REAL WEDDING

  • Photography By:

    Stephanie Sorenson Photography

    SAIDA BINHAZIM & KENNY HICKSON

    September 5, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee

    Saida Binhazim and Kenny Hickson both attended Tennessee State University but never really crossed paths until after graduation, when they officially met through a mutual friend. “Kenny said he remembered seeing me around campus, but I don’t recall ever noticing him,” Saida explains. “He asked for my number and here we are, four years later, married!”

    The couple knew they wanted to get married, so the wedding planning process began before they were actually engaged. When Saida was out shopping in East Nashville with some girlfriends, Kenny showed up by surprise and proposed to her in his truck. “I was speechless and loved my Henri Duassi engagement ring,” Saida says. “There are no rules to love! It was perfect.”

    “I WANTED TO INCORPORATE MY SWAHILI CULTURE AND LANGUAGE ALONG WITH KENNY’S AMERICAN CULTURE” SAIDA BINHAZIM

    During the time that followed, Saida moved to Illinois after being accepted to graduate school and had to plan her Tennessee wedding from a distance; so the wedding planning process was exciting, but stressful. “I absolutely adore my amazing wedding planner, Paige Brown, who was such a pleasure to work with,” she says. “I knew I was in good hands and entrusted her in making our wedding vision come true.”

    When the big day arrived, the bride and groom were both ecstatic to see their wedding plans materialize and come to life. The wedding was held at East Ivy Mansion, which created an intimate ambiance and allowed guests to explore the beautiful gardens and grounds. “I wanted to incorporate my Swahili culture and language along with Kenny’s American culture,” says the bride.

     “Our wedding favors were custom Kenyan bags made out of beautiful African batik prints that a friend of the family made for us in Malindi, Kenya.” The bride’s brother also translated the wedding party announcement and speeches into Swahili.

    Since the entire wedding was taking place outdoors, the biggest concern was how Nashville’s transitioning fall weather would hold up. A downpour actually occurred about two hours before the wedding started; but it stopped just in time for the festivities to begin, and the rain helped to cool down the uncharacteristically warm temperature. The result? A celebratory night with perfect weather.

    The most important aspect of the wedding was the music, and the bride provided the DJ with a specific playlist–a mix of American genres, Swahili, African, and Arabic music. Everyone enjoyed dancing the night away and, when guests weren’t dancing, they were enjoying the photo booth that had been set up for their entertainment. The night was a definite success, fulfilling everything the newlyweds had envisioned. Saida says, “We wanted a fun wedding filled with love, and that was as unique as we are.”


    WEDDING TALENT

    Location: East Ivy Mansion, Nashville, TN; Cake: Devyne Delights, Nashville, TN; Floral and Event Design, Planner: Paige Brown Designs, Nashville, TN; Linen and Rentals: Liberty Party Rental, Nashville, TN; Cinematography: Peerless Films, Nashville, TN

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