Sheryl Lee Ralph Breaks Down Viral Bridesmaids’ Photo From Her 2005 Wedding
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
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
ItGirl In Motion: Paige Shari Addison Shows Us Why She's The Hostess With The Mostess
Paige Shari Addison is the epitome of an ItGirl, which is why she is one of 100 ladies on xoNecole's inaugural ItGirl 100 list in partnership with Hyundai. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Paige started her journey as a host in high school by hosting parties. Since then, she has made a career in hosting, from parties to big-name events, and she launched Strictly RNB, a platform for new artists and R&B lovers. Paige reflects on her creative path in the limited video series "ItGirl in Motion."
“My first curated event at Criminal Records was incredible. It was all for up-and-coming artists,” she says. “I needed a platform for us as a collective to be able to give ourselves the platform instead of asking for it, instead of looking for it. I was like, I want to make sure I let people get this experience that I would give as a performer but enjoy the experience with them. It was a dream come true.”
The Atlanta native also has her own line of acai bowls called Soulfull Bowls. She started it during the pandemic after events and parties shut down. But it was her love for eating acai bowls and the reactions others had to them that made her want to make it her next business move. Being open to creating new ventures in the midst of uncertainty is a bold move and one of the reasons why Paige has the “it” factor.
“Being an ItGirl means you’re just authentic. There’s an air to us. We have confidence that exudes from the way we speak, the way we put our lip gloss on, the way we walk, the way we talk. I show up as myself everytime I walk into a room. I’m hospitable, I make sure everybody’s good,” she says.
Get to know more about the hostess with the mostess in the video above.
See our ItGirl 100 list in full here. Click through the gallery below for some BTS moments of Paige and our partnership with Hyundai.
Director: Mikkoh @mikkoh
Production company: @polly___studio
Producer/AD: Samuel Cho @choboi90
Producer/Tech: Paul Nguyen @paul__winn
DP: Cristian Bernal @cristianbernal
Editor: @30inthemorning
2nd Cam: Paul Nguyen
1st AC: AJ Paug @ajpaug Gaffer: Dennis Albert @dennisalbert_
Audio Mixer: Victor Chavez @vic_the__
PA: Rick Carreno @ispeakrick
PA: Tiffany Do @tivani.doee
BTS Photo: Prime @theartofprime
Car Detail: @sud_studs @slugglobal
Creative Director @hellobosco
Team Lead @kevgumbo3000
Project Manager @zakk_jullot
Creative Producer @iamkingsheyla
Designers @miacolemxn @noelspiva
@xoNecole
Director, Integrated Marketing @_vang
Campaign Manager @kingchachiii
Talent Lead @kaylawalker
Feature image by Prime/ @theartof prime