[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/robin-roberts-and-amber-laigns-ethereal-eco-conscious-celebrity-wedding\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/robin-roberts-and-amber-laigns-ethereal-eco-conscious-celebrity-wedding\/","headline":"Robin Roberts and Amber Laign’s ethereal, eco-conscious celebrity wedding","name":"Robin Roberts and Amber Laign’s ethereal, eco-conscious celebrity wedding","description":"In a world where weddings often boast extravagant budgets and opulent displays of wealth, the marriage of Good Morning America\u2019s co-anchor Robin Roberts and Amber Laign stood as a testament to the power of love and thoughtfulness.","datePublished":"2023-10-04","dateModified":"2023-10-05","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/kpalladino\/#Person","name":"Kirsten Palladino","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/kpalladino\/","identifier":2,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/099f06891cb4a8fc9aef0159703655c1?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/099f06891cb4a8fc9aef0159703655c1?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/robin-roberts-amber-laign-celebrity-wedding-photo-chris-j-evans.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/robin-roberts-amber-laign-celebrity-wedding-photo-chris-j-evans.jpg","height":472,"width":839},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/robin-roberts-and-amber-laigns-ethereal-eco-conscious-celebrity-wedding\/","about":["Celebrities","Celebrity News","News","Real LGBTQ+ Weddings"],"wordCount":1781,"keywords":[" two brides","Amber Laign","celebrity wedding","Christian","Connecticut","outdoor wedding","Robin Roberts"],"articleBody":"In a world where celebrity weddings often boast extravagant budgets and opulent displays of wealth, the marriage of Good Morning America\u2019s co-anchor Robin Roberts and Amber Laign stood as a testament to the power of love and thoughtfulness. Roberts and Laign married at their Farmington, Connecticut, home on September 8, 2023, in an intimate ceremony. Their wedding, a celebration of their love, was a harmonious blend of elegance, simplicity and heartwarming surprises. I had the privilege of speaking with their wedding planner, JoAnn Gregoli of Elegant Occasions, who offered an inside look at the couple’s ethereal, eco-conscious celebrity wedding.Roberts and Laign embarked on their wedding planning journey early in the year after announcing their engagement in January. Gregoli reached out to the celebrity couple to offer her wedding planning services since Roberts had interviewed Gregoli on Good Morning America about the planner\u2019s charity, the Frontline Sewing Angels project, an endeavor to provide personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This connection laid the foundation for a trusted partnership in crafting a celebrity wedding with meaning. \u201cRobin helped me out and so many other people, so I wanted to give back to her,\u201d says Gregoli.During their initial meeting over the phone, the brides-to-be met with Gregoli. \u201cThey were pretty trusting,\u201d she says. \u201cSoon after I met in person with her wife, Amber, and the keywords that came into play with her were words like ethereal and garden. From there, I knew which direction to take as far as the vendors were concerned,\u201d assembling a team capable of carrying out the couple\u2019s vision.Though Gregoli worked more frequently with Laign, she says that the couple made all the major decisions together, including the all-important wedding cake, which featured alternating layers of chocolate and red velvet, \u201can homage to the south,\u201d she says. Roberts was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and grew up in Pass Christian, Mississippi.One of the most striking aspects of Roberts and Laign\u2019s wedding planning was their commitment to sustainability and thoughtfulness. They opted for eco-friendly, plantable invitations crafted from recycled paper, a reflection of Laign’s dedication to natural wellness, a major element of Plant Juice Oils, an essential oil and women\u2019s wellness company that she co-founded. Flowers from their wedding ceremony were repurposed for their wedding reception. Their wedding was a testament to their conscious choices, with an emphasis on minimalism and sustainable materials.The wedding ceremony itself was a poignant expression of their love and values. Set against the backdrop of their own backyard, the ceremony was a simple yet ethereal affair. Gregoli and her team brought in two indigenous oak trees for the outdoor altar, which they covered in Spanish moss. Dressed in custom Badgley Mischka wedding gowns, he brides married in front of Roberts\u2019 late mother\u2019s prayer bench, while their guests sat on wooden benches. Roberts\u2019 childhood minister performed the ceremony, one of her sisters did prayer readings, and her other sister sang during the ceremony.\u201cRobin\u2019s family all played key roles,\u201d says Gregoli, \u201cwhich I think was beautiful. It was probably one of those beautiful ceremonies I have seen in a very long time. It was so thoughtful and prayerful. She\u2019s a special lady. She really is.\u201cRobin really did not want it to be like, \u2018Oh, I’m just gonna throw this party with, you know, a ton of flash,\u2019\u201d says Gregoli. \u201cNo, it was very much, \u2018I want a beautiful party, a great party, but I don’t need to go overboard.\u2019 And she\u2019s very thoughtful in that process. Robin and Amber were both so thoughtful.