https://www.black-tied.uk/blog daily 0.75 2025-12-21 https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/made-in-ghana-afyas-klosset monthly 0.5 2025-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/39757a6f-5cd3-4698-8dd0-89fa2d211e9e/IMG_9611.png Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out What was once admired from a distance is now being worn with pride. Today, kente is no longer confined to tradition — it is being styled, reworked, and embraced in contemporary ways by a new generation. Afya Serwaa of Afya’s Klosset reflects on her journey into the kente trade and the renewed cultural confidence shaping how the fabric is worn today. “At the end of the day, kente is not just a cloth. It is a fabric of celebration.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/3619e689-2c7b-47d1-8ea6-52fb1a767fcf/da235bc0-b73e-41ca-a7f0-8d3403b4d672.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Example of a kente strip from Afya’s Klosset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/74f13ca2-67ef-416e-98ad-deae0a6a0ac5/IMG_1615+%282%29.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Example of Fatia kente (left) and Sika Futoro kente (right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/a3ba0533-fab8-4f3c-b3a3-a6db7a853c7a/PHOTO-2025-12-21-04-04-58.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Examples of Fatia Fata kente in green (left) and black (right). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/e9e1fb2b-3556-4866-a7bc-8e9185086192/PHOTO-2025-12-21-03-36-22+%282%29.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Threads https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/a5e1196f-988a-4fa1-8ca6-5851964e6e44/PHOTO-2025-12-21-04-05-27.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Picture of Afya in a full ombré kente . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/9de1ff0d-d900-4907-b902-72f55d9bd980/IMG_5616.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Example of the full cloth once the strips have been sewn together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/cda4126d-65d4-43c3-aa0b-add273a9f380/IMGS9686.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Picture of a Father of the Bride in an Obama kente. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/b92d66f5-fba1-4679-86d7-4b661a7bf222/IMG_5132.png Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Picture of a Mother of the Bride in an ombré kente top and a patterned skirt . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/5a0c6cf4-0e94-4a11-92a6-3ac084c05def/PHOTO-2025-12-21-03-36-22+%281%29.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Shuttles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/3bc96431-f87e-4e25-874a-ef2bd8d8b585/IMG_5613.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Strips of ombré kente from Afya’s Klosset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/9eb13321-1815-4947-84f5-eccf5f87c7d8/PHOTO-2025-12-21-04-12-27.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: Afya’s Klosset - Make it stand out Loom https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/made-in-ghana-george-bannerman monthly 0.5 2025-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/47e8d618-8f27-4a25-a750-65940d5473d6/bannerman-3.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: George Bannerman - Make it stand out “When I first started, there were days I didn’t even know where my next meal was coming from, but once I picked up the mic, I had to leave all of that behind. My focus had to be the room, the energy, and the people I was there to serve.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/75d8bc23-35f6-447f-bca3-296e244deda2/IMG_5517.png Blog - Made in Ghana: George Bannerman - Make it stand out From wondering where his next meal would come from in 2016 to being flown across the world to host weddings in Brazil, George Bannerman shares his journey into the MC profession. He reflects on the skills the job truly requires, the wedding trends he’s ready to see go, and the fellow creatives making waves in the events sphere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/dc1a13dd-dfa9-4fe6-97a8-501d73d15f72/PHOTO-2025-12-10-17-17-45.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: George Bannerman - Make it stand out “Dancing also breaks the ice. Some guests won’t move unless someone leads, so yes, I’m always dancing. If I don’t dance, who will? My job is to entertain.” https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/made-in-ghana-reels-by-nana-kwame monthly 0.5 2025-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/690d8e86-b719-4f7a-a829-983588b2071a/IMG_1614.