The Brides Described Their Martha’s Vineyard Wedding as a “Black Met Gala”
When Naima Green asked to photograph fellow artist Sable Elyse Smith for a project in 2015, it sparked much more than just a creative exercise. “From that first encounter, a string of mutual friends (because black, queer, and Brooklyn), and an awkward photoshoot, we began a long, slow, tumultuous love story,” shares Sable. The pair wrote letters while apart between Mexico and Virginia before finally settling back in the same city and driving full force into a relationship. “We gave in to fate,” she says.
Over five years later, the relationship moved into its next stage. While on vacation in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Sable took Naima to a spot she scouted by the water at dusk, brought out a ring, and asked her to be her wife. “It was the day after Sable’s birthday and I had absolutely no idea," remembers Naima. “I was so surprised I threw the ring upon opening it.” A year later, in September 2022, the couple would officially tie the knot at City Hall. However, the newlyweds always intended to host a larger celebration as well. “It was special to do something just between us, but this wedding with our community and family present was absolutely necessary for too many reasons to name,” they say.
The couple decided to host that special celebration on the weekend of September 23, 2023, in Martha’s Vineyard. Naima’s family would frequently visit the coastal town when she was young and she always imagined herself getting married in a place that felt like home to her. “We immediately fell in love with Lambert’s Cove Inn,” the couple shares. “For Naima, the garden there held some of the essence of her childhood home and the vision she had of her future wedding.”
The brides had a vision for their nuptials that they described as far from conventional. “We are both visual people and we knew what we wanted when we saw it,” they say. “The majority of the design was built around the place, Martha’s Vineyard, and the floral design.” In fact, Naima sent their florist Vivian Zhou of Forevermark Flowers a 19th-century still life painting to serve as the reference for the celebration’s aesthetic. “We wanted bold colors, patterns, and unconventional decor,” the couple shares. “Our floral arrangements included mushrooms, dragon fruits, pitcher plants, and ginger root, in addition to a variety of flowers, herbs, and plants.”
The people present at their celebration also contributed to the ambiance. “We have been joking for a year that the theme of the wedding was the ‘Black Met Gala.’ We did not have a traditional wedding party but we did have VIPs—Sable’s mom, Lisa; Naima’s mom, Zenola; Sable’s cousin Traci; Naima’s nana Nancy; and Naima’s brother, Salim,” explain the newlyweds. “The VIPs had custom dresses and jackets by Issey Miyake, Dries, and Margiela. It was basically Fashion Week.”
While guests were dressed to the nines for the black-tie affair, the brides still stole the sartorial show, pulling out multiple looks throughout the weekend and wearing stunning custom jewels. “Sable and I have spent months working with Priti to design our wedding bands and workshopping jewelry ideas for the rest of our looks as we confirmed things,” says Naima. The duo kept their attire a secret from one another so they could have multiple big reveals on their wedding weekend. “The pressure was on! I spent months doing made-to-measure consultations," says Sable.
Eventually, she settled on head-to-toe Gucci for both her welcome party and ceremony looks, wearing a horse-bit jacquard canvas suit with Ice Lolly leather chain loafers the first night and a black velvet tuxedo with buckle loafers for the ceremony. During the reception, Sable changed into a custom Thom Browne shrunken tuxedo with a midnight blue velvet jacket with black grosgrain trim and black tuxedo pants. She adds, “Major shout out to Zaid, the made-to-measure specialist from the Toronto store, for the vision.” The couple also hosted a more casual day-after brunch, where Sable donned a Simone Rocha shirt, Bed J.w. Ford trousers, and a Gucci cardigan and loafers.
Naima also embraced one designer for her welcome party and wedding day attire. “The moment I found Danielle Frankel, I knew she was the one,” she says. “I tried on the Luna dress in March of 2022 and nothing else matched how I felt in it! I knew I wanted some sort of corset or fitted bodice and I loved that about her work in general. I loved the drama of the bubbled train and the structured neckline.” She even donned one of the designer’s collaborative footwear pieces to coordinate with the gown. “The shoes were Anclara by Manolo Blahnik for Danielle Frankel so that the color matched exactly and had a gorgeous crystal anklet.” For jewels, the bride was adorned with a three-strand diamond shoulder dusters and a diamond “lace” cuff. Later at the reception, Naima swapped her gown for a champagne crinkled silk dress by Toteme, a Sandro bomber jacket to shield from the rain, and Gucci x Adidas green suede tennis shoes—“because I’m a tennis girl and I planned on partying!” She finished off her wardrobe with a white crochet two-piece Simkhai set for the day-after brunch.
While the wedding ceremony was initially scheduled to take place outdoors, the skies had different plans. In fact, Tropical Storm Ophelia rolled through on the wedding day. “It stormed and stormed all day and all day friends and family told us and texted us about the luck, fertility, beauty, and futurity of rain,” the couple says. Those feelings of support from their loved ones were felt during the ceremony, officiated by their dear friend Jenna Wortham. “We asked J to speak about not only the importance of our partnership but also the need for the community to bear witness and support us throughout our journey together,” says the couple. “Sable’s mom Lisa said a prayer and we exchanged our handwritten vows.” Reflecting on the ceremony, Naima says, “Even though the room was full, I could only see Sable. It was amazing to look up and see the rain pouring down above us through the clear-top tent. There was something really profound about the rain that day once the ceremony began, as well as everyone encircling us.” Sable adds, “The feeling is so surreal. I was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life and so overwhelmed with emotion and anticipation.”
As the night continued, the once-again newlyweds had their first dance to Cleo Sol’s “When I’m in Your Arms” and sat down with guests for a multi-course meal. In the brides’ words “Once we changed looks, we partied hard! We had the best DJ in the world for the weekend, Luna Rosa.” There also were some surprises peppered throughout the celebration like a secret bar serving dirty gin martinis with a twist and a unique twist on the guest book. “Friends Salome Asega, Angela Dimayuga, and Ash Lukashevsky set up an MTV Real World–inspired confessional inside the Inn where guests stole away all night recording video messages to us!” The evening concluded with a “West Indian takeover” after-party.
Sable jokes that Naima and her friends keep saying they want them to do it again every year. “I don’t want the feeling of that weekend to go away,” reflects Sable. “It was a perfect little microcosm we created up there. It truly was energizing and a really, really special ritual for our relationship. I could never comprehend the magnitude of a wedding until now. I’m not a very traditional person, so I never really thought about having a wedding at all until I met Naima.”
- Photo: Elizabeth Austin Photography1/71
Naima always wanted to get married at home, and she’s been spending time in Martha’s Vineyard since she was a child. It’s always been a home to her. This is the Gay Head Lighthouse in Aquinnah, and it was the first place we traveled together when we started dating.
- Photo: Elizabeth Austin Photography2/71
Aerial view of Lamberts Cove Inn’s English garden, where we planned to have our ceremony. Bridget, the innkeeper, grew gorgeous dahlias all summer.
- Photo: Elizabeth Austin Photography3/71
Walking down the aisle during our ceremony rehearsal.
- Photo: Elizabeth Austin Photography4/71
Naima wore Danielle Frankel, and Sable wore head-to-toe Gucci.
- Photo: Elizabeth Austin Photography5/71
Running with Sable through Aquinnah.
