Credit: Instagram/SimonGuobadia
Porsha Williams and Simon Guobadia tied the knot in a Nigerian native law and custom ceremony on Friday in Atlanta.
According to a report, the former Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member, 41, and her new husband, 57, said “I do” at the Four Seasons Hotel surrounded by 250 guests, and will do the same in a second ceremony later today.
“I am ridiculously excited,” Porsha told PEOPLE ahead of her wedding. “I am just so ready. I’m not even nervous. I mean, I know I’m marrying the love of my life, and it’s just going to solidify our relationship and our family bond. I’m calm and excited.”
Although Porsha had mainly positive feelings leading up to the event, she admitted to being a bit “anxious” about the seven wardrobe changes she’d be making throughout her two weddings.
“It’s going to be a true fashion extravaganza,” she declared. “I just couldn’t turn any dresses down! If a wedding dress came my way, and I loved it, I got it.”
On Friday, amid her and Simon’s Nigerian wedding, Porsha changed three times, first wearing a red Lakimmy gown that was customary for an Edo bride. As RHOA fans may recall, Simon hails from Benin City in the Edo State of Nigeria.
Porsha then wore a royal blue dress by Tabik, followed by a gold one by the same designer.
Even Porsha’s guests, especially family members, were encouraged to wear purple and teal traditional or Nigerian-inspired garb.
“It was a huge undertaking,” Porsha shared. “I personally chose the fabrics that they’re going to be wearing, including their head wrap, their gele. I chose all of the colors, everything. I should be a stylist after this!”
“It’s going to be interesting to see people’s take on the fabric,” she added. “It’s going to be a beautiful expression of fashion, love, and family.”
Throughout Friday’s event, Benin singers and dancers performed, and guests were treated to traditional Benin foods, including snails, egusi, okra stew, and meat pies, and southern staples like steak and cornbread. Meanwhile, their wedding cake was a traditional Benin cake.
“I want them to feel like they have taken a flight and landed in Benin,” she said. “The whole room should be transformed with beautiful colors of browns and rose golds and tans and creams. It should be really, really beautiful and give you that authentic African feel.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClaIUmTNPAh/
As for Simon, who popped the question to Porsha in May 2021 after just one month of dating, he was a “little nervous” — but not in regard to his marriage to Porsha.
“The journey has been phenomenal,” Simon said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better future wife … My nervousness comes from the family members and friends who I haven’t seen in a long time coming into Atlanta!”
Guests of Friday’s ceremony included Porsha’s former co-stars, including Kim Zolciak-Biermann, Monyetta Shaw, Kandi Burruss, Drew Sidora, and Cynthia Bailey, as well as Rickey Smiley, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta‘s Karlie Redd, Basketball Wives cast member Jennifer Williams, Married to Medicine star Quad Webb, rapper T.I. and wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris, and Real Housewives of Potomac alums Chris and Monique Samuels.
Monique & Chris attended Porsha & Simon’s wedding today! ❤️ #LAMDC X #RHOA pic.twitter.com/Nvp7S5MfdK
— jay (@JaysRealityBlog) November 25, 2022
Tonight, Porsha and Simon will enjoy their second, American wedding ceremony at a church in Atlanta with 350 guests before hosting a ball and after party.
Looking forward, Porsha said she’s most excited to call Simon her “husband.”
“It’s just going to be like, ‘My husband, my husband, my husband,'” she explained. “I’m going to irritate everyone! It’s our last marriage, okay? We belong together. That is it. It’s a blessing to be able to find your person. It doesn’t happen often.”
And Simon agreed, saying he and Porsha are “best friends.”
“I literally don’t want to leave this house most days after work, because I’d much rather climb into bed and watch TV with her,” he said. “We enjoy traveling a great deal. We love finding new spots around the world and just going together. We’re just both at a very peaceful place in our lives.”
“In the year and a half I’ve been with this woman, I’ve not had one issue with her,” he said. “It’s just been a great relationship.”
While Porsha shares 3-year-old daughter Pilar Jhena with ex-fiance Dennis McKinley and Simon has five kids from previous marriages, Porsha said they’re “absolutely” open to expanding their family.
“I’ve always wanted to have four kids, so it’s a blessing that he has three younger ones that are at home a lot of the time, and then I have my Pilar,” she said. “But as far as me being able to experience having a child with him, I definitely want to explore that. I’m not sure how many that will include, but I definitely know it wouldn’t be more than two.”