While celebrating his sister’s 26th birthday, Jeffrey Gyimah-Boadi met Jacinta Namataka, and they immediately hit it off. The two began dating and soon fell in love.
For their two-year anniversary, Jeffrey had a very special celebration in mind. He took Jacinta to Vanilla Black, a vegan restaurant that features a five-course menu in London. He told her they were following dinner with a trip to an art gallery, but he really intended on bringing Jacinta to St Dunstans-in-the-East. Jacinta was not pleased to go on an extended walk in her high heels, but when she realized Jeffrey brought her to the picturesque church garden to propose, her mood quickly lifted. Jeffrey also had a photographer waiting for them, capturing one of the most amazing moments in their lives.
After selecting Essex for their destination, the couple decided on the farmhouse aesthetic for their wedding. They enlisted Chenai Bukutu of ByChenai Events to assist in the planning details.
Before COVID-19 dismantled their plans for a large celebration, Jacinta planned on having several gowns for her wedding. For the civil ceremony, the bride was sleek and sharp in her Rotate Burger Christensen tuxedo mini-dress. She opted for a more traditional ensemble with her full Milla Nova gown and Jimmy Choo shoes at the garden ceremony. Later that evening, she changed into a bespoke dress by Andrea Hawkes London. The Beauty Boudoir styled Jacinta’s radiant makeup look.
The groom sported a limited-edition three-piece suit from Aristocracy London. His groomsmen all donned navy blue two-piece suits with a complementary light blue tie and pocket square.
On May 21, 2021, Jacinta and Jeffrey tied the knot. “It was an outdoor ceremony in the garden under the sun, and it was an absolutely incredible experience for the both of us,” Jeffrey shares. The weather was sublime, despite the torrential rain that poured down only days before. The couple exchanged vows under a blooming floral arch while two violinists from Chineke! Orchestra, Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, performed.
Lord Leslie officiated the service. “To have been married by Lord Leslie who has known me since I was five years old from growing up in Wesley’s Chapel Methodist Church was incredibly special,” Jeffrey shares. “He’s seen me grow from a boy into a man, so to have him as such a central figure on the most important day of my life was absolutely amazing.” When Jeffrey remembers this day, he says he “can’t describe the feeling in words.” Instead, he will simply call the ceremony “the greatest moment of my life.”
The tented reception followed, and the couple joined their thirty guests for an evening of dinner, toasts, and dancing. Limeberry catered the meal with plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and meat options. While everyone dined, the speeches were delivered by Jeffrey’s best man and his father. Then, Jeffrey proposed a toast to his beaming bride.
The newlyweds shared a first dance to Lauryn Hill’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and cut into their Avant Garde Cake Studio cake before spending the rest of the night dancing with their nearest and dearest. Jeffrey admits it was the perfect end to a perfect day.
