These days, we’re feeling nostalgic and swooning over vintage gowns & remakes from past generations. (Did you see the gorgeous dress worn by three generations of women in Chicago? ).
We trek today to Montana’s mountains, where Rebekah & Likom held their lodge wedding, filled with Congolese tradition, whimsical forest vibes & a redesign from Rebekah’s mother’s 1970s wedding gown.
Rebekah & Likom, from Chicago, chose Montana for their wedding because of its natural beauty. And who could blame them? The couple showcased the stunning views by having an outdoor ceremony under the Rockies and oodles of cute golden-hour woodland portraits with Honeybee Weddings.
Our Love Story
We met via the dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. Our first date was at The Map Room, Chicago.
Likom’s friend Likom had just started a new job, and Likom told Rebekah they would all gather to have a celebratory drink. Unaware of what had happened, Rebekah hurried out the door after work one Thursday to meet Likom. They were headed to a bar that was just across the street.
Rebekah, still unaware of anything, crossed the street. Likom then stopped Rebekah and, on one knee, proposed to her outside the same place we had said goodbye during our first date. Our friends were waiting for us inside to celebrate when we entered.
Dress & Attire
Rebekah’s gown was a remake of her mother’s dress in 1977. Over about 18 months, we worked with a local tailor to redesign and re-fit the bodice. The original veil was used.
We wanted to create a sharp and classic design, so we chose black tuxedos for Likom’s groomsmen from Men’s Wearhouse. Rebekah’s bridesmaids were dressed in dresses by David’s Bridal.
Destination
Our wedding was a chance to bring our families together, who would otherwise never have met, and celebrate our love. We wanted to celebrate our roots while throwing a party. We live in Chicago and wanted our Montana destination wedding to be a celebration of the beautiful surroundings. We chose a fun and classic atmosphere, accenting our magenta color scheme with emerald.
Favorite moments
It was a great experience to share dances, celebrations, and traditions with our families.
Traditions and Family Heirlooms
We incorporated Likom’s tradition by having the groomsmen wear African wax print ties at the reception. The bridesmaids also wore matching earrings with wax prints. Rebekah wore not only her mother’s dress but also the emerald-colored ring of her late grandmother. Likom, his father, and all the men of his family wore African bead jewelry.
We incorporated the African traditional money dance, where we danced while our guests threw dollars at us.
The Cake
Ruth King, the sister-in-law of the bride, made our wedding cake. The groom’s wedding cake was a tribute to Likom’s Chicago Bulls fandom.
