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Houston Rockets’ Dorian Finney-Smith married JazMyne Branch in Dallas on Aug. 23
The wedding theme was “on the run” to symbolize the couple’s “ride-or-die bond”
Finney-Smith and Branch met in college and share five children
NBA star Dorian Finney-Smith’s wedding was a slam dunk!
The Houston Rockets player married JazMyne Branch in a ceremony attended by 190 guests at D’Vine Grace Vineyard in Dallas on Saturday, Aug. 23 — the same date the couple made their relationship official and got engaged. The theme was “on the run” to symbolize the pair’s “ride-or-die bond.”
“The adventures we’ve been on, and the promise that no matter where life takes us — we’ll continue to run towards ‘forever and always’ together,” Branch tells PEOPLE.
Stanlo Photography
Dorian Finney-Smith (left) and JazMyne Branch (right) at their wedding.
The bride and groom — who previously had a private ceremony — scrapped the idea of having a destination wedding because the most important thing to them was ensuring their immediate families could make the commute and attend their big day.
“Having them there meant way more than the location,” Branch says. “We also wanted our wedding to be more of a celebration because one thing we love to do is party!”
Finney-Smith set an upbeat vibe for the evening ceremony by making his grand entrance to Yo Gott’s rap hit “Real S—.” The basketball pro looked dapper donning a J.C. Scott custom suit.
The atmosphere shifted as Jennifer Hudson’s soulful and heartfelt song “Giving Myself” played for Branch’s walk down the aisle. Her glam makeup was applied by KimJLuv and hair styled by TyDoesHair and XO by Kamiah. She wore Galia Lahav’s strapless corset gown named Tokyo. The dress features plunging cutouts and sparkling diamond-shaped grid embroidery.
Stanlo Photography
JazMyne Branch (left) and Dorian Finney-Smith (right) at their wedding.
“The beading detail, the sheer accents, the fit. It was just too perfect!” Branch gushes.
Traditional vows were read aloud, and handwritten vows exchanged in private.
Finney-Smith tells PEOPLE that he most admires Branch’s ability to keep him “humble” and make him “step out of my comfort zone.” Meanwhile, Branch loves Finney-Smith’s quality of “living in the present.”
“I often feel like I live in fast forward while he’s in real time, he keeps me grounded and reminds me that the present is a gift,” she says.
The ceremony was officiated by the former Los Angeles Lakers player’s aunt, Tanisha Upshaw, and her husband, Anthony Upshaw.
Guests enjoyed light refreshments during cocktail hour before heading to the reception, where a buffet-style dinner was served. Highlights include Caesar salad, chicken piccata, flat iron steak, glazed brussels sprouts, and whipped potatoes.
For dessert was slices of the two-tiered wedding cake, which was baked by Delicious Cakes and flavored strawberry and white cake with strawberry mousse filling and buttercream frosting. The cake was decorated with the couple’s initials, white roses and calla lilies.
Stanlo Photography
JazMyne Branch (left) and Dorian Finney-Smith (right) at their wedding.
Finney-Smith and Branch danced the night away together as DJ Trill spun music, starting with their first dance set to “I Belong To You (Every Time I See Your Face)” by Rome.
The wedding, which was planned by Krystal Scott of K Scott Events, ended with fireworks.
“Growing up I always thought about being married and being a wife, but I never thought about how or what kind of wedding I would want, so this wedding is already more than I could ever dream of!” Branch shares.
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Finney-Smith and Branch’s love story began at the University of Florida. At the time, Branch was a freshman and Finney-Smith was a junior.
“We bumped into each other out in downtown Gainesville and danced the whole night,” Branch remembers. “We kind of lost contact for a couple weeks after that, then we saw each other out getting food at a burger place called Relish. We’ve been connected at the hip since.”
A few years later, Finney-Smith popped the question in a park in South Dallas.
Stanlo Photography
Dorian Finney-Smith (left) and JazMyne Branch (right) at their wedding.
“It was the perfect day. There weren’t many people there, just our kids and two close friends which meant so much to me,” Branch says. “I’m not a person who needs all the bells and whistles to be blown away. I value love and intimacy and that’s exactly what it was.”
The couple collectively share five children, according to their wedding website.
“I’m most excited about continuing the journey of growth together and loving each other in a new light,” Branch answers of what she’s looking forward to in the future, with Finney-Smith adding, “Growing old together and keeping a smile on her face.”
Branch continues: “The next chapter for us looks like deepening the bond we have already built over the past 11 years. We’ve been through so many seasons together and marriage is a chance for us to step into forever with even more intention.”
Stanlo Photography
JazMyne Branch (left) and Dorian Finney-Smith (right) at their wedding.
Additional Credits:
Florals: Indy Florals
Decor: Belle Decor Design
Signage: Your Sign Awaits
Videographer: Briele Chanel
Read the original article on People