\u201dLaign and Roberts\u2019 wedding was a delightful departure from the typical lavish weddings often associated with high-profile couples. The couple opted for an intimate ceremony with close friends and family, reserving the grand celebration for a larger reception with more than 200 guests. This unique approach allowed them precious moments of solitude between the ceremony and reception, a rare opportunity for reflection in the midst of a bustling wedding day.Their choice to forgo extravagant displays of opulence in favor of thoughtfulness and purpose was also evident in their choice of vendors. Their wedding planner carefully curated a team of vendors who not only shared their vision but also embodied qualities of hard work and dedication. The celebrity couple\u2019s emphasis on supporting female-owned businesses was evident throughout the planning process.Wedding dream team: Jen Gould of Jen Gould Events, Chris J. Evans of Chris J. Evans Photography, JoAnn Gregoli of Elegant Occasions, Robin Selden of Marcia Selden CateringRoberts and Laign\u2019s wedding team wasn\u2019t all women, but Gregoli says she was intentional in her selection process. \u201cObviously, I wanted to be sure that the vendors were LGBTQ+ inclusive. That they honor and work with the LGBTQ+ community. I also wanted the team to be people who are hardworking people.\u201dThough the wedding took place in Roberts and Laign\u2019s backyard, their reception was held down the road at Farmington Gardens. The reception\u2019s aesthetic was Midsummer Night’s Dream, an idea from Laign, who wanted it to feel like they were in a magical forest. With its moody and romantic ambiance, the room was adorned with dark lighting and a moss-covered backdrop. The theme of \u201cLove Wins\u201d’ resonated throughout the celebration, reminding everyone of the enduring power of love and unity.Roberts and Laign entered their wedding reception to an instrumental version of \u201cCan You Feel the Love Tonight,\u201d played by renowned electric violinist, Caroline Campbell. \u201cIt was epic,\u201d says Gregoli. \u201cI’ve never been to a wedding with this much love. And I’ve been to a lot of weddings, let me tell you. Those people genuinely loved Robin and Amber. I’ve never seen anything like it, on that level. I get goosebumps now thinking about it. The love in that room was palpable. You could feel it in your heart. And their theme was love wins, right? I mean, everything! We had cute little discs made for the drinks and a photo booth that both had \u2018love wins.\u2019 Because it took a long time for them to get to the altar. But they also wanted to make a statement like, \u2018Hey, we overcame all these obstacles as well as what’s going on in this world. You know, society. And, you know, love did win and you can really feel that love and I think that’s why they played \u2018Can You Feel the Love Tonight\u2019 because it was so evident.\u201dRoberts and Laign shared the video of their wedding ceremony at their reception so all the guests could witness their love and commitment to each other. Gregoli said everyone was crying while watching it. \u201cHow could you not? I was crying when she was saying her vows to her because of their love. What I really thought was so interesting is that they were so thoughtful to each other. I don’t see that in heterosexual weddings \u2026 ever. They were so thoughtful to each other. Everything they did really showed how much they care about each other.\u201dOne of the most sentimental and thoughtful things from Laign was the message she had sewn into her dress: \u201cYes to dinner every time,\u201d a nod to how many times Laign had said no to the blind dates her and Roberts\u2019 friends kept trying to set them up on.On Robin\u2019s side, she had told Amber the entire time they were planning their wedding that they would not be doing a first dance because she said she couldn\u2019t dance, which was the perfect set up for her to surprise her new wife with a flash mob dance to the upbeat gospel-influenced house song “Jerusalema,\u201d a song by South African DJ and record producer, Master KG featuring South African vocalist Nomcebo. The song choice\u2014and its eponymous dance\u2014feels intentional, as with everything Robin does. \u201cJerusalema\u201d was written by Nomcebo Nkwanyana, who goes by Nomcebo Zikode professionally, who, according to the New York Times, drew on her own intense pain when she wrote it. The lyrics, which are sung in isiZulu, a South African language, include the phrases, \u201cJerusalem is my home. Guard me. Walk with me. Do not leave me here.\u201d View this post on Instagram A post shared by Robin Roberts (@robinrobertsgma)Roberts is outspoken about her Christian faith, which undoubtedly helped carry them throughout the serious health issues they\u2019ve faced over the course of their 18-year partnership, including breast cancer for both Roberts and Laign, and a rare blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome for Roberts.It wasn\u2019t the only special dance performance though. Roberts\u2019 siblings surprised her and her new wife by dancing to Montell Jordan\u2019s \u201cThis is How We Do It\u201d before giving their toast to the newlyweds.Gregoli says the couple was adorable the way they planned small surprises for each other for the wedding. \u201cThey’re like, \u2018Oh, don’t you tell her that.\u2019 It was cute. Every meeting I heard, \u2018Don’t tell her this. Don’t tell her that.\u2019 They were just always thinking of each other, which I thought was great. More people should be like that in this world. We’d have a much better world.\u201dToward the end of the night, Roberts and Laign threw their bouquets at the same time, a fun idea for a lesbian wedding. And instead of gathering only single women for the bouquet toss, the two brides invited all single people to try to catch their bouquets, an inclusive moment that touched their wedding planner\u2019s heart.