This Couple’s Wedding in the French Riviera Had a Black-Tie and Blue Dress Code

Amma and Terrick met in May 2018 at a rooftop bar overlooking Elliot Bay in Seattle, Washington. The two became friends that day, but began dating a few months later, in early 2019. In February 2022, the couple brought their siblings together from different states to Quintessa winery in Napa, California, to meet. “Terrick knows I love planning fun excursions and this is how he distracted me from realizing this would be our engagement trip,” Amma says. He popped the question in a glass pavilion at the winery overlooking a pond and the vineyards. “I was so moved because the most important people in our lives were with us and we truly felt so blessed and so loved,” Amma says. “It was like the culmination of our incredible life stories colliding in a moment to create a new one, this time together. We’ve been writing new chapters ever since.”

The couple chose to host their wedding in the French Riviera to combine Terrick’s love of wine with Amma’s vision of water views. “We loved the idea of inviting our favorite people to explore a refined, fun, and timeless part of the world with us,” Amma says. “We love the laid back vibe of the region and all the beauty, from rolling hills of vineyards to the beautiful seaside towns that dot the Mediterranean Sea.”

They invited 60 guests to Castel Bay in Hyères in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France. They kicked off the wedding weekend with a wine tasting followed by dinner overlooking the Saint Tropez marina—and plenty of dancing, of course. On the wedding day, they shuttled their guests from Saint Tropez to the venue for the ceremony and reception, then back to Saint Tropez for (you guessed it) more dancing! Amma and Terrick worked with the team at Sinclair & Moore, helmed by Steve Moore and Ashley Mason, and a list of diverse vendors to pull off a wedding inspired by the Mediterranean Sea on May 21, 2023. You won’t want to miss any of the stunning details captured by Jenny Quicksall. 

Amma and Terrick chose a color scheme of teal blue with white and brass accents inspired by the water of the Mediterranean Sea and the venue’s design. Guests were introduced to the vibe of their wedding via their elegant invitation suite, which featured a custom crest and hand sketches of their venues in St. Tropez and Hyères that were imprinted onto the invitations. Blue watercolor envelopes were the finishing touch.

Amma struggled to find a dress that fit her vision—she wanted an off-the-shoulder neckline with long sleeves—but surprisingly, her younger sister, Abena Bofa, found it for her. Abena sent her a picture of the "Aretta" gown by Eva Lendel and tracked down trunk shows so she could try it on. The mermaid style sheath dress was embellished with beads and sequins; it had semi-transparent sleeves and an overskirt with layers of tulle and a long train. “I never envisioned myself as a bride. It’s not something I ever thought growing up would be for me—it felt out of reach almost,” Amma says. “So when I put the dress on, it was affirming. It felt like my life was wrapping me in a huge hug and calling on me to believe.”

She accessorized her look with Badgley Mischka white stilettos, Jennifer Behr crystal drop earrings, and a cathedral length veil by Toni Federici with spanish tulle that matched her dress. Amma’s beauty vision for her wedding day was to look glamorous, but refined with a smokey eye. She hired Maeva from Beauty by Maeva to travel from Paris to do her and her family’s makeup.

For her hair, Ciara of Ciara Coiffure suggested an Old-Hollywood look with waves on one side. “She came all the way from Paris to do my hair for the weekend and is a true inspiration,” Amma says. “It was of utmost importance to me to use a Black hairstylist for my wedding and I am so grateful to my planner Ashley for making this a priority.” Amma held an all-white lily of the valley bouquet to complete her bridal ensemble.

Terrick wore a Canali tuxedo for the wedding day with a watch that his friend gifted him. Leading up to the wedding day, he got a haircut and shave; he chose to wear Dior Sauvage for his big-day fragrance.

Amma and Terrick shared a first look before the ceremony began. “We wanted a special moment with just the two of us away from family and friends to just focus on us,” Amma says. “We got to enjoy seeing the wedding come to life for the first time together. But most importantly, we got to see each other at our absolute best.”

The couple’s ceremony took place outside, where guests took in views of the famous Almanarre Bay and the Giens peninsula. They hired Max Owens Design for florals, which included a ceremony floral arch of white roses and all-white ground arrangements to line the aisle.

