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Dyson & Shermanski BY TA R A T H U R M A N PH OTO G R A P H Y BY JULIA S H ERM AN, J ULI ALI LLI A N .CO M
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hapel Hill native Emily Shermanski and Ellis Dyson of Cary first crossed paths during the summer of 2013 working for the Appalachia Service Project. Both attended UNC, where Emily often saw Ellis fronting his band, Ellis Dyson & the Shambles. After graduation, they finally had their first date in December 2017, and the rest is history. Ellis proposed during a surprise, intimate moment along the Mississippi River, reminiscent of a cherished walk they took when they first moved to New Orleans a few years earlier. Emily and Ellis tied the knot on Oct. 7, 2023, at Old Lystra Inn, blending their love for the state with the vibrant spirit of New Orleans. Emily’s dream of a North Carolina State Fair-themed wedding came to life as the
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bridesmaids carried cotton candy bouquets, and a New Orleans jazz band set the pre-ceremony tone. Chris Frank, the leader of the band the couple saw on their first date, Yeaux Katz, served as the officiant. Emily’s favorite moment was sharing their personal vows. Despite her nerves, she looked into Ellis’s eyes and promised to love him forever. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed fair games and “Dyson County Fair” prizes before finding their seats via a “fairgrounds map.” The night continued with more jazz music, a colorful candy cart and a s’more station around a fire pit. Ellis cherished their first dance as they sang “Two Sleepy People” by Fats Waller softly to each other. The couple resides in New Orleans, where Emily works as an ICU nurse and is pursuing her doctorate in anesthesia, while Ellis is a full-time jazz musician. CHM