Top Weddings Of The Year - celebrity weddings

Ebony, Feb, 2000 by Joy Bennett Kinnon

Actors Cedric (The Entertainer) Kyles and Terri J. Vaughn, whose "Cedric and Lovita" characters are engaged on the popular Steve Harvey Show, married other people in real life. Cast members (left) enjoy reception of Kyles and his bride Lorna Renee Wells at the Casa de Amour estate in Pasadena, Calif. The Entertainer serenaded his bride, who is an industry stylist, with the song, "You're My Angel," by Anita Baker. Vaughn (above) is radiant at her wedding to Derrick Carolina, a rapper and lyricist. Married at sunset on New Year's Day, "eye-level with the birds," the actress wore a Vera Wang gown and proclaimed the day, "perfect. It's my favorite day in my whole life."

Deion Sanders' bride, Pilar Biggers, made a striking entrance in her elegant, sleeveless white satin gown, featuring a cut-out back and dramatic cathedral train. With only close friends and family present, the pair were wed by Bishop T. D. Jakes in a gazebo set in a plush island garden overlooking a scenic lagoon. Sanders' daughter, Deiondra, was the flower girl, while his son, Deion Jr., was the ring bearer. Sanders, who designed the wedding rings, gave his bride a 10-carat ring.

Recording artist Tamia (above) serenades her superstar groom, Grant Hill of the NBA Detroit Pistons, with a surprise song, "Colour of Love." The bridal couple share a first dance as husband and wife (left), entertaining their guests under a decorated, air-conditioned tent with a five-course dinner, music and dancing. The couple pose with their parents (below, l. to r.), Calvin Hill, retired NFL Dallas Cowboys star, and Attorney Janet Hill, and Tamia's stepfather and mother, Fredrie Peden and Barbara Washington-Peden.

Mayor Marc Modal and bride Michelle Miller pose with wedding party (above) and are lost in love (right) during their cheek-to-cheek first dance to Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me." The pair leave the church (left) after proclaiming their love in vows they wrote themselves. Morial promised "my love, understanding, tender and everlasting." She described him as "my rock, my best friend, my knight in shining armor." Below, the bridal pair leave for a wedding reception that featured a traditional New Orleans second-line around the ballroom.

William H. Gray IV, oldest son of UNCF President and CEO William H. Gray III, and Jennifer Maria Quarles of Los Angeles were married at Trinity Baptist Church in Santa Monica, Calif., in a ceremony that was co-officiated by the senior Gray and the Rev. Fisher Robinson. The couple (above), with Rev. Gray and Mrs. Andrea Gray, are flanked by the groom's brothers, Andrew (far l.) and Justin (far. r.). The bride is a senior at Xavier University in Ohio. The bridegroom recently earned a master's degree in business administration from the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia. He is a marketing executive at the Procter & Gamble Company. The couple honeymooned in Europe.

Atlanta was the location for the marriage of Tiffany Cochran and the Rev. Kenneth Walker. The bride is the daughter of Attorney Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. More than 900 guests, including Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell and Georgia's governor and lieutenant governor witnessed the elaborate double-ring ceremony held at historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. The bride is a television reporter and anchor and the groom is a special assistant to the chairman of the board of Georgia Governor Roy E. Barnes' newly created Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.