Amma’s twin sister, Anna, was her maid of honor, and Terrick’s best friend served as his best man. The couple asked all of their guests to dress in tuxedos or blue dresses. “This was a suggestion from our wedding planner, Steve Moore, who had done it once before—and it was so fun to see everyone’s outfits!” Amma says. “The guests really enjoyed it and the backdrop of the Cote D'Azur really complemented all the shades of blue.”

The duo hired a quartet to play during the ceremony. After Terrick and the wedding party walked down the aisle to “On the Nature of Daylight” by Max Richte, Amma was accompanied by her brother Emmanuel as she processed in to “I Giorni” by Ludovico Einaudi. “There was a point as we were descending the very long staircase where my veil got stuck and he looked at me and said, 'Don’t worry Amma I got you,' and that just sums up our relationship,” Amma says, “So instead of panicking, I just stayed calm. He went and fixed my veil, gave me his arm to lock into, and guided me toward my next journey.”

Terrick’s cousin officiated the ceremony, during which Amma and Terrick exchanged hand-written vows. “They each reflected our personalities,” Amma says. “Terrick’s were witty and funny and reflective. Mine were gracious, serious, and emotive.” Amma had a special moment with Terrick’s mom before she passed away during their engagement. “Shirley knew that she wasn’t going to be at our wedding and asked me to make it special for Terrick and to look after her baby boy,” she says. “It was really important for me to incorporate that final conversation with her into my vows to Terrick.”

After a tear jerking service, the couple was pronounced husband and wife; they recessed joyously back down the aisle to “At Last” by Etta James.

The string quartet played the couple’s favorite R&B and pop songs as guests enjoyed iced veloutés and hibiscus flowers with truffle cream appetizers during the cocktail hour. Ama and Terrick also chose two signature cocktails: a daiquiri for the bride and an old fashioned for the groom.

When it was time for dinner, guests found their table assignments on framed calligraphed cardstock featuring the couple’s custom crest.

Overlooking the sea, dinner took place at a single long table, which was dressed in a teal blue velvet cloth and paired with brass chairs with white cushions. The ceremony arch and aisle flowers were repurposed for the station's centerpieces. Candles in various shades of blue, which the planning team collected from local shops, added height to the tablescape. Hand-painted charger plates served as the base of the place settings, which featured brass flatware, crystal glasses, teal velvet napkins, and custom menus with the couple’s T&A crest.

Amma and Terrick made their grand entrance at the reception and joined their guests for dinner and speeches. They served stuffed zucchini flower, sea bream filet, and sarawak pepper beef steak during the main course.

Amma and Terrick wanted a cake inspired by the movement of the waves, so they hired Fen from Mon Annie Luxury Cakes to travel from England to deliver their modern white wedding confection, complete with wave-inspired sugar work. They chose a vanilla cake with strawberry jam and a lemon flavored cake with elderflower buttercream. 

Amma changed into an ivory crepe Sachini & Babi one-shoulder dress for the reception. For Amma and Terrick’s first dance, the bride's good friend, professional musician Anhayla Stanley, wrote and performed a new song called “I Choose You” for them. “The thought of doing a first dance always made me a bit nervous, because I don’t like being the center of attention,” Amma says. “Having her sing, and the warmth and familiarity in her voice, put me at ease and really allowed Terrick and I to focus on the moment. It felt so special and deeply personal.”

As a surprise for Terrick, Amma worked with her wedding planner to take a video of his late mother singing and dancing to “When The Saints Go Marching In;” she played it over the sound system at the reception. Then they had their DJ play songs by Rebirth Brass Band as they handed out handkerchiefs and umbrellas to invite guests to dance in a traditional New Orleans second line. “The surprise touched not only Terrick, but all of his family members who knew Shirley,” Amma says. “And Grandma Bessie was elated. She said she could feel her daughter's presence there that day.”

The couple spent their honeymoon in The Maldives. They recommend staying in tune with each other throughout the wedding-planning process. “Consistently check in with each other and anchor the planning process in your love and admiration for each other,” Amma says. “If the root is good, then the rest can grow and flourish.”