Now and then, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s wedding photo from her second marriage will hit the internet and remind us of how star-studded her bridal party was. On July 30, 2005, Sheryl married Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Hughes at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. But it was her bridal party that had everyone talking.
The Abbott Elementary star had 10 bridesmaids, which included Patti LaBelle, Loretta Devine, Niecy Nash, Divorce Court’s Judge Mablean Ephriam, AJ Johnson, Jenifer Lewis, and Victoria Rowell. During her interview with Jemele Hill on her podcast Jemele Hill is Unbothered, the original Dreamgirl shared what it was like sharing her special day with the fellow divas.
“Patti LaBelle, who was actually upset that I did not ask her to sing. And for me, I really wanted the bonds of friendship and sisterhood,” she said. “I did not want her to think that I was asking her to be in my bridal party because I wanted her to sing. No, I wanted your sisterhood, I wanted your friendship.”
She mentioned that black-ish actress Jenifer was also upset over not being asked to sing, and while she was a bridesmaid, she told the Moesha star that she planned on using that moment walking down the aisle as the bride. “Now, you have to imagine this, this is true. The doors are about to open for the bridal party to come down the aisle. Jenifer Lewis pulls me aside. I’m the bride, and says,” mimicking Jenifer’s voice, "Now Ralph, I know this is your wedding and it is you, the bride,’ she said. ‘But I may never have one of these and so when those doors open, it is all about me.’ We have it all on film. When the doors opened and she walked down the aisle, oh, Jenifer Lewis was the bride.”
Another bridesmaid, who was in medical school at the time, fainted while standing at the altar due to pulling an all-nighter the night before Sheryl’s wedding.
Sheryl shared the story about Jenifer before on Instagram in 2019 to celebrate her and her husband’s 14th anniversary.
Sheryl captioned the video, “It’s a wedding story for you! And it involves @jeniferlewisforreal LAWD!!!”
The actress responded, “ALL Lies. I would never do such a thing. I remember being very shy and sweet and supportive. OK I’m llying it’s all true. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
What an iconic wedding!
Check out the full video below:
Sheryl Lee Ralph Says She Sold Her Rights to “Dreamgirls” for a Dollar | Jemele Hill is Unbothered
Featured image via Sheryl Lee Ralph/Instagram