REAL WEDDING:: Amber McClain + John Sellars {From Dubai to “I Do”}

December 3, 2025
Ashley Revels
Featured Couples

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Bride and groom smiling under a lush floral arch at their New Orleans courtyard wedding, with the bride in a long lace veil and the groom in a rust-colored suit holding a tropical bouquet.

::AS SEEN IN THE FALL 2025 DIGITAL ISSUE OF NOW WEDDINGS MAGAZINE::

Photography by: Josh Williams Photography

amber + john’s story

For Amber McClinton and John Sellars, love has spanned continents and adventures, from a first coffee date at Costa Coffee in Dubai to a romantic rooftop proposal in Lisbon. The pair met while teaching in the UAE, thanks to mutual friends who decided to play matchmaker.

A smiling bride stands by a window in a modern hotel room, wearing a sleek white wedding gown with a deep V-neckline, jeweled belt, and lace-trimmed veil. Her hair is styled in an elegant updo, and she looks out toward the light with soft, natural makeup and sparkling earrings.

A bride and groom stand smiling with their wedding party in an outdoor courtyard with exposed brick walls and greenery. The bride wears a fitted white gown with a long lace train, while the groom wears a rust-colored suit. Bridesmaids in light blue dresses and groomsmen in light beige suits form two lines on each side, holding vibrant tropical bouquets under a floral arch.

Bride in a sleek white wedding gown with a long lace train stands with her bridesmaids and wedding party in light blue dresses and a blue suit, each holding tropical bouquets, posing together on a brick walkway in New Orleans.

Groom wearing a rust-colored suit laughs with his groomsmen dressed in light beige suits, posing together beneath a lush floral arch in a charming brick courtyard during a New Orleans wedding.

Bride smiling in a sleek white wedding gown with a deep V-neckline, holding a vibrant tropical bouquet with red and orange flowers, standing outdoors beside greenery at a New Orleans wedding.

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Flat lay of tropical-themed wedding details on a woven rattan surface, including a wooden ring box with wedding bands, Louisiana postage stamps, Bird of Paradise flowers, and elegant green-and-white invitations for Amber and John’s New Orleans wedding and rehearsal dinner.

What began as a casual chat over coffee turned into a six-hour conversation that never really ended. John’s thoughtfulness, like finding American BBQ for Amber in Dubai, won her heart, and his Lisbon proposal, complete with a song he wrote himself, sealed it.

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Close-up of a vibrant wedding ceremony floral arch featuring tropical greenery, pink and orange flowers, and birds-of-paradise against a brick courtyard backdrop.

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Custom laser-cut wedding fan with Amber and John’s names and July 11, 2025 date displayed on a wooden table as a ceremony favor.

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Bride and groom share a joyful laugh during their outdoor wedding ceremony under a lush floral arch at the Pharmacy Museum in New Orleans.

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Groom dips and kisses the bride as guests cheer during their vibrant New Orleans courtyard wedding ceremony with tropical florals and string lights overhead.

The couple, who first fell in love in New Orleans during their early travels together, returned to the Crescent City to marry, complete with a joyful second line through the streets. For two teachers who met abroad, it was the perfect full-circle moment.

a vintage streetlamp with a hanging sign reading “New Orleans – The Sellars,” captured under exposed wooden beams at a New Orleans wedding venue.

Close-up of wedding florals and a custom white handkerchief printed with “Amber and John, July 11, 2025” and a fleur-de-lis, alongside a white feathered parade umbrella handle.

Bride and groom dancing joyfully in a New Orleans second line parade, holding feathered umbrellas and smiling as a brass band celebrates behind them in the French Quarter.

Elegant tropical wedding centerpiece with lilies, protea, marigolds, and greenery surrounded by glowing candles on a reception table with peach napkins at a New Orleans wedding celebration.

Bride and groom smiling while cutting their white tiered wedding cake at their New Orleans reception, surrounded by candlelight and exposed brick décor.

Bride and groom share their first dance at their New Orleans wedding reception, smiling as he twirls her on the wooden dance floor in a brick industrial-style venue.

Groom smiles while singing and playing keyboard during the wedding reception, wearing a rust-colored vest and orange tie, with a brick wall and bandmate in the background.

Bride in a white strapless reception dress smiles while leaning against an exposed brick wall at her New Orleans wedding, with candlelit décor and guests blurred in the background.

Bride and groom smile together while posing at a photo booth during their New Orleans wedding reception, standing beneath a custom “The Sellars” street-style sign against a rustic brick wall.

Bride and groom make a joyful wedding exit through a cheering tunnel of guests waving ribbon wands at their New Orleans reception, with the bride in a sparkling reception outfit and groom in a rust-colored suit.