Christa Looney and Brent Rice’s meeting was the result of the merging of their churches. There was no way of knowing that this simple church merger would lead to the merging of two hearts as one, the beginning of an undying love. As they plan their upcoming May wedding, the couple has something very special to look forward to,

“That would be kissing my fiancee’ for the first time ever. We have never kissed and we made a vow to the Lord to stay pure before marriage. Spending the rest of my life with my best friend.”

Their beautiful engagement session was photographed by Alea Lovely.

How He Proposed ….. “We dated for about a year and a month before he proposed to me. On July 22nd, 2012, I went to church as if it was a regular Sunday. Brent told me he was attending his father’s church for a men’s conference. At the end of the church service, the pastor set a chair down in front of the church and asked me to come down and sit. My thoughts were that they were going to pray for me. However, 4 guys came out with roses and stood in front of me. They all began reading, one by one, the first time Brent met me and how he felt about me. They were all reading letters Brent wrote to me which were so sweet. After each guy read, they handed me each a rose. Then, a video was played called “Crucifixion Type Love” which is a poem Brent wrote for me. (It’s also on YouTube.) After that, Brent came out and told me how much he loved me and couldn’t live without me. He described our testimony and got down on one knee and proposed. I, of course, said Yes.”

The Wedding Planning Process ….. “We only have 9 months all together to plan a wedding.The joy and excitement to plan a wedding is great and challenging all at the same time. One of the challenges we’ve run into is finding a venue in our budget. We weren’t able to find a nice venue that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. So, we decided to have the ceremony and reception all in one place. My taste in everything is all over the place. I love bright colors and I love elegance. I would call my theme a royal whimsical wedding. My inspiration comes from feeling like a princess on our special day and loving bright, vibrant colors.

We plan to take our first communion together representing that we are both going before Christ. We are also lighting the unity candle to represent that we are joined together as one.”

{You Make Loving You So Easy}

He loves ….. “I love her heart; she has the biggest heart in the world. I love that she is so forgiving and loving. She is what I call a Proverbs 31 woman. I love her passion for helping children. I love how she can relate to people; her spirit, her laugh and smile. I love her desire to grow in the Lord. I love her beauty: she is the most beautiful woman in the world, inside and out. I love how she is always supporting me in anything I do. I love her sense of humor and her optimism towards life. I’ll never have enough time to write everything.”

She loves ….. “I love this man so much; he is my best friend, my everything. I love that he always makes me smile. I love his love for the Lord and his willingness to help me and others no matter what it shall be. I love his heart for children and helping children in the community. I love that he will do anything for me without question. I love that he makes me feel safe and protects me. I never met anyone so sweet-hearted. He is my motivation and inspiration to work harder, the sweetest man I have ever met.”

The post Christa + Brent: {Engaged} in Missouri appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Jeronica Lawrence and Keith Mensah will be married in September!! Their road to “I Do” began years and years ago in high school, where they had a mutual attraction that, somehow, never led to anything solid. However, a chance meeting at their hometown Blockbuster during their college years would lead to a reconnection, a rekindling, and a real love story. Keith proposed to Jeronica in a special way: by taking her on a romantic carriage ride around Philadelphia the night and to her favorite seafood before the big proposal. Upon awakening the next day, Jeronica found herself wearing an engagement ring. :)

The couple’s e-session was photographed by Bernard & Tiffany Hamilton of Your Endless Memories Photography. Isn’t the lighting just perfect?

The post Jeronica + Keith: {Engaged} in Philadelphia appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Music is what drew Danielle Harris to Julian Wright: hearing her favorite gospel artist’s CD playing in his car made her want to know who this guy was. Their friendship took off immediately and, in a matter of months, they were an item! Julian asked Danielle to marry her in his apartment after dinner. According to Danielle,

“When I opened the door, the lights were dim and our favorite song was playing. On the floor was a romantic setting with flowers, candles, wine, and a picture of us. He ushered me to take a seat. We opened the wine and toasted to my success with my summer training. When I got up to turn the fan off, I turned around to find him on one knee with a ring in his hand! When he asked me to marry him, I was too emotional to say, “Yes”. He placed the ring on my finger and smiled from ear to ear. The sweetest part of the entire proposal was the reason he took a drive after dinner: Julian knows that I despise odd numbers; so, he waited until midnight to go home so that he would be proposing on the 30th!”

Their Atlantis, Bahamas e-session was photographed by Lyndah Wells Photography during their Caribbean vacation. These gorgeous images bring one word to mind, “serenity.”

 {You Make Loving You So Easy}

He loves…

“My sense of humor. In moments when our friends laugh at my goofiness and peculiar ways he smiles and responds, “that’s why I love her.”

She loves…

“I love Julian’s ambition. He is always working on ways to develop spiritually and mentally, both as an individual and as a couple. He reminds me so much of my father in this way because they are both driven to be the best and do the best for their families in spite of all obstacles.”

