Cardi B marries two women during a same-sex wedding alongside Raven-Symoné
Cardi B is all about the “WAP” — Weddings and Pride. And the Grammy-winning rhymer proved as much while serving as the officiant of a “pop-up” lesbian wedding on the latest installment of her Facebook Messenger series “Cardi Tries.”
“By the power vested in me by the State of California and my online course I now pronounce you wife and wife,” exclaimed a then-pregnant Cardi, 29, as brides Brandi Taylor and Shannon Herbert sealed their vows with a kiss. The couple has been together since 2018.
Their wedding special was filmed in July, just weeks before the “Bodak Yellow” boomer, nèe Belcalis Almanzar, gave birth to her and husband Offset’s second child together, a son, on Sept. 4.
But the episode’s digital premiere coincided with LGBTQ+ awareness holiday National Coming Out Day — a celebration of folks proudly unveiling their sexual orientations and preferences — which is observed on Oct. 11.
Actress Raven Symonè, 35, who co-hosted the fabulous fete with Cardi, served as Taylor and Herbert’s ring bearer and explained the significance of the holiday.
“It’s National Coming Out Day which we all know is a layered journey for many people in the LGBTQ+ community,” said Symonè, who married wife Miranda Maday, 32, last June.
“Being a part of a same-sex marriage is important so that people see that there’s differences [from heterosexual unions], obviously, but there are also similarities,” Symonè continued.
The “That’s So Raven” star and Cardi assisted Taylor, a mom and dance instructor in Los Angeles, in secretly arranging the ceremony as a surprise for Herbert, a lyrical-content creator from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Taylor invited Herbert to the lush gardens of their outdoor wedding venue in California under the guise that they’d be hosting their engagement party on the grounds. She then asked Herbert, the first woman she’s ever dated, to marry her that day. Herbert said “yes,” and was immediately whisked off to get glammed up before exchanging “I Do’s.”
Cardi and Symonè then took Taylor to pick out their wedding reception decor and her bridal gown.
But participating in the big day preparations caused the “I Like It” singer to well up over her less-than lavish nuptials with Offset, 29, real name Kiari Cephus.
She privately married the “Bad and Boujee” rapper in her bedroom in September 2017.
“I want to get married again,” whined Cardi as she and Symonè chose soft-yellow finery for Taylor and Herbert’s festivities. “But it’s not about me,” she laughed.
The “Up” performer — who said her mother was “really freakin’ pissed off” that she wasn’t invited to her and Offset’s intimate nuptials — later uplifted Taylor when the bride-to-be became emotional while wedding dress shopping.
“My mom is not here either today,” Taylor said tearfully. “She does not agree with the lifestyle … but did send me a message just wishing me well.”
Taylor explained that she and her mother have come to a “respectable” understanding about her sexuality, and that she doesn’t “have any ill feelings about her not being here.”
Cardi, whose sister Hennessy Carolina, 25, is in a same-sex relationship with girlfriend Michelle Diaz, comforted Taylor with a word of encouragement.
Cardi and Symone gave Taylor some kind words of encouragement during her emotional dress shopping trip. 6 Cardi and Symone gave Taylor some kind words of encouragement during her emotional dress shopping trip. Facebook
“My mom really had a tough time [with my sister and her girlfriend] in the beginning,” the “Press” songstress said.
“But who knows, maybe one day you can introduce your wife to your mother and let them spend time,” she continued. “Because trust me, when I tell you that mom — I think loves my sister’s girlfriend more than she loves us. It’s become such a friendship and it’s so smooth.”
Symonè, however, weighed in with the harsh reality that some parents “don’t come around” to approving their child’s lifestyle. But she advised Taylor to “lean on” Herbert’s supportive mom, Cecilia, for love and acceptance.
After the women agreed on Taylor’s dress, she and Herbert greeted one another in their gowns before walking down the aisle, side by side.
Herbert (left) had no clue Taylor was surprising her with a wedding officiated by Cardi B. 6 Herbert (right) had no clue Taylor was surprising her with a wedding officiated by Cardi B. Facebook
Once at the altar, Cardi — who, ahead of the ceremony, flashed her officiant card to prove the legitimacy of her ordination — surprised Herbert and the unsuspecting wedding guests by taking the microphone and announcing: “You guys are probably wondering why I’m here — I’m gonna get these two beautiful ladies married.”
The stunned crowd burst into applause as Cardi continued, “[It’s] not only a special day for you guys, it’s a special day for me and I want to thank you guys for making me a part of your beautiful journey.”
The “Rumors” rapper then invited Herbert and Taylor to exchange their vows.
“Shannon,” Taylor began, “I take you to be my wife, my partner and my teammate in life and in love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did before.”
She went on to promise to always “respect” her bride, “through good times and bad regardless of the obstacles we may face together.”
Cardi thanked Herbert and Taylor for allowing her to take part in their special day. 6 Cardi thanked Herbert and Taylor for allowing her to take part in their special day. Facebook
A surprised Herbert, who hadn’t prepared any written vows, said: “Brandi the love that I have for you I cannot put into words.”
“I used to tell my dad: ‘I love you this much!’ ” Herbert continued, outstretching her arms from side to side. “If I could stretch my arms even farther this would be for you. I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anybody else but you,” she added.
Herbert closed her off-the-cuff, albeit touching promise with, “I love us together, I love our growth, I love where we’re going and I can’t wait to do this with you baby.”
Cardi then introduced Symonè as a “special friend of mine that I admire so much and been a part of this process.” The actress hit the stage with the rings to a round of applause.
After the brides said “I Do” and Cardi gave them their queue to kiss, the giddy couple sauntered back down the aisle as wife and wife while their loved ones clapped and cheered.
After saying “I Do” Herbert and Taylor were greeted by their cheering wedding guests. 6 After saying “I Do” Herbert and Taylor were greeted by their cheering wedding guests. Facebook
The special day concluded with the “Ring” rapper catching the bride’s bouquet and telling Symonè that the experience has inspired her to have a “wedding-wedding.”
Symonè gladly offered to officiate Cardi’s vow renewals should she and Offset actually arrange the event.
“After doing this today I feel like I really have to have that sit-down with my husband,” Cardi said, noting that they’ve toyed around with the idea of publicly tying the knot, but have been “too busy” to do it.
“But I want this feeling,” said Cardi. “I want my freakin’ wedding! You hear that [Offset]. Give it to me right now.”
On Friday, Herbert took to Facebook openly announcing her and Taylor’s espousal.
“Being able to say you got married by Cardi B and Raven-Symonè was the ring bearer is too good to be true,” she captioned a clip from their ceremony. “Been holding this in for a while y’all, it’s official we are MARRIED.”