Sheryl Lee Ralph weds Senator Vincent Hughes

Sheryl Lee Ralph weds
Senator Vincent Hughes

The former Moesha star wore an off-the-shoulder champagne-colored silk charmeuse Tadashi gown with Swarovski crystal straps and a seven-foot train, topped by a light gold silk peu de soire brocaded coat. She also donned a $16,000 Mikimoto pearl-and-diamond tiara. Bridesmaids also wore Tadashi.

From www.eurweb.com:

Guests were there on time at 5 p.m. for the star-studded wedding of actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes in Los Angeles Saturday, only to see the ceremony begin about an hour-and-a-half later, a witness told us.

The long day began with vows at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. Among Ralph’s 10 bridesmaids were Patti LaBelle, Judge Mablean Ephriam, A.J. Johnson, Nicey Nash, Loretta Devine, Victoria Rowell and Jenifer Lewis – who strolled down the aisle diva style “like it was her wedding,” a source joked.

Ralph, 49, wore a champagne-colored silk charmeuse Tadashi gown with Swarovski crystal straps and a train stretching out seven feet behind her. A gold silk peu de soire brocaded coat completed the look, along with a $16,000 Mikimoto pearl-and-diamond tiara.

The 48-year-old groom sported a Jasper black tuxedo with a white tie, a stephanotis boutonniere, and $15,000 Mikimoto pearl-and-white gold cufflinks.

Miss Patti dabbed at tears as Ralph came down the aisle to a soloist singing Luther Vandross’ classic, “So Amazing.” The mothers of the couple were escorted down the aisle to Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise.”

The ceremony before some 425 guests hit a small pothole, as Ralph’s matron of honor Dr. Sandra Swann grew dizzy and fainted just as the exchange of vows began, according to the witness. She later recovered.

The reception, held at L.A.'s City Club, featured Ralph in a Tadashi silk peu de soire ivory halter dress with a veil from her native Jamaica, courtesy of her mother. An R&B group sang Etta James’ "At Last" for the couple’s first dance as hungry guests got busy with the provided soul and Jamaican food buffet. The four-tiered wedding cake was comprised of carrot, chocolate, rum-cake and pink-champagne flavored layers.

Ralph and Hughes met through a mutual friend and have been engaged since 2003. It is the second marriage for both. On Sunday, the couple took off for a week-long honeymoon at the Paraiso de La Bonita Resort & Thalasso Resort on the Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico.