Weddings of the year - celebrity weddings

Ebony, Feb, 1997

It was "Forever I Do" for scores of couples who in 1996 took novel approaches to the traditional wedding fanfare. Whether by land or by sea, in a garden or traditional church setting, couples pledged endless love with an eye toward the view.

Couples exchanged vows in South Africa, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Haiti, on ships, on land and on the basketball court. They said "I Do" for the first, second or simply the last time. Among the best weddings of the year were those of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. Forest Whitaker, both of whom exchanged vows on the beautiful island of Jamaica; the Rev. and Mrs. Andrew Young, who exchanged vows in ceremonies in South Africa and Atlanta, Ga.; and actors Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin, who were wed in a lavish garden wedding ceremony at their elegant home in North Hills, Calif.

Award-winning gospel singers were able to "Count It All Joy" during their nuptials last year. William E. Becton was "Encouraged" by his wedding to the former Rita L. Ginyard on the cruise yacht Odyssey and Kirk D. Franklin found a reason to sing in his new bride, the former Tammy Renee Collins.

Former basketball great Bob Love wed Rachel Dixon at halftime of a Chicago Bulls game, and the great blue singer Koko Taylor was not blue last summer when she wed Hays Harris in a ceremony witnessed by more than 500 guests.

Love blossomed anew for Merald (Bubba) Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips -- who, finding love sweeter the second time around, remarried his first wife, Kathleen Knight.

Politicians also paused to tie the knot in 1996. Outgoing Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide committed himself to his new bride, Mildred Trouillot, a New York-born attorney and his legal advisor, in a ceremony at his home outside Port-au-Prince.

Featured on the following pages are some of the blushing brides and nervous grooms who represent the best weddings of 1996. So sit back and review with Ebony the best wedding moments of last year.