Walk Down the Aisle of Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson’s New Jersey Wedding

Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson might be Married to Real Estate, but first and foremost they are married — and committed — to one another. While it might have taken a few meetings to make way for romance, they started dating in 2004 and wed at Woodland Park, New Jersey’s Westmount Country Club, on Sept. 11, 2010. Almost 13 years later, Egypt says, “We often wish we could relive that day over and over again as flies on the wall.”

For her big day, Egypt picked a dress by Demetrios that seemed to be designed for her specifically. The strapless, ruched, mermaid-style gown kept her cool in the warm September air during the outdoor ceremony and let her boogie down at the reception. A timeless silhouette, Egypt looks right at home standing next to her handsome soon-to-be husband, Mike.

To complement — and not overshadow — her gorgeous gown, Egypt chose simple, romantic curls to frame her face. Smoky eyes and a frosted lip enhanced her natural beauty. She completed the ensemble with satin Badgley Mischka shoes.

There’s no topping a classic black suit, especially on one of the most important days of your life, but love was the main attraction and Mike’s focus was on joining Egypt in matrimony. After they were pronounced husband and wife, he told Essence, “If you could name every word in the dictionary that means happy and joy, that’s what I was feeling.”

Family is one of the most important facets of any wedding, and Egypt wanted Mike's then-8-year-old daughter to know her commitment was to Simone as well as Mike. “One of our favorite parts was watching our daughter Simone walk down the aisle shouting, ‘The bride is coming, the bride is coming,’” says Egypt. “She was too big to be a flower girl, so we created a special role for her as the chime princess.”

“L” is for the way Egypt looks at Mike, of course. Six years into their relationship, they decided to cement their forever together. Egypt says, “Family members still tell stories of things that happened at some point during the wedding festivities and we laugh, wishing we could have been everywhere to take in everything at once.”

Who did Egypt and Mike choose to officiate the ceremony? The couple’s pastor, who counseled them for 12 months leading up to the wedding. “I remember him telling us on our first counseling session that he would not marry any couples who he didn’t believe were willing to put in the work,” Egypt says. “During the first session both of us were nervous, but by our last session, the pastor said he believed we would be great partners and have a successful, long marriage.” Faith remains very important to both of them.

Egypt and Mike aren’t cheering for the next step in their relationship, they’re excited that a Mister Softee truck finally let them get through the ceremony. With not-so-perfect timing, the ice cream truck decided to park near the country club and interrupt the vows. “Everyone was cracking up because each time we restarted the vows, the truck music would begin again,” Egypt says. “Mike and I looked at each other and said, ‘At least this is a moment we’ll laugh about for years.’”

Egypt and Mike didn’t choose Westmount Country Club because it was available, they chose it because there was a story. Two years before they got married, Mike DJed a wedding at the venue and raved about the food, the decor and the service for days afterwards. Obviously, once the couple began searching for their own special venue, they made an appointment at Westmount. “Every other place paled in comparison,” Egypt says.

Amid gold and bronze place settings and decor, the couple and guests were entertained by more than just your average wedding band. Before her time on HGTV, Egypt was a radio personality and had the opportunity to interview Grammy-nominated group SWV many times. One of Mike’s favorite songs is 1992’s “Weak.” As a surprise, Egypt's best friend arranged for the group to perform the song during the reception. She says, “I was so honored they obliged.”

Egypt’s finger wasn’t the only thing rocking some bling on the big day. The cake featured a luxe-looking “J” topper to celebrate Egypt transitioning from a Sherrod to a Jackson. Now, after nearly 19 years together and 13 years married, Egypt says, “We just celebrate each other every day, our growth, our milestones.”

Some debate took place before the final flavor was decided on. “I wanted a strawberry-filled cake, but my mom insisted it would be a bad idea because most people would not like a filled cake,” says Egypt. “Ultimately, we went with three flavors. Every layer of our fondant cake was different. The baker used my gown as inspiration for the cake design.”

To honor Mike’s time as a DJ (which is how they met), Egypt had a turntable groom’s cake made. “Mike and I first met at a nightclub. The second time we met he was DJing at a parade, and the third time we met I was DJing at a nightclub,” Egypt says. “Then, the final time, he showed up as a referred contractor team to work on one of my flip houses.”