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: Reels By Nana Kwame - Make it stand out At 18 he was skipping uni lectures to follow his brother to weddings, now at 25, Emmanuel Danso dives into his journey building Reels By Nana Kwame into a force in Ghana’s events space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/8d3e0b5f-fa31-4633-a2f8-a46885fe3a88/IMG_5405.png Blog - Made in Ghana: Reels By Nana Kwame - Make it stand out Adinkra accessories captured by Reels By Nana Kwame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/08663274-2a46-4051-b25f-28b679cf18a3/IMG_5420.png Blog - Made in Ghana: Reels By Nana Kwame - Make it stand out Bride and her accessories captured by Reels By Nana Kwame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/754388ab-14f6-45ec-a640-3bf7485bd685/IMG_5471.png Blog - Made in Ghana: Reels By Nana Kwame - Make it stand out Adowa dancing captured by Reels By Nana Kwame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/3d4313d0-6883-47c0-9989-1771df8d8540/IMG_5472.png Blog - Made in Ghana: Reels By Nana Kwame - Make it stand out Wedding set up captured by Reels By Nana Kwame https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/8f1913ae-0437-41d8-b714-9f1c64146403/IMG_1616.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: Reels By Nana Kwame - Make it stand out The four-man team behind Reels By Nana Kwame https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/made-in-ghana-hatboxco monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/cb6d7519-df4d-4500-8c75-54ad1625bc32/a2545777-3f3b-4df2-a8d4-884e99ccd20b.JPG Blog - Made in Ghana: HatBoxCo - Make it stand out First fascinator made for a friend by HatBoxCo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/d510c8a7-d838-4cd3-b1cb-dde4f0b7cac2/2876c4ae-6025-410b-bafb-eae727359c7d.png Blog - Made in Ghana: HatBoxCo - Make it stand out Recent hat for a client made by HatBoxCo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/e6701d95-7d2f-4919-8670-700d95de6177/IMG_3460.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: HatBoxCo - Make it stand out My sister and I on my wedding day with our fans handcrafted by HatBoxCo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/35df9d66-70ca-4249-80f5-b494a7cfc246/dcae6d4a-ecb0-4e70-bef4-079257de14aa.JPG Blog - Made in Ghana: HatBoxCo - Make it stand out Bridal fan handcrafted by HatBoxCo using mesh https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/34f9dc58-e7a3-4e25-bd8b-0fb66c23e89c/f31de952-6ca4-476d-a18f-3cf9d06be9a9.JPG Blog - Made in Ghana: HatBoxCo - Make it stand out Customers can find an array of handmade pieces at HatBoxCo, located in Airport Residential Area, Accra https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/48f1e3da-f1c5-4217-a65d-4da410d365db/8259c74a-1bb7-4e1c-9566-fd0a2dffb664.JPG Blog - Made in Ghana: HatBoxCo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/picking-my-registry-look monthly 0.5 2025-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/993e386d-e117-4ad1-813b-615ec7e35378/IMGS0302.jpg Blog - Picking My Registry Wedding Look - I am by no means a fashionista, but I do love to shop (tehe), so picking my registry look was easily one of the most enjoyable and least stressful parts of the entire wedding planning process. I knew I wanted something chic, an outfit I could look back on in 20 or 30 years and still love, but I wasn’t quite sure at first which direction to go. Like everyone else on Instagram, I was obsessed with Dimma Umeh’s gorgeous registry wedding look last year — the hair, the makeup, the A-line skirt, the bow — pure perfection. It would have been easy to replicate her look in Ghana with a good tailor, but I wanted something that felt uniquely me. I also wanted something ready-to-wear, with a little “give” because, honestly, any outfit that doesn’t require worrying about last-minute fit is always a winner in my book! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/2c0acb6f-8a60-4287-a9b8-954079e1b74a/IMG_0293.png Blog - Picking My Registry Wedding Look - For accessories, I was determined to include my “something blue.” My best friend had given me a sapphire necklace for my birthday the year before to serve as my something blue (incredibly thoughtful), but the neckline of my dress didn’t quite suit it. I considered blue shoes or sapphire earrings, but in the end, I chose classic pearls. My sister wore a blue dress, which ended up being my “something blue”, which worked out even better, if you ask me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/2144320a-f56e-42e0-80cd-efb8a71546f5/IMG_3250+%281%29.jpg Blog - Picking My Registry Wedding Look - Our registry day was perfect. After the ceremony, we headed home, changed into boubous, and had a kenkey party — complete with all the trimmings — courtesy of my in-laws, plus a gorgeous cake from the one and only Pink Fluff Cakes. It was the perfect balance of elegance and ease: fancy in the morning, laid-back in the afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/4ed4f1fb-f2c7-4cbf-9058-1176780fd847/Screenshot+2025-10-10+091602.png Blog - Picking My Registry Wedding Look Shoes, Glorious Shoes When it came to shoes, I enlisted my ever-stylish cousin, who immediately started reeling off brands like Aquazzura, René Caovilla, Sophia Webster, and Amina Muaddi — all stunning, but unfortunately not within my under-£100 budget. Another cousin sent me beautiful Steve Madden dupes, but they were often sold out or unavailable in the UK, which was frustrating. I knew I wanted shoes with bows, either on the front or the back, so I decided to focus on the style rather than the brand. Eventually, I found the perfect pair of bow heels for under £50 (thanks to a timely sale) from Coast. Chic and affordable — a dream combination! