Full Names
Tara A. Nicolas & Ofo Ezeugwu
Occupations
Tara – Actor | Global Nike Trainer | Wellness Expert
Ofo – Tech Founder & CEO of Whose Your Landlord
Cultural Backgrounds
Tara – Haitian (both parents)
Ofo – Nigerian (father) and Bajan (mother)
Where & How Did You Meet?
From skeptical to smitten—a Brooklyn love story. As the loquacious, classical hip-hop saying goes, “It goes downeth in thy DMs!”
Where Did You Get Married & Why Did You Pick That Location?
The original plan was to have a cute backyard wedding in Maryland—probably at Ofo’s parents’ house or my cousins’ place. But then, for my birthday in January 2024, we had the chance to celebrate in this gorgeous members-only loft space. While having the wedding there did not work out (the venue closed), the seed had been planted—maybe Brooklyn could actually be an affordable option after all.
We hired a wedding planner and were determined not to break the bank. In the end, we found a stunning venue in Red Hook called Shell’s Loft. I had seen one of their other venues in Fort Greene, and Ofo had done a shoot at their Red Hook location. It felt like the perfect fit.
And why Brooklyn? Because that’s where we fell in love! If we weren’t going to have our wedding at one of our parents’ homelands, then Brooklyn felt like the next best thing.
What Was The Most Important Thing To Each Of You When Planning Your Wedding?
We knew we wanted to stay true to us. It was very important to have our family members involved, our cultures represented, and to keep the wedding intimate.
We didn’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen, so we asked all our attendees to wear shades of green. Since we kept the wedding small, having everyone dressed in green really unified us and was a display of how we already felt in our hearts—cheesy, I know, but real.
We had Ofo’s dad, Dr. Camellus Ezeugwu, be our officiant. My mom and aunt designed my necklace and almost all of our vendors were folks we already knew and felt close to. One very important note, we refused to have expensive, terrible wedding food, so that was something we prioritized. Thankfully, the food was a hit!
What Does Family Mean To You?
Our family means everything to us, and it was so important to incorporate our cultures into the wedding as much as possible. Ofo’s dad is Nigerian, his mom is Bajan (from Barbados), and my parents are Haitian. While not all of the traditions could be blended into our intimate ceremony, we did our best to make it feel as authentically us as we could.
What Tips Would You Give To A Couple Planning Their Wedding?
Be honest with each other and yourselves about what really matters to you. When Ofo and I first started talking about wedding planning, we seriously considered eloping. His parents had eloped and then proceeded to have a happy 35-year marriage. We didn’t end up going that route, but I still think it’s a great option.
Budget! That dreaded “b-word.” But seriously, wedding planning is a crazy world. Everything costs more than you think it should. At a certain point, you start to black out because you no longer have any idea what’s important to you. So, something that I found helpful was talking to recently married couples about their experiences. Be sure to get a sense of what feels like a worthwhile expense vs. a “nice-to-have” for you and your future spouse. Remember this wedding is the beginning of a new chapter for you and your partner. We don’t need to push our financial and, in turn, psychological limits.
As far as the bride and groom looks, I initially was convinced I wanted something simple and comfortable. Instead, I chose a dress that was the opposite of that. I couldn’t even go to the bathroom without completely taking it off. Of course, I didn’t know that when I bought it, I found out at my fitting. As a result, I had to buy a party dress because I knew at some point, I would want to take full breaths and use the restroom in peace. Somehow, I have no regrets**. I** truly loved my looks. My advice: ask more questions. How does the dress or suit move? How does weather impact your wedding day? Does sweat show or stain? Can you both sit and stand comfortably? Does being comfortable matter to you or is it solely about the look?
✨ Little Nuggets ✨
- GOWN – Tara got lucky! She brought a stylist to a Kleinfeld sample sale and stumbled upon a Pnina Tornai dress on sale.
- OFFICIANT – Ofo’s Dad was the officiant. He’s already ordained but no longer practices ministry, so he had to get a license in NYC. He currently serves as a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins and has his own practice as well.
- SUIT – Ofo designed his outfit. He worked with GarconCouture owned by Illbert Sanchez, an Afro-Latino designer. Lions are the most prominent animal in Igbo culture, so there are lions on the suit buttons. Ofo’s favorite animal is the tiger and Tara was born in the year of the Tiger, so there were tigers on his vest.
- CANE – Ofo used his dad’s cane featuring a lion. In Igbo culture, the chief usually has a cane.
- NIKE – Nike made them custom shoes for their evening look.
