Yasmin Eleby sent an invitation to friends and family asking them to come celebrate her 40th birthday in a "unique way. Yasmin Eleby had arranged a surprise marriage ceremony I wanted to have a celebration of myself. My wedding was going to be about me making a commitment to love myself, to honor myself and to know my self-worth.
So Eleby got in touch with event planner Darrel Colone, who said she was the easiest and hardest client he ever had to work with. Eleby said she started planning her Jan. Colone said he loved that Eleby decided to plan such an unconventional event, so he chose an equally unusual venue -- the Houston Museum of African American Culture.
When Eleby arrived at the museum, guests were escorted to the ceremony space complete with candles, purple ambient light and beautiful flowers. That's when Eleby said she came dancing down the aisle to Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely," along with her mother and bridesmaid. She was wearing a purple gown because purple is her favorite color.
The dance ended at the altar in the center of the room. Colone said he arranged for Eleby to be in the middle of the guests arranged in a circle because he wanted her to be the center of attention. Three ministers -- her eldest sister, a niece and friend -- then asked together, "Who thinks Yasmin is 40 and fabulous? He added that the guests in the room chimed, "We do! The ceremony's mood changed, Yasmin said, when she started saying her vows to herself with the help of her ministers.
They were on committing to forgive, love and honor yourself, she said. You first have to love yourself. The more love you have yourself, the more you can love others. Eleby said she was overwhelmed and started crying herself when she sang the second verse: The tears were quickly wiped away by the lavish reception afterwards, Colone said.