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/b772a5ff-e516-43d6-bd34-a10173d0f72e/IMG_3787.JPG Blog - Picking My Registry Wedding Look - The dress was stunning, but it needed that final touch, something to pull everything together. I asked myself, what would Elizabeth James do? (I always think of that Parent Trap scene where Annie picks out the white hat for the model in the halter wedding dress.) I was also inspired by Kerry Washington, Zendaya, and Diana Ross at the recent Met Gala, where the theme was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. So many of their looks were elevated by their hats, the perfect finishing touch. I browsed Harrods, Etsy, JJ’s Bridal House, Hobbs, and Phase Eight, but couldn’t justify spending too much on something I’d likely never wear again. So, naturally, I turned to my favourite accessories hub — AliExpress. I found the perfect cream hat, and it tied the entire look together beautifully. I also picked up some pearl hairpins (and a few floral ones, just in case), but ultimately went with the pearls to match my earrings. https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/made-in-ghana-house-of-paon monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/460af16a-bf37-4f69-b378-d17bea2807fc/025e42a0-d9a5-4e5d-939d-2b97f2288437.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Paón’s first kente gown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/e047ecaa-08ff-400b-909b-b53619df14b0/dea33f90-abe2-4838-95ea-67df82bd431d.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Collins Obeng Marnu, ‘Joojo/Paón’ on his journey into fashion, men in the industry, breaking into bridal, and honouring those who paved the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/25b67592-666f-4592-a657-fbf44b6db9b3/61796eed-84b7-4a9c-915b-a72486ec96e5.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Designs from Paón’s first fashion show https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/16f85b96-194e-4f23-a386-a56cd4c8cae6/037a9b50-2f7e-4803-950b-6b5262c4f745.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Designs from Paón’s first fashion show https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/f24b89fc-af64-4f18-856d-b4464167e369/IMG_4483.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Custom boubou made for a traditional wedding https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/b0d788e4-6c23-4984-a726-52643e24b91d/IMG_1171.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Beaded kaba and slit for my pre-wedding shoot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/a5f6eaee-7802-425f-a31e-7ffb392cf6bd/IMG_9184.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Custom dress made for a wedding https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/b60c405b-7aff-40de-a3f1-ce9a0b16d77b/28dddf97-d7b6-437b-bb62-f767231d13e7.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Second outfit magic — custom creations by Paón. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/f2f742b0-361b-404c-95d4-d2e51fc76bdf/d4d93e32-c403-467b-a919-15927632cdff.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Dress for Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/1758317928328-GAVEK63O5VTWO920QDIU/IMG_4781.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out My bridal gown designed by Paón (with a corset in the back!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/178e66e4-90a8-4028-b1c2-6e3a19af5524/1750966985_1_170.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Groom’s after-party outfit by Paón Men. Paón also designed an after-party dress for me, but I ended up choosing another look after a little pre-wedding weight gain! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/ca08f4a8-7aa9-4578-b6fa-8c0444dac2b3/IMG_4778.jpg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out My kente gown for my traditional wedding designed by the House of Paón https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/897dfcbf-91a3-47e2-906a-12396308297f/0349cfd8-d126-47fc-9041-326d0cd83ad6.jpeg Blog - Made in Ghana: The House of Paón - Make it stand out Designs from Paón’s first fashion show https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/made-in-ghana monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/so-who-is-gonna-pay-for-all-of-this monthly 0.5 2025-09-19 https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/wedding-content-creators-must-have-or-passing-trend monthly 0.5 2025-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/692a5206-b497-43a8-9a85-9f1762a99765/IMG_4457.png Blog - Wedding Content Creators: Must-Have or Passing Trend? - Despite the amazing content, we found ourselves walking a fine line between wanting to stay private and wanting to credit the creator’s hard work. We agreed he could showcase a few edited clips (with our input), but managing everyone else? A whole different story. Vendors started reaching out to our content creator, not us, asking for wedding footage to post on their own platforms. Some didn’t even ask. Scrolling on Instagram aimlessly, I randomly came across a video of my dad and I dancing and another clip of me sent to one of our vendors in Ghana. I completely see the value of social media as a way for vendors to highlight their craft and I think that’s wonderful. Still, it feels important to draw a line between celebrating your work and sharing personal wedding moments that may be private. