Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesPrince's ex-wives Manuela Testolini and Mayte Garcia gave close friends an opportunity to honor the legendary singer at a private memorial held Wednesday.
Celebrity guests, who began arriving around 6:30 pm PT, included Spike Lee, Eric Benet, Gwen Stefani, The Revolution, Tavis Smiley, Herbie Hancock, Dita Von Teese and other musicians, artists and band members, E! News has learned. The men wore black suits with a single white rose pinned to their jackets while many other guests dressed in black and purple, a source tells E! News. About 80-90 people eventually arrived at The Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater, where Lee and Prince's ex-wives gave heartfelt speeches.
"Seeing his two ex-wives on stage was a really moving moment," the source tells E! News.
Monae and Esperanza Spalding performed throughout the evening, as well as members of The Revolution. Each musician performed Prince's songs to pay tribute to him. The source also tells us that several "moving and telling" video presentations played during the ceremony, including when Prince won an Oscar for "Purple Rain."
"It was all about the life and times of Prince," a source added.
It wasn't a somber affair; in fact, attendees celebrated Prince's life in a happy way. "I don't want to say funeral, but it felt like what you would expect what the funeral would have been like; that's what it felt like to me," one attendee told E! News.
"It was very beautiful," another added. Prince would've appreciated it."
Stefani also told E! News, "It was amazing. I love Prince."
Cat Glover, a choreographer and singer who worked with Prince, opened up to E! News exclusively about the "emotional" event. "Tonight is so beautiful to see all these great celebrities and speakers and professors and musicians come together. And they're so humble," she shared. "And what they did tonight was amazing. As a matter of fact that's why I'm out here cause I was crying. It's just too emotional. Everything was so beautiful."
Glover also said people inside the event experienced a whirlwind of emotions. "Happy, heavenly, beautiful, somber. It is a celebration," she explained. "Although people may cry, we cry and we laugh but, yeah. It's a celebration."
The serviced ended around 10:30 pm PT, when guests were spotted saying their goodbyes and hugging. Each guest left the service with a program full of Prince and his closest friends.
"He would laugh, knowing his personality. He would laugh because he had a great personality," Glover said when asked how Prince would feel about the memorial service. "He would just giggle. He'd love it."