
Katie, who owns Friends of Fronds, designed the florals and printed materials for the day, and she wanted them to feel cohesive with the plant filled venue. She kept the flora relatively minimal and used textures, shapes, and tones that felt sculptural, playful, and a little retro. A couple of close friends assisted with bud vases and floral setup, which felt really special.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Only have a wedding if you really want it, not because you think you should. Planning a wedding is no joke and can get super messy! For us, it was essential that both of us were equally invested in planning. This process can set the tone for your partnership. Be true to yourself and realistic about your budget. Try to remember to have fun with it!
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Nicole Plett! We chose Nicole because we loved the texture and tone of her photographs, and knew she could capture not only amazing portraits, but incredible documentary style moments of us and our guests. We didn’t know what a joy she would be to work with! She clearly loves what she does and is the kindest and most talented person, we can’t recommend her enough.
Photographer : Nicole Plett @nicole.marie.plett | Ceremony + Reception Location : Millwick @millwick_dtla | Celebrant : Margo Nolan (Katie’s Aunt) | Entertainment : DJ Merc80
@merc80 | Coordinator : Weddings by Sabrina @weddingsbysabrina | Rentals : Huntington Catering @huntingtoncatering | Flora : Friends of Fronds (The Bride) @friendsoffronds | Makeup : Caitlin Hales @caitlinemilyhales | Hair : The Bride | Catering + Beverages : Aduke Nigerian Cuisine (Dinner) +
Huntington Catering (Snacks + Beverages) @huntingtoncatering | Cake : by the Groom | Stationery : Designed by the Bride | Wedding Dress : Watters @watters from Fleurish LA @fleurishla | Reception Dress : Solace London @solacelondon | Tux : Indochino @indochino | Groom’s Reception Outfit: Custom from Nigeria | Engagement Ring : Adeline @adelinejewelry | Wedding Rings : Automic Gold (Groom) @automicgold + Hiddenspace Jewelry @hiddenspacejewelry. | Heels : Huma Blanco @huma_blanco | Reception Boots : Dries Van Noten @driesvannoten | Groom's Ceremony Shoes : Custom | Veil : Vintage from Katie’s Mother | Earrings : So Gold Studios @sogoldbk x Pieces of Starr @piecesofstarrjewelry | Ceremony Necklace : J. Hannah @j.hannah | Reception Necklace : Maiden Voyage @maidenvoyagejewelry