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/0bcd73b2-adcc-4b5c-9a12-c176849a4d3e/IMG_7811.jpg Blog - Wedding Content Creators: Must-Have or Passing Trend? - After hearing one too many horror stories about photographers and videographers holding footage hostage or taking months to deliver, we knew we needed a backup plan. Armed with just an iPhone and a good eye, our content creator (Rasheed Alfa of Alfa Marriages) was agile, low-maintenance, and surprisingly effective. While the photo and video teams were busy focusing on the traditional couple shots, he was able to float around and capture candid moments including guests arriving, food displays, the vibe of the room, behind-the-scenes setup, and small magical bits that would have been lost otherwise. The turnaround time? Less than 48 hours. We had a flood of high-quality raw clips and beautifully edited videos that let us relive the day almost immediately. (Although watching it all back, I realised I danced so much, no wonder I could barely walk the next day!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/9accce7e-79ed-4bf3-b195-5ccff93fd63b/IMG_4434.png Blog - Wedding Content Creators: Must-Have or Passing Trend? - If you’re considering hiring a content creator or simply want to manage how your wedding is shared here are some key tips to help you stay in control: 1. Set Clear Ground Rules in Writing Let your content creator know upfront that you own the footage. Make it clear that no content should be shared externally (with vendors or online) without your explicit permission. 2. Get Vendor Content Agreements in Place In your contracts or communication, specify that vendors can only post content after sharing it with you for approval. Ask to be included in any review process. Feeling overwhelmed? Appoint a trusted bridesmaid or coordinator to manage this admin. My sister handled everything for me. 3. Request a Delivery Timeline Ask your content vendors (photographers, videographers, content creators) when you can expect your final files. This helps if you’re planning gifts, albums, or keepsakes, especially if family members are travelling soon after the wedding. 4. Create a Shot List in Advance Don’t leave it to chance. Whether it’s key moments (like your first look or the cake cutting) or special guests, give your vendors a list of what matters most. It’s your day, not just their creative playground. 5. Your Day, Your Rules Remember, vendors work for you. It’s okay to prioritise your vision over their Instagram grid. Speak up, assert your boundaries, and don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/live-band-vs-dj-the-soundtrack-to-our-wedding monthly 0.5 2025-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/c1549d67-a91a-4d04-8d70-cdcd495a85c7/Ozimzim+Band.jpg Blog - Live Band vs DJ: The Soundtrack to Our Wedding - Meanwhile, we were scouting options for live performers. Suggestions ranged from the saxophonist at Eadn Lounge (thanks to my younger cousin, who is definitely on a different kind of time) to Derek Simpey, a talented Ghanaian steel pan player (seriously, check him out on TikTok) who sadly, was based in the Netherlands and flying him over wasn’t in the budget. Eventually, we set our sights closer to home and discovered two bands: Interflow Crew and Ozimzim Band. Interflow Crew looked great but were based too far North (I’m not sure how far reaching this blog is yet but if anyone is reading from the Midlands and is looking for a band, you should check them out!). Then we came across Ozimzim, veterans in the scene and from the reviews alone, we knew they were the real deal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/5610400c-847c-4493-8061-25b48e29aebd/IMG_1464.jpg Blog - Live Band vs DJ: The Soundtrack to Our Wedding - Here’s the thing, following the band was always going to be a tough gig. Their sound quality, energy, and sheer stage presence were on another level. Our DJ was great, his Candy/Jealousy mix was honestly sick and had everyone on the dance floor. When I say everyone, I mean everyone even our photographer and content creator dropped their cameras to join in. I couldn’t even be mad, it makes for a hilarious story and, if anything, proves just how unbeatable the vibes were. But the truth is, the band had already set the tone and raised the bar sky-high. Their old-school set landed so perfectly that even our DJ leaned into the same vibe. By the time the band wrapped up, the energy they created carried the night. Our sunglasses afterparty turned into a joyful