Antoine Semenyo Marries Jordeen Buckley, and the Question Every Diaspora Couple Faces

Congratulations to Antoine Semenyo and Jordeen Buckley.

The Manchester City and Black Stars forward married his longtime partner on Thursday, 8 October 2026, during the October international break. The couple shared the news on Instagram with a carousel of photos from the day, captioned "Mr. & Mrs. Semenyo".

What we know

The date: Thursday, 8 October 2026. An international break is about the only gap a Premier League player gets.
The relationship: together since 2020, when Semenyo was playing for Bristol City. They got engaged in November 2025.
The day itself: reported as a simple ceremony with family and loved ones. The couple haven't shared the venue, the vendors or the details, and we won't guess at them.

Jordeen Buckley is a nail technician and entrepreneur who runs JRosé NailBar, a beauty business in London. She has been a visible presence through Semenyo's rise, from the PFA awards to Ghana's World Cup campaign.

A familiar story for a lot of our couples

Semenyo was born in London, came through English football and chose to represent Ghana. That combination of a life built abroad and family roots in Ghana describes many of the couples who plan their weddings with us.

It also raises a question they all have to answer: one wedding, or two? And if two, where does each one happen?

Whether the Semenyos have plans for a ceremony in Ghana is theirs to share. But for most couples in the same position, the answer comes down to a few practical choices.

The common patterns

Wedding abroad, traditional ceremony in Ghana. The legal or white wedding happens where the couple lives, and the traditional ceremony follows in Ghana, often timed for December when family is home. This keeps the paperwork simple and gives the traditional ceremony the room and the elders it needs.

Both in Ghana, close together. Traditional ceremony and white wedding on consecutive days, or within the same week. Guests fly once. The trade-off is a demanding schedule and two sets of attire, decor and catering in a short window.

Traditional ceremony first, white wedding later. Common when families want the marriage recognised before the couple can plan a larger celebration. The traditional ceremony is the one that establishes the marriage in the eyes of both families.

One small ceremony and a celebration later. A simple wedding now, a bigger party or a homecoming event in Ghana when timing and budget allow.

None of these is the right answer. The best one is the one your families agree on and your guests can actually attend.

Questions to settle before you choose

Which ceremony matters most to each family, and is anyone expecting both?
Who must be present, and which of them can travel?
Where will the marriage be legally registered, and does that affect visas or name changes where you live?
Are you planning around a fixed window, such as a work calendar, a school term or, in Semenyo's case, a fixture list?
Can the traditional ceremony be represented in Ghana by someone you trust if you can't be there for every conversation?

Our traditional wedding guide explains the knocking, the list and the engagement ceremony, and what each one needs from you. If you're organising from the UK, the US or elsewhere, the diaspora planning guide covers what to book first and what can be settled remotely.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to do a traditional ceremony if we've already married abroad? Not legally, but many families see the traditional ceremony as the marriage itself. That is a family conversation, and it's better had early than assumed.

Is a Ghanaian customary marriage recognised abroad? Customary marriage is recognised in Ghana, but registration is a separate step, and recognition elsewhere depends on the country. Check what applies before relying on it for visas or name changes.

When is the best time to hold a traditional ceremony in Ghana if we live abroad? December is the most popular, because the diaspora comes home. It is also the most expensive month and books out earliest. Our December weddings guide covers what that means in practice.

Can we plan a ceremony in Ghana without being there? Most of the vendor side, yes. The family side needs you, or someone who can represent you properly, in the room.

Planning your own ceremony in Ghana? Browse verified vendors on Bride Ghana →. Every vendor is reviewed and approved before their listing goes live.