Exclusive: Derek Fisher and Gloria Govan Made Their Two Families One at Their Beautiful Malibu Wedding

For Gloria Govan, co-founder of Inclusive Wellness, and Derek Fisher, the former NBA player and current coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, family has always been a part of their love story. In fact, they were introduced over drinks by Gloria's brother in NYC the spring of 2016. "Derek asked my brother permission to have my number the next morning and we began to text each other for months," shares Gloria. "Once Derek returned back to L.A., we ended up hanging out over the summer. The rest is history."

Two years later, Derek popped the question at home with their children present. "He planned a day out of pampering with my girls, and later proposed in our backyard at our house that same evening," reminisces Gloria. "The kids met me at the door and walked me through a candle-lit pathway to the backyard where Derek was standing while waiting for my arrival. He knew how special it was to me to have our kids involved."

While the Covid-19 pandemic got in the way of the couple's original plans to marry, their amazing team of vendors was able to help them plan a stunning wedding in less than eight weeks on July 17, 2021 at Cielo Farms in Malibu. "Thankfully, a lot of vendors and details remained the same from the previous date," explains Gloria. "I think it made it so much easier to get it done so quickly. Overall, the wedding planners and florist made it very easy, and handled a lot of last-minute drama."

The new venue was the perfect fit for the couple. "My vision for the wedding was a barnyard intimate feeling. I wanted to make sure I kept it elegant and sophisticated without it becoming too stuffy," explains the bride. "[Cielo has] the perfect amount of privacy without feeling claustrophobic. I loved how green and lush the property is, and the barn just adds a special touch. Cielo helped provide that twilight feeling and the Malibu mountains at sunset were the perfect way to spend the evening."

Ahead, get a peek into Gloria and Derek's beautiful family-focused wedding, planned by Kelly Patrice and photographed by Jenny Quicksall.

The basketball star look dashing in a custom blue suit by Octavius Terry for his wedding day. While Gloria described the groom's style as "simplistic," he stayed sharp with an orchid boutonniere and prepping for the day with "a good old fashioned hot towel and shave by Derek at Mr. Scissors."

The groomsmen stayed in step with Derek by also sporting custom navy suits from the same designer.

Gloria chose a stunning lace gown designed by Monique Lhuillier to walk down the aisle. However, finding the perfect dress took a little work for the bride. "I had tried on several dresses, none of them really spoke to me," she recounts. "I had given up and let the bridesmaid take over in trying dresses on. As I was helping look for options, I noticed the lace on this dress. It just stood out to me. So, I tried it on without expectations and the sample size fit me like a glove. I kept it on the whole time the bridesmaid finished trying on dresses. And finally I was like, ‘I think this is the ONE!’"

Her accessories helped Gloria honor the tradition of something old, new, borrowed, and blue. In addition to beautiful diamond and pearl drop earrings, "my bridesmaids, mother-in-law, and mom gifted me the rest of my jewelry the day of my wedding," the bride shares. "I wore my grandmother's watch that is over 80 years old. My diamond cross necklace was gifted to me as my 'something new,' and lastly, my 'something blue' anklet."

For her beauty look, Gloria had her hair swept off her face for the ceremony with a lovely hairpiece and kept her makeup minimal. "I knew I was going to be crying on my wedding day so I wanted to make sure we did something very soft and neutral," she explains. "A look that would last through the night, [and] didn’t require a lot of touch-ups."

Gloria let each of her bridesmaids pick out a burgundy dress from the Dessy Collection that fit their own style. To finish off their looks, the bride carried a bouquet full of orchids, while the bridal party touted petite arrangements of roses.

Before the ceremony, the couple decided to do a first look and spend time together before they said "I do."

The couple noted that their kids were a very special part of their wedding. "That day was more about our families and kids then it was us," shares Gloria. "They were so thrilled to finally be able to ‘officially call themselves family and brothers and sisters.’ We were just elated to see them all so happy."

The bride credits her florist and good friend Toby Kassoy from Lilla Bello for helping bring together the aesthetic of the wedding. "She took what I had in my head and brought it to life without overstepping or imposing," says Gloria.

Florals lined the aisle leading up to a stunning arch in a triangle shape symbolizing the couple and their kids coming together.

It truly was a family affair at the ceremony. A beautiful pathway of greenery lead the groom and wedding party to the altar.

Gloria's father walked her down the aisle as J. Black sang Anthony Hamilton’s “The Point Of It All."

The couple, who wrote their own vows, also wrote vows to their children. Gloria adds, "All of our kids and nieces and nephews serenaded us with an improv to the Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak “Leave the Door Open” song, which stole the show!"

While Gloria notes there was stress bringing the day together, she emphasizes the importances of enjoying everything and celebrating the day. "Do not let the little details get to you. Honestly, no one will remember if the napkins were embroidered," she shares. "Try to be in the moment as much as possible."

After the ceremony, the couple took a moment together before entering the reception. "Make sure you and your partner take some time to find one another throughout the wedding; just to check in," shares Gloria. "You're going to miss moments and that's okay. Just make sure you're creating your own."

Gloria notes that Toby of Lilla Bello really helped her reception shine. "From our first conversation, she knew what I wanted and she brought it to life. She brought in these amazing black-washed farm tables and chandeliers, and made them so elegant with matted pale pink place settings," notes the bride. "I owe the credit to her. I’m still not sure how they did it, but she just got me."

While everyone had a blast on the dance floor that night after doing their first dance to “For Real" by Amel Larrieux, the couple notes it felt like a continuation of their celebration from the night before. "At the rehearsal dinner, more people than we anticipated joined us at Nobu. And, it made a world of difference," says Gloria. "We danced, laughed, and drank until we got kicked out. It certainly set up the wedding to be an amazing sequel to the precious night."

For dinner, the couple served guests filet mignon, seabass, and pumpkin ravioli, along with three signature cocktails: the "G," the "D," and the "Us."

Later in the night, Gloria shimmied into a beautiful silk gown by Grace Loves Lace to cut a beautiful naked cake topped with fresh florals and, of course, dance the night away.

"We spent the last hour of the wedding in the photo booth from Mir Mir. The amount of pictures and silliness that was captured just overtook us with joy," shares Gloria. "We had such a good time dancing, laughing, and good crying that any time I think back at those moments and picture the smiles on peoples faces, I'm in awe of how many people genuinely support us and want to see us happy."