free-for-all of requests and the dance floor stayed busy. In the end, we didn’t need a star DJ to make it memorable, the band had already blown the roof off and given us everything we could have dreamed of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/39120472-3efb-448f-800a-846188c8d89e/IMG_4177.png Blog - Live Band vs DJ: The Soundtrack to Our Wedding If you are considering having live music at your wedding: do it. It’s worth every penny and we would hire the Ozimzim Band a thousand times over. Just don’t feel pressured to get the “best” of everything. Spend big where it really matters to you, and balance the rest. Also, pro tip, always prepare for potential tech hiccups in advance… Our wedding day flew by, but the music still plays in my head. Below are some of the tracks that carried us through the day. Happy listening and happy dancing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/afb998f5-e908-430a-81c2-c988160596f4/IMG_4171.jpg Blog - Live Band vs DJ: The Soundtrack to Our Wedding - From our first conversation with their manager, Nii, everything was seamless. He was open to our ideas but confident in his expertise. When I found out their lead singer was Amarh Pino, the genius behind the Ga classic Maria, I was geeking out. Celebrity performance at my wedding? Yes, please. On the day they brought the house down. From Daddy Lumba (may he rest in peace, his music forever the heartbeat of Ghanaian culture) to Amakye Dede, and from Fameye to King Paluta, they had everyone on their feet. Our guests couldn’t even wait for our first dance to “open” the dance floor, they beat us to it and we were glad they did. Even my grandmother, in her 70s, was out there moving like she was 25 again. The band didn’t just play music, they created moments. Highlife during our entrance, jazz during dinner and some more modern tracks to keep the energy alive, it was a seamless ride from start to finish. https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/til-dish-do-us-part monthly 0.5 2025-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/7e8ea147-ff55-406a-97de-2b77da3bc95d/IMGS9783+2.jpg Blog - 'Til Dish Do Us Part On the day, F2 absolutely out did themselves. We started with a beautiful selection of canapés of chicken wings, mini pies, juicy prawns, edible spoons (which I’m still not over!) and much more. It was the perfect start to the meal and set the tone for everything that followed. We kept Ghanaian staples like jollof, waakye, and kelewele, but also mixed in saffron rice, curried goat, dauphinoise potatoes (my personal fave style of potato), mac and cheese, and gari fotor. People later said the variety was perfect for our non-African guests, but truth be told, there were fewer than ten of them. The variety was really for us! We wanted our wedding menu to reflect the hybrid nature of our day. Dessert was a trio of joy: cheesecake, wedding cake, and cinnamon sugar bofrot. And just when guests thought they couldn’t eat another bite, yam and tsofi (turkey tail) appeared as late-night snacks. Everything paired beautifully with our two signature cocktails: a spicy margarita (“Spice of My Life”) and rum punch (“Touch of Rumance”). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/f1f6ec53-7962-417f-a09f-a692f5db8e71/IMG_4280.jpeg Blog - 'Til Dish Do Us Part - Book early: secure your caterer as soon as possible and build a strong relationship. The earlier you lock them in, the more they understand how much the food matters to you. Ask for recommendations: skip the hype sometimes and let friends or family point you to hidden gems. That’s how we found F2. Let them cook! Give your caterer creative freedom. Auntie Diana’s presentation and flavour combinations were next level. From being attentive to the chafing dishes I wanted and brainstorming ideas for how we could present the salmon, F2’s care and attention to detail was outstanding. Consider venue facilities: treat catering as important as the venue itself. Some “simple” venues, like community halls, have full working kitchens, making life easier for caterers. Book a tasting: this is your chance to tweak seasoning, spice, and presentation before the big day. Use it! Pair with drinks: if you’re into wine or cocktails, think about pairings. Our tastings for food and wine were honestly some of the most fun moments of planning. Add personal touches: quirky dish names or fun signature cocktails give your guests something to remember. