HUDSON HOUSE
Jersey City, NJ
Amanda & Shaq
From a DM to I Do
In 2014, Shaq sent Amanda a message on Facebook introducing himself. When she took a while to answer, he found her on Instagram too. About two hours later she wrote back, laughing that he had reached out on both. When he asked what made her reply, she told him it was how respectful he was.
Their first date was a day at Coney Island. They broke away from the group to walk the boardwalk until night fell, and on the train ride home they both fell asleep. It is still one of their favorite memories.
Years later, Shaq proposed on Amanda's 25th birthday at the TWA Hotel, a place she had once shown him in a photo. When her blindfold came off, she saw a Marry Me sign, the airplane backdrop and her family and friends walking toward her. They married on their 8th anniversary, with a wedding hashtag to match: #TheWilsonsTakeOff.
The Details
Amanda and Shaq’s style showed up in every detail, from her feathered heels and pearl hairpieces to his wide-brim hat and gold cufflinks. Each piece was chosen with care, and together they set the tone for a timeless and elegant day.
The morning also held quieter moments, as Shaq surprised his groomsmen with personalized gifts and Amanda raised a toast with her bridesmaids.
Her Crown,
Her Choice
For so many Black women, wedding day hair is one of the biggest decisions of the entire day. Amanda chose to wear her hair short, and she wore it with total confidence.
That wedding season, I had more short hair brides than I had ever seen, and it was such a joy to watch. Short bridal hairstyles are still not the norm, so every one of those brides stood out. Amanda’s sculpted finger waves were beyond fabulous.
With a cathedral length veil and an off the shoulder gown, her look was timeless and completely her own. She did not need to change anything about herself to feel like a bride. She already was one.
Walking In
On Her Own
Amanda walked herself down the aisle at Hudson House, a choice she made as a symbol of her strength, her resilience and how much she has grown. Nobody gave her away. She came to him whole, on her own terms.
The Moment He Saw Her
As Amanda made her way down the aisle, Shaq's emotional reaction became one of the most unforgettable moments of their wedding ceremony. Surrounded by his groomsmen and loved ones, he couldn't hold back his tears as he saw his bride approaching.
It was a moment no one in that room will forget, and a reminder of why a personalized wedding ceremony matters so much.
An Unplugged Tuesday at Hudson House
Amanda and Shaq married on a Tuesday evening in October, on the 8th anniversary of the day they started dating. They knew a weekday wedding asked a lot of their guests, and they wanted every person in that room to know how grateful they were.
Their guest list was small and hand picked, made up of the family and friends who had been with them through every season. So they asked for an unplugged ceremony. No phones and no screens, just their people fully present as they became husband and wife.
They wanted the ceremony to feel intimate, warm and rooted in their faith, with plenty of laughter along the way.
Vows Written From the Heart
Amanda and Shaq each wrote their own vows, and both spoke from eight years of growing side by side. Their promises were full of faith, gratitude and real partnership, with a few lighthearted lines that had the whole room laughing.
Standing in front of the windows at Hudson House with their loved ones close, they made promises meant for the life they are building together.
PLANNING YOUR WEDDING AT HUDSON HOUSE?
Hudson House is one of my favorite venues in New Jersey, and I have officiated many ceremonies there. I know the space, the timing and how to make a ceremony feel close and personal, even with the Manhattan skyline competing for attention.
Whether your day is intimate like Amanda and Shaq's or a much larger celebration, your wedding ceremony should sound like the two of you.
The Wine Box,
the Candles
and the Broom
Amanda and Shaq brought three rituals into their ceremony, and each one meant something different.
The Wine Box Ritual
Before the wedding, each partner writes a private love letter to the other. During the ceremony, with my guidance, they place their letters inside the box with a bottle of wine and seal it, to be opened on a future anniversary or on a day they need a reminder of this one. Learn more about the wine box ritual.
The Unity Candle
Amanda and Shaq’s mothers began this ritual, each lighting a candle on behalf of their family. Then the couple finished it together, lighting one candle to show two families becoming one. As they did, I spoke life into their marriage and walked their guests through the meaning of what they were witnessing.
Jumping the Broom
A tradition with deep roots in African American history, going back to a time when enslaved men and women were denied legal marriage. Jumping the broom together marks a new beginning and honors those who came before.
Every couple I work with can shape their rituals around their faith, their culture and their story. My role is to guide each moment so it feels meaningful for the couple and clear for every guest watching.
A Night on the Hudson
After the ceremony, the celebration moved into the evening with the city skyline glowing across the water. Amanda and Shaq spent the night with the people who have walked beside them for eight years.
As the night went on, they stepped out onto the terrace for portraits, Shaq in his white tuxedo jacket and Amanda's veil catching the wind.
It was the perfect ending for a couple whose story began with a single message and took off from there.
The Night Is Still Young
As the night wound down, Amanda and Shaq changed into their second looks. Amanda slipped into a fitted pearl-embellished gown, and Shaq finished his look with a dinner jacket and his signature wide-brim hat.
They stepped back out onto the rooftop at Hudson House for a few last portraits, the river and the city lights behind them. Stylish from the first moment to the last.
In Amanda & Shaq’s Words
"Your words captured our love story and embodied us as a couple. Safe to say, you exceeded our expectations."
From the very first Zoom meeting, we knew we made the right decision. She was prepared, knowledgeable, professional and very detailed, which made the ceremony planning process seamless. Aretha's passion for officiating weddings was on full display as she guided us through the planning of our ceremony and the filing of the correct paperwork. Our guests were blown away by how everything flowed. Safe to say, you exceeded our expectations. Thank you very much, Aretha.
Amanda & Shaq
Hudson House
Jersey City, NJ
Officiating Weddings at Hudson House in Jersey City
Hudson House sits right on the water in Jersey City, with the Manhattan skyline as the backdrop for almost every moment of the day. It is one of my favorite wedding venues in New Jersey, and I have stood at the front of many ceremonies there.
Knowing a venue this well lets me focus on what matters most: a ceremony that feels personal, runs smoothly and gives your photographer the moments you will want to frame.
Planning your own wedding here?
You may enjoy Getting Married at Hudson House in Jersey City, NJ
YOUR STORY DESERVES A CEREMONY THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU
Every ceremony I write starts with getting to know the two of you. If you are planning a wedding at Hudson House or anywhere in New Jersey, I would love to hear your story.
The Wedding Team
Wedding Officiant
Weddings By Aretha
Aretha Gaskin
Bride’s Hairstylist
Stylez By Soosh
Patrice DaCosta
Groom’s Tux
WELTHE NYC
Robert Pauley III
Groom’s Barber
Curt Blendz
Curt Blendz, LLC
Wedding Planner
Phuliffects Events
Akua Darko
Floral Designer
Utterly Elegant Events
Ronny Chukwu
Videographer
Dexterity Productions
Jonathan Dexter
Photographer
Futura Photography
Isabella + Adele
DJ/MC
BaseLinep
Party Entertainment Services
Venue
Hudson House
Jersey City, NJ
Photo Booth
Instaglamour Photo Booth
Woodlyn, PA
Violinist
JohnViolinist
John Randolph
