ZOË ALEXANDRA ANAMAN & KOFI MIREKU ASIRIFI
May 14, 2022 | Angelo’s Garden | Mayflower | Sky Touch Photos
Both being from the West African country of Ghana, Zoë Anaman and Kofi Asirifi’s culture emphasizes that marriage is about more than just two people becoming one — marriage is also about celebrating the union of their families. As a result, they had their KÉ"kÉ"É"kÉ" (aka - “knocking”) ceremony with their families. Here, Koji announced his intention to marry Zoë and the families celebrated.
While visiting Arkansas for Thanksgiving in 2021, Zoë had scheduled wedding venue visits so they could start planning their wedding. Secretly, Kofi went behind her back and planned a perfect surprise engagement with her family present at their tour of Angelo’s Garden. In front of their families, Kofi got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage.
VENDORS
Photographer: Sky Touch Photos; Venue: Angelo’s Garden; Coordinator: Monaia Onyeyiri; Ghanaian Kente: Bonwire Kente Pa; Dress: Benedicta; MC: Kwabena Yeboah; Appetizers: Dinah Osei; Groom’s tux: Statement Suits; Groomsmen attire: Neneel; Grooms Shoes: Royal Ghanaian Ahenema and M. GEMI; Bride’s shoes: Royal Ghanaian Ahenema and Jewel Badgley Mischka; DJ: DJ Nick Hud; Cake: Kellie Marks; Bartender: Bobby Steele of Bobby’s Bartender Service; Wedding Favors: WM Store; Decor & Design: Monaia Onyeyiri; MUA: Bridget Baltimore; Hair stylist: Whitney Spencer of Crown Hair Solutions
Q & A
Q: What inspired your color palette?
A: “Our Ghanaian culture is vibrant and we wanted our color palette to match,” Zoë said. “We designed a custom and exclusive golden kente fabric with our weaver in Ghana. All guests were asked to wear vibrant and traditional Ghanaian attire or black tie.”
Q: What inspired your florals?
A: “Our goal for décor was regal, yet simple, Ghanaian beauty,” Zoë said. “The décor colors were black, white and gold. Our florals were designed and curated by Uche and Monaia Onyeyiri. We had complete trust in their abilities and were blown away seeing the final result on our wedding day.”
GHANAIAN TRADITIONS
KÉ"kÉ"É"kÉ" Ceremony
“Everything about our wedding honored our Ghanaian culture,” Zoë said. “First, we had our kÃ"kÃ"Ã"kÃ" or ‘knocking’ ceremony. Once the groom has identified a woman he wants to marry and informs his family, a meeting is arranged.”
Customarily, this meeting occurs at the bride’s home.
The groom and his family will knock on the bride’s family’s door before entering the house.
They are then welcomed in by the bride’s family, and take this occasion to express their son’s intention to marry their daughter.
The groom’s family bears traditional and specific gifts for the bride’s family.
Once these are accepted, the indication is that the family has formally approved of the marriage.
PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING CEREMONY
The planning and arrangements for the traditional wedding ceremony begin soon after. The bride’s family creates a traditional dowry list that is then presented to the groom’s family.
“The idea behind the dowry is to request items that ensure that the groom is mature and financially stable enough to take care of the bride and their future children,” Zoë said. “These items were collected and presented to the bride and key family members during our wedding ceremony.”