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/e5904a5a-0081-4f22-a116-6ce05b45409e/IMGS9591.jpg Blog - 'Til Dish Do Us Part - Food is more than just a wedding detail, it's a memory your guests take home. Whether you stick with tradition, mix things up, or create something completely unexpected, let your menu reflect the experience you want to give. For us, it was about giving our guests a little something different to enjoy and remember. Judging by the empty plates, happy faces and feedback, I think we nailed it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/0519c45e-9fa8-417d-974d-30e040ac905c/IMGS9580.jpg Blog - 'Til Dish Do Us Part - After a few lively phone calls and brainstorming sessions, our menu came to life, blending our beloved Ghanaian dishes with some of our other personal favourites. For the buffet, we took inspiration from Pinterest grazing tables with the aim of creating a feast that was as beautiful as it was delicious. Throughout the entire process, Auntie Diana kept us completely reassured, working closely with my mother and even meeting in Ghana when she visited. I had no doubt the food would be amazing, but what I wasn’t prepared for was just how much the F2 team would overdeliver on the big day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/1754947969573-2R64K4OAYA4QWDJ4T9DY/IMG_3944.jpeg Blog - 'Til Dish Do Us Part - Early in the planning process, we knew we wanted to do something a little different. We love Ghanaian food, but let’s be honest, if you line up five Ghanaian weddings, you’ll probably see the same menu: jollof, waakye, chicken, fried rice etc. Delicious? Absolutely. But it made us wonder, does wedding food always have to follow the same script? Because certain dishes show up at every celebration, we asked ourselves, could we experiment by also adding some unique bits? Could we serve food that also reflected our personal tastes as a couple? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/0f0a55c3-a4e0-4627-be18-20d37da8a0c3/b81cca1a-d56a-465a-988b-5e3ee71183ec.jpeg Blog - 'Til Dish Do Us Part - Aunties sometimes get unfair criticism for their unsolicited advice and recommendations, but people forget, now that their children are grown, aunties are outside. They’re at the birthdays, the weddings, the funerals, taking mental notes on who makes the best meat pie. My mother’s dear friend Auntie Caro recommended her old schoolmate Auntie Diana, whose company Faithful and Fruitful (F2), came highly praised. And from that moment, magic began. By November, Lloyd and I had some menu ideas and booked a tasting session where both our families (and my sister’s flat mates) gave their verdicts. Spoiler alert: they were impressed. https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/let-them-eat-cake-or-not monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/b2fd69c0-b637-4729-859b-a0b32b9fb86b/IMG_4259.jpeg Blog - Let Them Eat Cake...Or Not? - Instagram is a great tool for finding ideas, but don’t feel pressure to replicate what you see. Use it for inspiration, not instruction. Your wedding cake should reflect your tastes, your priorities, and your budget, not just a trend. Whether you go for a single-tier beauty, cupcakes, a dessert table, or no cake at all, just know this: you can still have something sweet, thoughtful, and personal. And often, the best things come from close to home. Our tablescape flowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/728c843d-9cc0-4d58-954b-276aaed3bec2/Cake+Tasting+Box.jpg Blog - Let Them Eat Cake...Or Not? - After some research, we found Sarah of Pink Fluff Cakes in Maidenbower, Crawley. Her cakes were not only beautiful and flavourful, but also incredibly reasonably priced. From the very beginning, the experience with her was what every bride dreams of. We communicated easily over WhatsApp, and she even hosted us in her lovely home for a tasting. It felt like a warm and personal consultation, not just a transaction. We chose a three-tier cake featuring the below flavours: White chocolate and raspberry Raspberry ripple Lemon and blueberry Each flavour was delicious. We were thrilled with our choices. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/7aa6dd2d-a0a2-4777-8dfc-7beeabb8f2aa/7a02ccb5-16c1-4a05-a7b7-40f94d317ea4.jpeg Blog - Let Them Eat Cake...Or Not? - Despite careful planning, only the bottom tier was fully cut and served on the day, while the other two tiers were barely touched. Although our coordinator had been informed to tell the caterer to serve from all three, that didn’t happen. I was so looking forward to our guests tasting all the different flavours, but instead, we ended up bringing home almost two entire tiers. (Not that I’m too mad about it, fridge cake for days!) Fortunately, we were surrounded by family and friends in the days that followed, so we served the remaining tiers then and everyone finally got to enjoy the other flavours too. That moment brought me back to early chats I had with cake makers, who often advised that only around 70 percent of guests might have cake. In our case? Probably not even 40 percent. So did we need three tiers? Probably not. Now, I finally understand why people opt for dummy tiers, especially if cake isn’t a big deal for them. For me, it was worth the indulgence, but if you’re less obsessed with sweets, it might not be. Terracotta pots found in TK Maxx https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/1754948191470-SZKKSTL81943QSG9MHZ3/IMGS9587+2.jpg Blog - Let Them Eat Cake...Or Not? - Anyone who knows me knows I have a major sweet tooth. While desserts may not be high on the priority list for most 27-year-olds, for me, the cake was essential. Not just an afterthought or a box to tick, the cake had to be a