Many assume the most important part of planning a wedding is selecting the venue, the dress, or the menu. For Sagal Mohammed and Richard Fordwor, the most memorable part of their big day wasn’t the ceremony, the food, or even the dancing—it was the people who traveled across continents to celebrate with them in the Banhoek Valley.
Sagal, a Gemini who enjoys hosting events, wanted the wedding to feel like an extension of her social nature. Choosing a dress proved challenging, but she found her ideal one at WONA Bridal in Flatiron. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it for six months,” she recalls, “nothing else made me feel as amazing as that dress.”
The couple’s interfaith relationship meant honoring both traditions. An intimate Islamic blessing occurred the night before, led by a close friend. “It was quiet and personal, a special moment with our closest loved ones before the larger celebration,” Sagal says.
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The welcome party featured a South African braai garden, where guests wore all white. Sagal made a solo entrance to a custom song written for her by a Somali artist. “It’s a tradition in our culture to have songs for loved ones,” she explains, “especially in Somalia, where poetry is cherished.”
Sagal wore a traditional Somali diraac, designed in gold with beaded embroidery. “I loved watching videos of Somali weddings with my mum,” she remembers, “the brides always looked stunning in their diraacs.”
The main ceremony took place outdoors, with Banhoek Valley’s mountains as a backdrop. Sagal entered first to “Popping” by Show Dem Camp, then joined her mother to a song by Cleo Sol. The ceremony included traditional vows, a blessing, and a kiss.
“It was a beautiful, emotional moment,” Sagal says. “Having my mum by my side and seeing Richard smile as I walked toward him was a cherished memory. All our loved ones witnessing it felt like a dream.”
After the ceremony, the couple walked through confetti and moved to a cocktail hour with soulful Afro House tunes. They caught their breath, took photos, and had a private look at the candlelit reception space. “I wanted to create a ‘hygge’ feeling, like in Denmark, with candles making the space whimsical and romantic,” Sagal explains.
Dinner featured slow-roasted lamb and Cape linefish, with speeches from friends. The couple’s first dance to “Ginger Me” by Rema sparked a lively party. “The night turned into a full celebration,” Richard remembers.
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The after-party included an Amapiano and Afrobeats rave with disco balls and confetti. Sagal chose a vintage gown from Studio Dorothy NYC, calling it “like something out of a fairy tale.”
Reflecting on the day, Sagal says everything felt perfect. “From arrival to the final dance, it felt meant to be.” Richard recalls Sagal’s radiant look when she saw the dress and their first dance as “a moment the world stopped.”
The couple now sees their wedding as the start of their future. “It was more than a wedding,” Sagal says. “It was the beginning of our forever.”
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