\u201cI thought that was fantastic,\u201d says Gregoli. \u201cRobin and Amber\u2019s wedding is going down as one of my favorite weddings of all time.\u201d Search our directory of LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding vendors.jQuery(document).ready(function($) {SABAI.init($(\"#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2\"));});                                                                                                                                                                                        Select categoryBar ServicesBeauty, Grooming and HealthBusiness Owner Self-Identification-Asian-owned-Black-owned-Immigrant-owned-Latinx-owned-LGBTQ+-Neurodivergent-Woman-owned businessCateringCeremony MusicCounseling and TherapyDance LessonsDestination WeddingsEqually Wed Pro LGBTQ+ Inclusive CertifiedEvent RentalsFashionFavors and GiftsFlowers and Floral DesignHotelsJewelryLGBTQ+ Inclusive and AffirmingLighting and DecorMusic, DJs and EntertainmentOfficiantsPhotographyPlanningPlatinum Wedding VendorsRestaurantsStationeryTransportationTravelUnique ServicesVenuesVideographyWedding Cakes & Sweets                                                                                                    jQuery(document).ready(function($) {        $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search input').keydown(function(e){        if (e.keyCode == 13) {              $(\"#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-submit .sabai-btn\").click();        }    });    var category_templates = {}, categories = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('name'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/taxonomy\/termlist?bundle=directory_listing_category&parent=0&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    categories.initialize();    category_templates.header = 'Suggested Categories';    category_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.title};    var listing_templates = {}, listings = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('title'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        remote: {            wildcard: 'QUERY',            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/listinglist?query=QUERY&__type=json&bundle_type=directory_listing&num=50'        },        limit: 50    });    listings.initialize();    listing_templates.header = 'Suggested Listings';    listing_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.title};    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-keyword input').typeahead(        {highlight: true, minLength: 1}        , {name: 'listings', displayKey: 'title', source: listings.ttAdapter(), templates: listing_templates}        , {name: 'categories', displayKey: 'title', source: categories.ttAdapter(), templates: category_templates}    ).bind('typeahead:selected', function(obj, datum, name) {        if (name === 'listings') window.location.href = datum.url;        if (name === 'categories') {            window.location.href = datum.url + '?address=' + encodeURIComponent($('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address\"]').val());        }    });    var geocoder, location = $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[type=text]');    var autocomplete,        location_templates = {},        findLocation = function(q, cb) {            if (!google.maps.places) return;            if (!autocomplete) autocomplete = new google.maps.places.AutocompleteService();            autocomplete.getPlacePredictions({input: q, types: ['(regions)']}, function(predictions, status){                if (status == google.maps.places.PlacesServiceStatus.OK) {                    cb(predictions);                }            });        };    location_templates.header = 'Suggested Locations';    location_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.description};    var state_templates = {}, states = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=state&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    states.initialize();    state_templates.header = 'Suggested States \/ Provinces \/ Regions';    state_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    var city_templates = {}, cities = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=city&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    cities.initialize();    city_templates.header = 'City';    city_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    var zip_templates = {}, zips = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=zip&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    zips.initialize();    zip_templates.header = 'Suggested Zip Codes';    zip_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    var country_templates = {}, countries = new Bloodhound({        datumTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.obj.whitespace('value'),        queryTokenizer: Bloodhound.tokenizers.whitespace,        prefetch: {            url: 'https:\/\/equallywed.com\/sabai\/directory\/locationlist?column=country&addon=&__type=json'        },        limit: 5    });    countries.initialize();    country_templates.header = 'Suggested Countries';    country_templates.suggestion = function(item){return ' ' + item.value};    location.typeahead(        {highlight: true, minLength: 1}        , {name: 'location', displayKey: 'description', source: findLocation, templates: location_templates}        , {name: 'city', source: cities.ttAdapter(), templates: city_templates}        , {name: 'state', source: states.ttAdapter(), templates: state_templates}        , {name: 'zip', source: zips.ttAdapter(), templates: zip_templates}        , {name: 'country', source: countries.ttAdapter(), templates: country_templates}    ).bind('typeahead:selected', function(obj, datum, name) {        if (name !