A One-Of-A-Kind Wedding At Portland's Exchange Ballroom Inspired By The Beauty Of Travel

Drawing inspiration from her Ghanaian heritage and his service in the U.S. Air Force, Nana and Axel chose an elegant travel theme to celebrate their love for each other and their connections to places around the world. The Exchange Ballroom in Northeast Portland provided a modern backdrop for colorful autumn florals and travel-inspired accents. Instead of table numbers, airport codes for cities where the couple has lived or traveled, such as ACC for Accra, the capital of Ghana, identified the tables. Tiny brass airplanes served as place card holders, and the cake topper featured a bride and groom on a heart-shaped globe. The groomsmen wore custom tuxedo shirts with sleeves made from brightly patterned traditional Ghanaian fabric. When their jackets came off and the festive fabrics were revealed, the party got started. “Even though we had people from different walks of life, the dance floor was able to bring everyone together,” says Nana.