Rharaka Rheonda Branell Gilbert, who goes by Rha, and Ifeyinwa Christopher Isiekwe, who goes by Ify, were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 20, in the Capitol rotunda. Harold Young of Calhoun Street Church of Christ, Newport, officiated.
Parents of the bride are Rhonda Gilbert of Sherwood and Brenda and Larry Gilbert of Little Rock. Her grandparents are Ealgie and Jerome Gilbert of Little Rock and the late Jeanette and Herman Brown of North Little Rock.
The groom is the son of Michael Isiekwe and the late Ann Isiekwe, both of Lagos, Nigeria. His grandparents are the late Benedict Okolie and Alice Okwufuleze and the late David Okolo and Angelina Nwabaha Isiekwe, all of Delta, Nigeria.
The rotunda was decorated with arrangements of coral and pink roses and orange dahlias. The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a trumpet-style tulle gown. The bodice had a basket-weave design and the skirt was embellished with ruffles. She carried a crystal, silver and pearl brooch bouquet.
Reah Gilbert of North Little Rock served as her sister's maid of honor and Raquel Gilbert, also of North Little Rock and sister of the bride, was the bridesmaid. They wore coral wrap dresses with full skirts and also carried brooch bouquets. Flower girl was Kerrington Harris of North Little Rock, niece of the bride. Ring bearer was Ayobami Shennaike of London, nephew of the groom.
Ashibogwu Isiekwe of Lagos was his brother's best man. Chukwudi Isiekwe of Houston, also a brother of the groom, was the groomsman. Guests were seated by Olufemi Shennaike of London and Travis Harris of North Little Rock.
A reception at the Clinton Presidential Center followed the ceremony. Tables, covered with gray cloths, alternated arrangements of peach, coral and pink flowers in rhinestone-trimmed silver vases with tall cylinder vases filled with branches decorated with coral hydrangeas.
The bride has a bachelor's degree in biology from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and a master's degree in science education from Fordham University, New York. She is a science teacher at the American International School of Abuja, Nigeria.
The groom has a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in economics research from the University of North Texas at Denton. He has a doctorate in economics from Fordham University and is an economist and adviser to the statistician general of the Federation of Nigeria.
After a wedding trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica, the couple will live in Abuja.
High Profile on 06/28/2015