== 'location') {            $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address_type\"]').val(name);        }    }).bind('keyup', function(e) {        if (e.keyCode !== 13 && e.keyCode !== 27 && e.keyCode !== 32) {            $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address_type\"]').val('');        }    });    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-radius-trigger').click(function(e){        var $this = $(this), container = $this.parent(), radius = container.find('input[name=\"directory_radius\"]'), slid;        SABAI.popover(            $this,            {                html: true,                container: container,                placement: function (pop, ele) { return window.innerWidth - $(ele).offset().left > 300 ? 'bottom' : (SABAI.isRTL ? 'right' : 'left');},                title: 'Location Options',                content: ''                    + 'Search Radius:  mi'                    + ''                    + ''                    + ' Get My Location'            }        );        container.on('shown.bs.sabaipopover', function(){            if (slid) return;            var label = container.find('.sabai-directory-search-radius-label strong').text(radius.val());            container.find('.sabai-directory-search-radius-slider').slider({animate: true, min: 0, max: 100, value: radius.val(), step: 1, slide: function(e, ui){                radius.val(ui.value);                label.text(ui.value);            }});            if (navigator.geolocation                && (document.location.protocol === 'https:' || document.location.hostname === 'localhost')            ) {                var geocode = function (trigger) {                    if (trigger) SABAI.ajaxLoader(trigger);                    if (!geocoder) geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();                    navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(                        function (pos) {                            geocoder.geocode({'latLng': new google.maps.LatLng(pos.coords.latitude,pos.coords.longitude)}, function(results, status) {                                if (trigger) SABAI.ajaxLoader(trigger, true);                                if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {                                    location.val(results[0].formatted_address).typeahead('val', results[0].formatted_address).effect('highlight', {}, 2000);                                    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location')                                        .find('input[name=\"center\"]').val(results[0].geometry.location.lat() + ',' + results[0].geometry.location.lng()).end()                                        .find('input[name=\"address_type\"]').val('');                                }                            });                        },                        function (error) {                            if (trigger) {                                SABAI.ajaxLoader(trigger, true);                            }                            SABAI.flash(error.message, 'danger');                            SABAI.console.log(error.message + ' (' + error.code + ')');                        },                        {enableHighAccuracy:true, timeout:5000}                    );                };                container.find('.sabai-directory-search-geolocate').show().click(function(e){                    e.preventDefault();                    geocode($(this));                });            }            slid = true;        });    });    $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-submit .sabai-btn').click(function(e){        var $this = $(this),            form = $this.closest('form');        e.preventDefault();        form.find('[placeholder]').each(function() {            var input = $(this);            if (input.val() == input.attr('placeholder')) {                input.val('');            }        });        var submit = function(){form.submit()};        var center = $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"center\"]');        if (location.val()            && $('#sabai-embed-wordpress-shortcode-2 .sabai-directory-search-location input[name=\"address_type\"]').val() === ''        ) {            if (!geocoder) geocoder = new google.maps.Geocoder();            geocoder.geocode({address: location.val()}, function(results, status) {                switch (status) {                    case google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK:                        center.val(results[0].geometry.location.lat() + ',' + results[0].geometry.location.lng());                        submit();                        break;                    case google.maps.GeocoderStatus.ZERO_RESULTS:                        alert('Invalid location');                        break;                    default:                        alert(status);                }            });        } else {            center.val('');            submit();        }    }); });FEATURED LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE WEDDING VENDORSPlanner: Elegant Occasions by JoAnn GregoliFloral design and event decor: Jen Gould EventsCeremony photographer: Chris J. EvansReception photographer: 4 Eyes PhotographyPhotobooth: Total EntertainmentWedding gowns: Badgley MischkaDJ: DJ ValentinaReception venue: Farmington GardensFlooring: Bombshell GraphicsLighting: Frost ProductionsCeremony catering: Marcia Selden CateringGelato and prosecco: Dolce and Gelato CateringCake: Vincenzo Salvatore CakesViolinist: Caroline Campbell"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Robin Roberts and Amber Laign’s ethereal, eco-conscious celebrity wedding","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/robin-roberts-and-amber-laigns-ethereal-eco-conscious-celebrity-wedding\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]