Wedding Day

Ceremony

Sterling Hall

Reception

Dear Family and Friends, We are SO excited to share this special moment in our lives with you! Thank you for considering us during this crazy time in the world. We hope you all know that your safety is our top priority during our wedding and invite you to contact us about safety precautions that we are taking for everyone in attendance. This website was created to help inform our guests of any and all changes to the wedding, including bridal showers etc. We can’t wait to celebrate with you all in April!Ricki and Akan

Our Wedding

Ricki had just recently graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in Wildlife and was gearing up to start her new job at the Jackson Zoological park when Akan had direct messaged her after she posted a picture holding a fish. He was quick with the compliments ( a sweet-talker) and stories about his experiences fishing (or lack thereof). They talked for about two weeks before “casually” meeting in Madison (accompanied by best friend Aaliyah). A conversation that was only supposed to be about five minutes long turned into an hour and half long conversation, with poor Aaliyah sitting in the car waiting for Ricki to get back inside. At the end of the conversation, Ricki and Akan went their separate ways, and as Ricki and Aaliyah were heading home, Ricki looks at Aaliyah and says, “I’m going to marry that man.” Aaliyah looked at Ricki smiling and asked, “How do you know?” And Ricki responded, “There’s just something telling me that I just met my husband.” On December 14, 2019, Akan took Ricki to the Renaissance in Ridgeland to visit the new movie theatre. They started to walk towards the big, decorated Christmas tree in the center of the Renaissance when Akan stated that he left something in his truck. Ricki continued to walk towards the Christmas tree and started to walk around it to admire the Christmas ornaments. When she almost walked a full circle around the tree, Akan was waiting on one knee with a ring in his hand. He told her why he picked the ring that he did and how he had been praying to God about the protection and growth of his future wife. However, she barely heard anything he was saying because she was hysterically crying. Needless to say, no cute pictures were taken that night.

Our Story

Travel

Okatoma Canoe Rental

Renaissance at Colony Park

Rials Creek

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Mississippi Civil Rights Museum

Things to Do

The gracious couple who counseled Ricki and Akan during their engagement and will be officiating their wedding. 

Cornelius & Debra Landfair

Wonderful, magnificent, lovely mother of the bride who has a passion for education, traveling, and salmon.

Dr. Shem Whigham

Heavenly, amazing, and beautiful mother of the groom who loves Sunday devotionals, reading, and her grandchildren.

Gwendolyn Woodard

Amazing sister of the bride that loves to travel, spoil her mother, eat anything her mama(granny) cooks.

Corteney Redmond

Best friend of the bride since they were 8 years old who loves daily devotionals, anything sweet, and the city life. 

Kornicha Johnson

1/3 of the margarita crew that loves corn dogs, crocs, and ANYTHING Beyoncè. 

Sydney Bufkin

Best friend of bride since high school that loves shopping, shopping, anything Rihanna, and shopping. 

Aaliyah Kern

1/3 of the margarita crew that is a super adventurous, crazy-talented artist that loves her pups.

Katelyn Booth

Friend (more like sister) of the bride since about jr. high that loves anything floral, learning about history, and reading the Word of God.

Jaslynn Ware

Partner-in-crime to the bride in college that loves her garden, projects, and little family filled with a million pups. 

Lori Hearon

College friend and godmother of the bride’s pup, Belle, who enjoys Call of Duty, psychology, and laughing at (not with) her husband.

Bethany Allen

God-sister to the bride that reminds her more of herself all the time! She’s sassy, classy, and can do anything the boys can!

Heavyn Leah-Grace Adindu 

This sweet girl loves her uncle Akan, Netflix, and has GREAT taste in music (i.e. Taylor Swift).

Logan Riley Alexander

Best friend to the groom since 7th grade who enjoys cosmic brownies, building computers, and goldfish (the snack).

Garrett Jones

Close cousin of the groom who's favorite movie is The Land Before Time, loves his two children and going to the racetrack.

Marcaulius Woodard

Best friend to the groom since 7th grade who loves his family, race cars, and Apex (videogame).

Brandon Baker

Childhood friend of groom loves worshiping the Lord, landscaping and his children.

Jovan Evans

Best friend to groom since junior high who adores Buffalo Wild Wings, race cars, and mud-riding.

Spencer Burroughs

Future brother-in-law to groom who loves his sister (Ricki), anime, and brand new car more than anything.  

Richard Whigham

Best friend since junior high that loves his job as a recruiter for the U.S. Army, his pup, and fishing.

Preston Haynes

Best friend of groom since kindergarten who prefers mortal combat, BASKETBALL, and shoes (specifically Jordans).

Ricki & Akan

Ricki & Akan

Wedding Party