The couple found their venue, Pavillon Dauphine, through one of Alistair’s contacts through his work as a luxury brand consultant. “The venue had everything we had been searching for,” explains Lisa. “It combined the grandeur of a château with the energy of a city wedding. There were beautiful gardens, multiple entertaining spaces and, most importantly, a breathtaking Parisian ballroom complete with ornate mouldings, chandeliers and classic French architectural details.”
Prior to their wedding in Paris, the couple held their traditional African wedding at a private lodge in 60 acres of woodland at Limekiln Sussex. “For the traditional wedding, I wanted every look to celebrate my Nigerian and Ghanaian heritage while still feeling authentically me,” she explains. “I worked alongside my cousin Emma, founder of bridal styling company Lolo & Lace, and together we sourced fabrics from Turkey, Nigeria and Ghana while collaborating with three different designers.” Her main Ijaw bridal look was created by the designer Lisa Folawiyo, using repurposed Rivers George fabric from Lisa’s own mother’s wedding. For her Ghanian look, she worked with designer Kenneth Tetteh using handwoven ombré kente cloth. Her final look was by Nigerian designer Ambaosa: “It was a sparkling feathered party dress designed specifically for dancing,” says Lisa “By that point, all formality had disappeared, and I wanted something fun, glamorous and celebratory.”
Lisa had assumed that she would wear a designer gown straight off the runway for her Paris wedding, but nothing felt quite right. “The more I searched, the more I realised I needed something made specifically for me,” she says. “Four months before the wedding, I approached House of Alvin, a London-based designer whose work I had admired for years. He is known for creating beautifully romantic gowns inspired by historical silhouettes, and I knew he had the technical skill to bring my ideas to life. I arrived with a moodboard, and he immediately understood the assignment.”
The resulting gown featured a structured corseted bodice, delicate straps, a dropped waist and a dramatic, panelled skirt, with a veil that featured embroidered roses. “The finished look reminded me of the glamorous Black love stories I grew up watching in films like The Best Man and The Wood,” she says. “It felt timeless, romantic and deeply personal.” She paired the dress with René Caovilla’s Caterina satin pumps adorned with crystal bows. For the after-party, she opted for a strapless aubergine Stella McCartney gown, paired with gold Ferragamo Riace sandals she had purchased for half the price via her platform Classles. “They were incredibly beautiful and incredibly painful,” she jokes. “Which, in my experience, is often the price of great shoes.”
