Symone Sanders and Shawn Townsend’s Surprise Wedding

MSNBC host Symone Sanders and former D.C. “Night Mayor” Shawn Townsend tied the knot in a surprise wedding with 100 guests who didn’t even know they were attending a nuptial ceremony. According to People, the two kept the wedding a secret, with only a handful of guests knowing about it, right up until the ceremony. Last April, Sanders teased their upcoming wedding. “A year ago today I said ‘yes’ and in a few months we will say ‘I do.’ Love you Mr. Townsend,” she wrote on an Instagram post. She also previously announced that she and Townsend were planning a destination wedding in Mexico for this year’s summer. It seems that the plans have changed or the announcement was just a ruse to keep the details of their surprise wedding confidential. The wedding came after a year-long engagement when Townsend knelt and asked Sanders’ to marry him.

Amid the Victorian-inspired, gilded-age glamour of the Larz Anderson House and in front of roughly 100 family and friends, the two exchanged vows. “It’s the moments behind closed doors that we’ve shared,” Townsend said, as reported by People. “Whether it’s me complaining about ‘Real Housewives,’ a political debate or photobombing my Zoom calls. It is all time well spent together.” Sanders, meanwhile, vowed during their suprise wedding to remain by Townsend’s side. “To put it, simply you’re the best man I know,” she said. “I’m very grateful just for everything that you are. You have always just been the most thorough person. You are so kind. You are so loving.”

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