Bryant & Rafael at Robert Mills

Bryant and Rafael married at the Robert Mills House & Gardens on June 12, 2016.

Dressed in sweet tones of ivory and powder blue, the couple prepared to commit their lives to one another in a ceremony as intimate and warm as their affection for one another. In the shade of the 125-year-old magnolia trees and in the presence of close friends and family, Bryant and Rafael exchanged their own vows to the gentle tunes of harpist Caroline Violante. After sealing their forever with a kiss, the couple shared their first dance to the melody of Moscow Nights. Guests were then encouraged to join in and share fond anecdotes of equality, love and family. The emotion of the day is evident in the photos captured by Aaron Greene.

A delicious reception followed the ceremony at Good Life Café, a true ode to the beginning of the rest of their lives together. A 12-course, completely vegan meal was served. This wasn’t the first time Bryant and Rafael’s guests were treated to a great meal, however, as they had hosted a rehearsal dinner the night before in the comfort of their home. A wide variety of afro-Caribbean food was catered by Mimie's Delect-a-bowls, a fixture at Soda City's Farmer's Market. The radiant smiles of Bryant and Rafael ceased to fade all night, as they laughed and dined with those closest to them. The couple thanked their guests for coming with handmade, modular origami orbs; a gift from the bottom of their hearts which were now so full of love and memories. When asked why they chose Robert Mills as the location for their special day, Rafael responded:

“The two of us live close by the Robert Mills House, so we had already been aware of its presence. We decided to check it out as a wedding venue because we had always been impressed by the work Historic Columbia had done, and when we saw gorgeous gardens we knew we had to have our ceremony there.”

So in love with their now-personal connection to our organization and its properties, Bryant and Rafael chose to continue their relationship with Historic Columbia by becoming members. In effect, they support Historic Columbia's mission, receive a variety of great benefits and help history come to life across the Midlands.

Photography: Aaron Greene
Catering: Mimi’s Delect-a-bowls and Good Life Café
Music: Caroline Violante