Candyce Jessamy and Amara Darboh welcomed guests into one of Detroit’s landmark banks for a wedding that felt equal parts refined and electric. The couple—who first met at the University of Michigan after Amara quite literally “fell into” Candyce’s lap outside a Halloween party—returned to the Midwest for a celebration shaped by an unmistakable sense of joy.
The couple worked with planner Over The Moon Directory Planner Ann Travis Events, who worked with the venue’s expansive scale instead of against it, allowing the soaring ceilings, stone detailing, and layered lighting to frame a night that moved effortlessly from emotional ceremony to packed dance floor.
Floral designer Studio Terrain softened the grand interiors with lush arrangements, while lighting from The Elysium Experience emphasized the building’s architectural details. Stationery by Invitations by Caitlin established the tone long before guests arrived, while rentals from Event Theory Michigan, Detroit Chiavari, Couture Event Rental, and Modernly Events completed the atmosphere.
Fashion became one of the most memorable through-lines of the day—particularly for Candyce, whose journey to finding her ceremony dress was anything but straightforward. “Throughout the wedding planning process, I tried on way too many gowns and actually ended up purchasing two other ceremony gowns in the process,” she says. Yet the dress she couldn’t stop thinking about was the very first one that had truly felt right: the Emerson from Monique Lhuillier. “Emerson was the first gown I really saw myself walking down the aisle in,” she recalls, “but talked myself out of it for various reasons.”
Exactly one month before the wedding, she called the boutique to see whether the sample was still available. It was. “They said yes,” she says simply. The decision instantly clarified everything.
Later in the evening, Candyce changed into a long-sleeved lace reception dress by Galia Lahav after spotting the design on Instagram and tracking down the nearly-new sample. Beauty artist Moriah Mierre created the bride’s soft glam makeup look, while hairstylists at 6 Salon styled a sleek low bun that complemented both looks effortlessly.
On April 22, 2023, the couple’s ceremony—officiated by Candyce’s family pastor—was intentionally brief. Though guests gathered for the larger celebration inside the historic venue, the pair had quietly held a smaller ceremony earlier in the week with only immediate family at Candyce’s church. “That was my favorite,” she says. “It was so special and we could really focus on each other.”
Still, the reception is where the evening fully came alive. The newlyweds took an Old World–esque car from Motor City Vintage Rentals to the soirée.
After changing into their second looks during cocktail hour, the couple made their entrance to “Peru” by Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran, dancing through guests before taking their seats beneath the venue’s dramatic ceilings. Dinner by Forte Belanger included Angus filet, Atlantic salmon, and Moroccan chickpea cake, while cake designer Sweet Heather Anne created the couple’s dessert display. Later in the evening, an ice cream bar and Jet’s Pizza offered a distinctly Detroit late-night finish.
Photography by Niki Marie Photography captured the day’s mix of grandeur and intimacy with an editorial eye, while My Touch Films documented the celebration on film.
Throughout the night, DJ Corey Smith kept the dance floor packed with a mix of throwbacks and Afro-beats, but one tradition stood apart emotionally: the money dance. “Family and friends circled around us as we danced and showered us with money,” Candyce shares. “By throwing money, the guests are showing support and wishing prosperity, blessings, joy, and love to the married couple.” The moment felt deeply rooted in community—the kind of celebration where elegance never overpowered joy.
After the formalities ended—and a late-night after-party with friends at Deluxx Fluxx—the newlyweds set off for a honeymoon in San José del Cabo, trading Detroit’s historic interiors for sailboat rides, ocean views, and a quieter kind of celebration.