highlight. Wedding cake research quickly became my favourite part of the entire planning process. We ordered a mix of sample boxes from both local bakers and a few Instagram finds, and let me tell you, even the price of the tasting boxes revealed just how varied the wedding cake world can be. We tried boxes ranging from £15 to £40, and while each baker brought something different to the table, it was clear that “wedding cake” could mean very different things depending on your budget. Our ceremony set up https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/diy-wedding-decor-how-i-brought-my-terracotta-garden-vision-to-life monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/8f6957b4-2eb9-4a98-b9da-2cf42c606e1a/IMG_3876.jpeg Blog - DIY Wedding Decor: How I Brought My Terracotta Garden Vision to Life - Planning a wedding rooted in African tradition while also honouring my personal aesthetic was no easy feat. But one of the best decisions I made was choosing to DIY my wedding décor, and it turned out to be one of the most satisfying parts of the entire process. If you're a fellow bride with a clear vision and a serious eye for detail, I hope my story gives you the confidence to take control of your decor and make it unforgettable. Our ceremony set up https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/27d4cbe0-7b99-4998-bdd1-b6844eb0f30b/Decor+image.jpg Blog - DIY Wedding Decor: How I Brought My Terracotta Garden Vision to Life Our tablescape flowers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/d97bb10f-ae3b-494f-b823-9702b8066167/IMG_3869.jpeg Blog - DIY Wedding Decor: How I Brought My Terracotta Garden Vision to Life - The TK Maxx Breakthrough Terracotta pots found in TK Maxx https://www.black-tied.uk/blog/why-i-didnt-have-a-white-wedding monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/4ba374f3-c868-455c-9fd8-60f8853e8e68/IMG_3774.jpeg Blog - Why I Didn’t Have a White Wedding Our decision wasn’t made out of protest against white weddings. In fact, we kept many of its hallmarks, a wedding cake, first dance, speeches, and toasts. What we did choose was to place our culture at the centre of our celebration, rather than sandwiching it into one side of a doubleheader weekend. And yes, I still got to wear a white dress for our registry ceremony, because like many brides, I wanted that moment too. It gave us just enough of the “white wedding” feel without needing to plan a second full-scale event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/72bd846f-5f5e-4ab9-9df3-9e1fa8ce76c6/IMG_3890.png Blog - Why I Didn’t Have a White Wedding Honouring the Present, Not Just the Past The word “traditional” often implies something outdated, but let’s be honest, traditional weddings aren’t going anywhere. They are, in many communities, the original and true wedding. The ceremony where the families meet, dowries are exchanged, and ancestral customs are honoured. That’s real. That’s valid. People have been married this way for centuries and so it shall be for centuries to come. These rituals are not relics; they’re living, breathing testaments of who we are and where we come from. In a time when Black British identity is constantly being negotiated and redefined, our wedding became a way to showcase the beauty of sitting at that intersection. There we were in an English manor house, led in by kete drummers, dancing adowa with my mother, sister, and aunties, and ending the night with Madonna, Candy, and Amapiano. We didn’t choose between worlds, we brought them together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/160c8b0d-2d27-4550-bd91-2b8c8026a887/IMG_3703.png Blog - Why I Didn’t Have a White Wedding - When you're Ghanaian, it's almost a given you’ll have at least two weddings. A traditional ceremony to honour your roots and a white wedding and perhaps even a third to serve a registry look. It’s become a kind of unspoken checklist. But when my husband and I began planning our own wedding, we knew almost immediately that three weddings weren’t in the cards. In fact, even two felt like too much, not just in terms of cost, but logistics, energy, and emotional bandwidth. Two venues, two caterers, two full “run-of-day” schedules? We’d need two heads. S o, we made a decision, we would only have one large wedding and it would be traditional. My traditional wedding ceremony https://www.black-tied.uk/somethingborrowed daily 0.75 2025-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/48f1e3da-f1c5-4217-a65d-4da410d365db/8259c74a-1bb7-4e1c-9566-fd0a2dffb664.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/1766347966177-7THA2BI3RBRKBM8CLUHG/IMG_9611.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/5ac441ff-5c7f-4df9-9bed-5f7d53d2ad65/DS+Logo.jpg https://www.black-tied.uk/home daily 1.0 2025-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/9cf4ce01-17c7-4047-a5b9-c2f21d30799e/IMG_9611.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/65d65c4d-54d1-4a74-a5cb-96edda3b7e26/IMG_1614.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/687e86aaf6788c009a15e2c6/75d8bc23-35f6-447f-bca3-296e244deda2/IMG_5517.png