The Adeyemi and Mensah families

Tolu& Kwame

request the honor of your presence

Magnolia Hall

Houston, Texas

Illustration of Tolu and Kwame seen from behind, hand in hand in front of a great circle of indigo adire cloth; she wears a pleated gold gele and an indigo iro and buba with a gold shawl, he a cream agbada and an indigo fila
  1. Traditional Engagement
  2. White Wedding
  3. Jollof Brunch

Countdown

until White Wedding

283 days until White Wedding

Schedule

  1. 12:00 PM

    Traditional Engagement

    When
    Friday, August 20, 2027, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM CDT
    Where
    Bayou Bend Pavilion — The Garden Hall2400 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77098
    Attire
    Aso ebi in indigo and gold. Not in the cloth? Any traditional attire, or a touch of gold, is perfect.
    Notes
    The families greet each other, the letters are read and the gifts presented, all led by our Alaga. Food from the start; bring small bills if you want to spray.
    Directions to Bayou Bend Pavilion — The Garden Hall (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
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  1. 2:00 PM

    White Wedding

    When
    Saturday, August 21, 2027, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM CDT
    Where
    Magnolia Hall — The Garden Room1910 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006
    Attire
    FormalFormal: champagne, ivory or soft gold are lovely. Please, no white.
    Notes
    Please be seated by 1:45. The ceremony lasts about forty minutes, with cocktails on the terrace straight after.
    Directions to Magnolia Hall — The Garden Room (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
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  2. 6:00 PM

    Reception & Owambe

    When
    Saturday, August 21, 2027, 6:00 PM – 11:59 PM CDT
    Where
    Magnolia Hall — The Grand Ballroom1910 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006
    Attire
    Black tie optionalAso ebi in emerald and champagne gold. Second outfits very welcome.
    Notes
    Grand entrance at 7, dinner, toasts, then highlife, Afrobeats and the dance floor until midnight.
    Directions to Magnolia Hall — The Grand Ballroom (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
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  1. 11:00 AM

    Jollof Brunch

    When
    Sunday, August 22, 2027, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM CDT
    Where
    The Adeyemi Home — Back Garden14 Riverstone Court, Sugar Land, TX 77479
    Attire
    CasualWhatever you feel good in. Comfortable shoes are a good idea.
    Notes
    Two pots of jollof, one Nigerian and one Ghanaian. You will be asked to vote.
    Directions to The Adeyemi Home — Back Garden (Google Maps, opens in a new tab)
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Our story

The jollof argument

We met at a friend’s cookout in Alief in 2021. Kwame said Ghanaian jollof was better. Tolu told him, kindly, that he was wrong, then went back for a second plate of his.

Dye day

On a trip to see Tolu’s grandmother in Abeokuta we spent a morning with the dyers, tying stones into cloth. Kwame’s came out lopsided. It hangs in our hallway.

The question

Kwame asked on the footbridge at Buffalo Bayou at sunset, with both of our mothers watching from a bench, in on it the whole time.

Wedding party

  • Funmi Adeyemi

    Maid of Honor

    Tolu’s sister, and the reason everyone will be on time.

  • Kofi Mensah

    Best Man

    Kwame’s older brother. Ghanaian jollof loyalist.

  • Chiamaka Nwosu

    Bridesmaid

    Tolu’s roommate from Rice. Ties the best gele in Texas.

  • Yaw Boateng

    Groomsman

    Kwame’s friend since second grade in the Bronx.

Traditions

The traditional engagement

A Yoruba ceremony where the two families formally meet and agree. An Alaga leads it, there is music, there are letters and gifts, and Kwame and his friends will prostrate to greet Tolu’s family. Just sit back and enjoy it.

Aso ebi

The cloth in the family colors, worn by family and friends so the room matches. You do not have to buy it: wearing the colors, or anything dressy, is lovely.

Spraying

Guests dance up and place bills on the couple as they dance, for luck and joy. Join in if you like; small bills are best.

Travel & stay

Where to stay

Airports

  • IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport about 35 minutes
  • HOU William P. Hobby Airport about 25 minutes

Getting around

A shuttle runs from both hotels to the engagement on Friday and to Magnolia Hall on Saturday; the last one leaves the ballroom at 12:15 am. Rideshares are quick across the city.

Good to know

Houston in August is hot and humid: about 95°F by day. Everything is indoors and air-conditioned, but bring a fan for the photos outside.

Things to do

  • Buffalo Bayou Park Where Kwame asked. Best at sunset, from the footbridge.
  • West African food on Bissonnet Suya, waakye and puff-puff, a short drive from the Galleria.

Gallery

  • The jollof argument, 2021
  • The two letters
  • Buffalo Bayou, the question
  • Choosing the aso ebi
  • Gele practice with Aunty Bisi
  • Dye day in Abeokuta, 2024
Illustration of two clay bowls of orange-red jollof rice side by side on an indigo adire tablecloth, a wooden spoon resting between them
Photo 1 of 6 The jollof argument, 2021

RSVP

Kindly reply by July 16, 2027

For a copy of your reply and a link to change it.

Traditional Engagement Friday, August 20, 2027, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
White Wedding Saturday, August 21, 2027, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Reception & Owambe Saturday, August 21, 2027, 6:00 PM – 11:59 PM
Jollof Brunch Sunday, August 22, 2027, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
How many in your party, including you?

  1. 1 You

  2. Leave empty if not coming

Registry

Questions

Come to whatever you can. Your reply form lists each event separately, so tell us which ones.

Funmi has the cloth for anyone who asked for it by June 1. Otherwise, wear the colors in anything you own: no one will check.

Yes, to the engagement and the brunch. The white wedding and the reception are adults only, apart from the flower girls.

Your reply form shows how many seats we have saved for you.

Free parking at both venues, and valet at Magnolia Hall on Saturday.

Links below. Your presence, and your dancing, are more than enough.