The next day, they were married at General Prim, a historic belle epoque mansion in Colonia Juarez, in front of 165 family members and friends. The ceremony opened with their parents walking arm-in-arm down the aisle: IcyTwat and Robert Glasper played as the bride made her entrance in a custom corset gown from Wiederhoeft that took six months to perfect. “My wedding-day gown embodied my eclectic yet modern style,” she says. “I know it’s funny and super-nontraditional, but to me it was and remains so on brand for me as a bride.” Asiah also removed her extensions and cut her hair in a low bowl cut. For his ceremony outfit, Gerald opted for a Prada suit.
Their close friend and officiant Shay Myrick shared quotes by historian Tiya Miles and poet Maya Angelou before asking the crowd to take a “pledge of presence,” or a promise to support the couple throughout their marriage. Asiah considered it the emotional pinnacle of the evening. “It was incredibly heartwarming and meaningful to witness and be a part of,” she says. Their first kiss was to Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes,” and after jumping over the broom—a wedding tradition with roots in the 18th century—they walked back up the aisle and out through ivy-covered doors. “Gerald and I both felt an overwhelming sense of calm and serenity throughout the ceremony—and have found ourselves reflecting on it every day since then,” says Asiah.
For the reception, Asiah removed the tulle overskirt from her gown, revealing a miniskirt underneath. “It offered a high-low effect that allowed the gown to flow through the reception, and dance with ease for our first dance and dances with my parents,” she says of the wardrobe alteration. It proved a very smart style decision: From the moment that she and Gerald danced to a soulful rendition of Sade’s “I Couldn’t Love You More,” the party never stopped—even during the four-course meal. At one point, their wedding planners even surprised the couple with a performance from voguers, who led guests into the after-party space. “The atmosphere exuded the ambiance of a vibrant nightclub, featuring a special nod to my Washington, D.C., roots with a go-go segment that our DJ, Shabazz, lit up the dance floor with until 2 a.m.,” Asiah says.
During the festivities, she snuck off with her closest friends to transform her dress yet again, stitching on silk tassels to create “a dance party-ready” skirt. “I also removed the straps so that I could really wiggle and hug everyone,” Asiah notes. Streamers, confetti, and fake money fell from the ceiling as night turned into morning.
Three months later, Asiah and Gerald say they’re still in awe of the whole weekend: “As Gerald and I reflect on our wedding now that it’s concluded, we can confidently say it was the most extraordinary experience of our lives,” she says. “Already, we find ourselves joking about the possibility of a destination baby shower when the time comes—a testament to the joy and anticipation that fills our hearts for what lies ahead.”