A Malibu Union Twelve Years in the Making
Screenwriter Michael Elliot, the creative force behind Brown Sugar and Just Wright, married Adia May on June 26 at Cielo Farms in Malibu, California. The ceremony marked the conclusion of a 12-year journey that navigated a past romance, a breakup, and a surprise reunion. Pastor Touré Roberts officiated the vows, while the evening featured performances by Stevie Wonder and Common.
Orchestrating the Vineyard Celebration
Tricia Smith Brown of The TSB Group produced the vineyard nuptials. The event leaned on a circle of notable collaborators: Ron G served as host, J. Ivy delivered a poem, and DJ Tendaji provided the soundscape. Adia May walked the aisle in a gown by Sergio Hudson, with hair styling by Angela Stevens and makeup by Starlynn Burden. Michael Elliot’s attire was curated by Marci Rodgers. Following the festivities, the couple departed for a honeymoon in Turks and Caicos.
From a Business Email to a Leap of Faith
The path to the altar was anything but linear. After their initial breakup, the pair remained apart for years until a business-related email from May sparked a lunch meeting in early November. Elliot moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter—a decision he characterizes as a leap of faith. The move caught May off guard; she noted that she generally does not revisit past relationships. Their engagement followed, setting the stage for their June wedding.
Personal Growth and Public Recognition
Elliot credits the endurance of the relationship to timing and faith. He spent his 50s focused on personal reconciliation, including mending his relationship with his mother and processing his upbringing. That internal work, he says, shifted his perspective on intimacy and eventually guided him back to May.
“If somebody had said, ‘Oh, you know what? In two years, you guys are going to get married,’ I would have been like, ‘You’re out of your mind,'” May told EBONY.
Stepping Into the Spotlight
Their story reached a wider audience on February 28, when the couple walked the red carpet at the 57th NAACP Image Awards. A video of the pair discussing their engagement went viral, signaling a change for Elliot. Known previously for his guarded nature, the writer opted to step out of his private life and share the news of their union with the public.