Orisha & John: A Celestial-Theme Wedding in Phoenix, AZ

Back when John Stinson caught Orisha Kelly's eye at a college party, neither of them had a clue that her split-second decision to get his number would lead to marriage. But after conceiving a child together and dealing with the incredible difficulties of their daughter's premature birth, the two had grown so close that getting married no longer seemed like a whim -- it was more like fate. Two years later, Orisha, John, and happy and healthy baby Keairra celebrated their marriage with a festive, family-oriented wedding.

THE BRIDE Orisha Kelly, 24, clothing designer
THE GROOM John Stinson, 25, database administrator
THE DATE November 8
THE SCENE An outdoor ceremony at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain followed by an indoor reception in the clubhouse of the Phoenix Country Club

For the wedding, the couple chose a date close to one year from the date of their engagement. Timing was imperative not only for the planning, but also because they wanted their celestial-theme celebration to coincide with a lunar eclipse. Once that decision had been made, Orisha and John (who reside in Georgia) worked closely with her parents in Arizona to sort out many of the details.

Orisha and John also worked with a fall theme. "The weather in Arizona is beautiful during the fall, and even with everything we'd gone through together in Atlanta, I sort of always knew I'd get married in Arizona," the bride says. The wedding color palette of oranges, corals, golds, and creamy whites -- "colors of the sun," as Orisha describes -- flowed naturally from these choices.

Orisha processed down the aisle in an ivory and rum-pink strapless gown that featured elaborate embellishments of sequins and pearls on the bodice, a sweet satin bow at the waist, and a full skirt of layered organza with a chapel train. Her key accessory? A dramatic floral headpiece made of tiger lilies with flowing ribbons of ivory and orange rosebuds that perfectly complemented her half-updo.

In keeping with the fall theme, the bouquets and arrangements featured orange tiger lilies, rust and ivory roses, ivy, and gold-sprayed baby's breath. The groom and groomsmen wore tiger lily boutonnieres (especially splashy against their cream-color tuxes), while the bridesmaids each wore a tiger lily pinned behind one ear. The focal point for the ceremony was a scrolled iron arch adorned with flowers and white fabric.

The couple opted for a traditional ceremony, as well as incorporating some personal touches. They wrote their own vows, but while Orisha read the ones she had written, John simply spoke from the heart. At the conclusion of his vows, the groom immediately leaned in to kiss his bride -- and there was a moment of levity as the officiant jokingly admonished him.

Orisha and John made a point of including the African-American tradition of jumping the broom. Orisha and her mother made the broom themselves, "not only to match our celestial theme but also so that it would be able to 'stand the test of time' as a memento of our union," John says. Orisha's mother also crafted miniature brooms to adorn the favors handed to each guest. Each favor box contained a smaller moon-shaped box made of white chocolate with edible gold dust. Inside this box were milk-chocolate stars. Guests also received CDs featuring songs from the wedding and with a photograph of Orisha, John, and Keairra on the cover.

Following the ceremony, "the reception started in the limo," according to the bride. Orisha and John, along with their attendants, began toasting right away in an enormous Ford Excursion limousine. When they arrived at the clubhouse, family and friends had plenty of surprises in store. Orisha's father kicked things off with a slideshow of photos of the couple. He also called them both onto the dance floor as he performed a song he had written especially for the occasion: "Daddy's Little Girl."

The newlyweds then took their first dance to Carl Thomas' "Hey Now," a song that John could not get out of his head as he realized he was falling in love with Orisha. (He also played it when he proposed.) Afterward, "everyone -- from groomsmen to bridesmaids to parents and extended family members -- took the stage to wish us a marriage filled with all the love and happiness this world has to offer," John remembers.

Orisha's advice to brides-to-be? "Let everything you planned unfold on its own. Don't stress, and just spend your time enjoying the moments."

--Kate Wood
Photography © Larry Jones

For the ingredients that make up this wedding, see right-hand column of this page.