Estate at Independence Wedding | Althea + Seyi

Althea and Seyi’s Estate at Independence wedding was the perfect blend of so many wonderful things, and they all came together beautifully! This elegant wedding had some touches of Christmas with red florals with greenery, cranberries floating in centerpiece candles and ornaments gifted to the guests as their favors. But it was the fun elements from each of their cultures that really made this wedding unique.

Althea is of German heritage and Seyi’s is Nigerian. And the blending of their cultures into their wedding day was truly incredible to experience!

The couple got ready at Estate at Independence before heading to Sycamore Presbyterian Church for their ceremony. The sanctuary was decorated with Christmas wreaths embellished with red bows, and garlands of magnolia leaves adorned the window sills.

As Althea walked on her dad’s arm toward Seyi, his eyes widened, and he looked stunned that this beautiful bride would soon be his wife!

After the ceremony, the guests joined the couple outside the church for a traditional German log-cutting!

German Log-Cutting Ceremony at a Wedding

The tradition of cutting a log at the wedding represents the very first obstacle that the couple will overcome in their marriage! The bride and groom have to work together as a team in order to saw through the log. Althea and Seyi used a decorative long saw with two handles as their friends and family cheered them on.

After the log-cutting, the couple entered the wedding reception in a way that would make their fellow Virginia Tech Hokies proud. The wedding party lined either side of the entrance to the reception, forming a tunnel for the couple to run through as ‘Enter the Sandman’ played! The wedding party joined the couple on the dance floor, jumping to the beat, before the couple began their first dance together as husband and wife.

Althea shared a dance with her dad, and then Seyi danced with his mom. The groom and his mom had a surprise in store for guests though, and their slow dance quickly turned into a fun synchronized dance set to a medley of fast songs!

Mid-way through the reception, Althea and Seyi re-entered their ceremony in traditional Nigerian wedding attire in a rich jewel-toned cranberry color. Seyi’s Nigerian relatives lead the couple to the dance floor where everyone was invited to ‘spray’ the couple with money as they danced.

Nigerian Money Spray Wedding Dance

It is a Nigerian tradition to have a Nigerian money spraying dance. In the dance, guests are invited to spray small bills on the dancing couple to symbolize their hopes for the couple’s good fortune! I love how much fun the grandmothers had blessing the couple as they all danced together!

The wedding reception had a full dance-floor all night, wedding toasts that left the crowd laughing and so many multicultural elements woven together perfectly.

Throughout the day, everyone remarked on how kind the couple is, how well-suited they are for one another, and how they know God will use this couple to better His kingdom! Congratulations to the happy couple—it was my honor to document your special day.

Check out a few of my favorite images from their Estate at Independence wedding below!