The Swirl : 1, Brothas: 0 Bob Johnson’s Daughter Marries White Man In Bahamas There’s one less heiress on the market: Paige Johnson got married Saturday. Via Washington Post reports: The gorgeous daughter of BET founders Bob and Sheila Johnson wed Dudley Payne III in a sunset ceremony at the Ocean Club in the Bahamas. The bride and groom picked the site because they’re fans of the James Bond movie “Casino Royale,” which was set at the famed luxury resort. More than 200 guests attended the lavish four-day celebration, which kicked off with a rehearsal dinner Thursday. A beach party on Friday got hit with some rain, but we’re told there was perfect weather for the ceremony and reception Saturday, where Grammy-winning R&B star Ne-Yo sang Elton John’s “Your Song” for the couple’s first dance. There was also entertainment by in-demand DJ Cassidy — who has spun discs at the White House as well as at Jay-Z’s house — and a Motown band. Guests trickled out after a farewell brunch Sunday. This is the first marriage for Johnson, a champion equestrian based in Middleburg, as well as for Payne, an insurance broker from Warrenton. The two were introduced by a mutual friend seven years ago and have been dating ever since. “This guy is the perfect guy for Paige,” Bob Johnson told us last week. “He’s a true gentleman.” Before proposing last year, Payne took the old-fashioned step of inviting the multi-millionaire to Café Milano to ask for his only daughter’s hand in marriage. Their courtship and engagement stayed under the radar because the two have been so busy with other pursuits. Johnson, 27, who walked the aisle in a Monique Lhullier gown, has been a competitive equestrian rider since she was 5, training in Virginia and Florida, and traveling to competitions around the world. She was included in a 2012 Town & Country cover story on heiresses of the horse world, alongside fellow riders Jessica Springsteen and Georgina Bloomberg. Payne, 30, has an insurance brokage business but his real passion is golf; he competes at serious amateur tournaments almost every weekend. “They’re both intensively competitive in their chosen fields,” said her dad. Matt Blum Continue reading →
