Sheryl Lee Ralph and Senator Vincent Hughes Renew Their Vows in a Romantic Re-commitment Ceremony on July 30th by Rev. Dr. Donald D. Moore, Pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church (MCBC) at the Philadelphia Art Museum; 20 years to the day since they married in LA in a lavish Hollywood wedding in 2005.
In June Sheryl Lee Ralph hinted in a People magazine interview about their upcoming anniversary, and said she’d like to exchange vows on the Rocky Steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum ; she wanted to have the longest veil on those steps ever, which she did, as an 80 foot shawl.
She told People Magazine, she was always inspired by the quote on the Rocky statue “It’s not how hard you hit, it’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward – that’s how winning is done.”
She stepped off the bus and began walking up the steps, meeting the Senator halfway. With a princely gesture, he reached out his hand to her, kissed her, and they ascended the rest together as Diana Ross played from the speakers “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!” (Hair by Carla Clarkson)
Twenty-two Philadanco ballerinas carried her custom shawl—designed by Perry Meek—up all 72 steps.
The couple said their own vows, which centered on the power of love as well as community, in front of guests including Al Roker, Deborah Roberts, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania Austin Davis, and Sheryl’s sorority sisters from Delta Sigma Theta, many Philly politician’s were there including Mayor Cherelle L Parker, City Rep Jazelle Jones, Sen Anthony Williams, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Patty Jackson, Dyanna Williams Joan Myers Brown, Mack Wilds, Felicia Williams, (Event producer Hi Touch Inc. produced the event!!) Suzann Christine Henry (also sang My One and Only Love) and Newly retired Essence magazine’s Susan Taylor were among the guests who cheered and clapped when Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph and Sen Vincent Hughes reached the top of the steps. (The guest list were close friends and family.)
I’ve been a fan of Sheryl Lee Ralph since the early ’90s, when I attended the second Divas Simply Singing concert in Washington, D.C. She was one of the first entertainers to bravely use her platform to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS, and I’ll always admire her for that.
It’s been a real joy getting to know her more personally through PhillyChitChat—attending events she’s been part of here in Philadelphia, including another Divas Simply Singing concert at The Dell. When she landed the role on Abbott Elementary, she told me it felt like something special—and she was absolutely right. She is something special.
And so is he—Senator Hughes has done so much for Philadelphia and the state. Grateful for both of them!
I got these photos wearing my other hat, a paparazzo, from across the street standing on the Washington statue platform, after I was tipped off by a reader about an hour before the ceremony. So glad to be there, it was a JOY to witness. I withheld them until after Vogue online published, except for one outlet which had already gone live before the request came in. xoxo
Here’s a video I created with these and other photos.
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Socially Yours, Hughe