Congratulations are in order for Tika Sumpter (ex-Layla Williamson, One Life to Live), who wed her The Haves and the Have Nots co-star Nicholas James in an oceanfront, sunset ceremony in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Saturday, May 14.
The actress shared the news of her marriage on Instagram, writing, "I got to marry my best friend yesterday. My heart is so full. Friends and family are everything. All involved made a girls dream come true."
James also opened up about the pair's wedding on Instagram, sharing, "My heart is so full. This experience has changed me. I can't remember a time when I was this happy. I'm married to the best woman, mother, and human I have ever met! My wife @tikasumpter is a spectacle! I love our life, our family, and our circle!"
In an interview with Brides, which has an exclusive look into the pair's wedding, Sumper says that she and James are excited to be together and continue their journey, which already includes sharing five-year-old daughter Ella.
"I don't know how much is going to change with the newlywed stamp. It's going to be fun to call Nick my husband and hear him call me his wife," Sumpter says of the relationship status change. "I think we just cemented what we already are, and all of our friends were witnesses to that. It's a continuation of the journey, but I'm looking forward to doing what we've been doing, which is making sure that we have a solid foundation. Making sure we're strong. It's not a sprint, this journey, it's definitely not a sprint."
She adds, "We both walked down the aisle with clear eyes, knowing that the wedding wasn't just for the party. It was really for us."
However, she and James kept all their guests first and foremost on their minds as they planned the lavish event that took place at Chileno Bay Resorts & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection.
"My favorite part of the planning process was just looking at all of the names of my friends and family who were coming," Sumpter reveals. "Each one made me smile, so it made me even more excited to plan something beautiful. I wanted everybody to have a great time. I really had my friends, my family, my future husband in mind -- it wasn't just for me. It was a real celebration of all the people who have held us up on this journey to make it what it is. They're really part of that thread. It was almost like a gift for them to really love where they are, love being together, and just overall having a really great time."
As for why the couple chose to have their ceremony and reception in Mexico, Sumpter says it was a no-brainer decision when factoring in something special, fun, and close to California.
"I didn't necessarily always want a destination wedding. It was just something that came to my mind," she explains. "One of our first trips out of the country was Anguilla, and Mexico definitely has that beautiful island vibe, so, we were like why not do it in Cabo?"
Sumpter and James's entire celebration, captured by Jana Williams Photography, will be featured in Bride's fifth digital issue, out in July.
Sumpter played One Life to Live's Layla from 2006 to 2011 before going on to star in TV series like Gossip Girl, The Game, The Haves and Have Nots, and Mixed-ish. She also co-starred in the Ride Along films, played the future First Lady Michelle Obama in Southside with You, and recently starred in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
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