The post Danielle + Julian: {Engaged} in the Bahamas appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

This couple has the most interesting meeting story: Brittany McAlpin met Bobby Sharp when she went into the phone store to pick out a new cell phone. Bobby just happened to be the salesman who assisted her – and who made sure to give her his business card, as well. After two phone calls to Bobby for help with her cell phone about a month after their acquaintance, Bobby was “sharp” enough to ask Brittany out on a special date. :) Bobby proposed to Brittany by surprising her with a proposal over dinner with family. She was doubly surprised because she thought the dinner out had been her idea. Gotta love surprises!

Their Birmingham airport-themed e-session was shot by Milanes Photography.

On Inspiration for the Session ….. “Long before I met Bobby, I had envisioned doing a vintage themed airport shoot. Well, it just so happens that Bobby is an air traffic controller; so, doing our formal photo shoot at the airport was a nice way to tie in Bobby’s career with our engagement pictures. I searched for months for the right outfit and color scheme for this shoot, as I’ve seen airport photo shoots done before and wanted ours to really stand out. I put together a vision board and began locating vendors that I could order from. I found my dress from a vintage clothing vendor on Etsy. Other touches to the shoot that I put together were our accessories, and vintage luggage that I rented through a local vendor. While the airport session was my niche, Bobby handled the carnival-themed part of the shoot. We went to rival colleges, and this casual shoot allowed us to express our school pride, in a very fun environment. He found school shirts that we could wear that would match our tennis shoes that he had bought for the shoot. The grey, orange, and white colors blended in so well with the carnival lights and really showcased just how much fun being in love is!”

{You Make Loving You So Easy}

He loves ….. “Her big, bright eyes drew me in. I love them and her smile. Her ambition for success is probably the non-tangible quality I love most.”

She loves ….. “His honesty – Bobby is the first man that I’ve ever dated that has been so consistent with his honesty. I’ve learned to trust him a way that I never thought was possible because of his sincerity and honesty.”

The post Vintage Airport Themed Engagement Session in Alabama – Photos by Milanes Photography appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Crystal Malachi and Charles Hatcher were introduced by Crystal’s co-worker, who thought that they could be great together. When  Crystal met Charles, she was taken in by his personality and beautiful green eyes – and so was he. :) Charles proposed to Crystal during a Mother’s Day cookout. Here’s how it all happened:

“Charles planned a Mother’s Day weekend cookout to honor his deceased grandmother and mother whose birthdays both fell during that week. We decided to get as many family member’s as possible from both sides since it would be the first time everyone was together. We had already been ring shopping but I had not seen the final. [That day,] he gathered everyone together, started to speak and immediately began to cry. Of course, I thought it was because of his mom’s recent passing. He never could say anything except “I had a speech but….” Then he took the ring out of his pocket. Nothing needed to be said after that! There were nothing but tears, hugs and congratulations all around! It was a beautiful moment that I am so grateful both of our families could share.”

The couple’s “modern and stylish” e-session took place in Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel, and was shot by Traci Arney Photography.

{You Make Loving You So Easy}

He loves ….. “I think the main thing he loves is that I have his back no matter what. He knows that I will be there for the good and the bad. He calls me his “ride-or-die chick”.”

She loves ….. “I love that he is so strong but still has a big heart. It’s a great combination to find.”

The post Crystal + Charles: {Engaged} in North Carolina – Photos by Traci Arney Photography appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Adwoa Sakyi and Samuel Lamptey connected with each other in church – several years after making each other’s acquaintance there. Samuel proposed to the love of his life on a very special day in his life: his 25th birthday. In league with Adwoa’s best friend and older sister, Samuel made sure that Adwoa was convinced to plan a dinner party for his birthday. Thinking that she had pulled off the surprise without a hitch (especially when Samuel showed surprise), she soon realized that the real surprise would be hers: the usually shy Sam came forward to give a speech, got on one knee and proposed to his surprised girlfriend. :)

Their culturally rich Ghanaian engagement session was shot by Raheem of Rhphotoarts with Adwoa’s hair styled by Neicey’s Hair Studio. This session makes us fall in love with culture all over again. :)

On Cultural Inspiration….. “Our culture is very important to us and we wanted to reflect that in the best way possible. The cloth we are both draped in is called Kente and it originates from the Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana. It is truly cherished in Ghana and has been the cloth of royalty for countless years. My grandfather (rest his soul) was chief of a village in Ghana and partly the inspiration behind the decision to wear Kente for the shoot. The original form of Kente was handwoven but in recent years, some Kente cloth is machine-made; however, its value has remained. Presidents of other countries that visit Ghana, including Presidents Obama, Clinton, and Bush, are draped in Kente cloth upon their arrival. It signifies a royal welcome. Not only did we want to showcase our culture in a bright and beautiful way, but for me, this was a great way to honor and pay respects to my grandfather.”

{You Make Loving You So Easy}

He loves ….. “Sam says he loves my caring and forgiving nature. He loves that I have the ability to put others before myself without losing sight of who I am as a young woman.”

She loves ….. “Sam is a strong man of God and that, coupled with his heart, makes it easy to love him. A man that prays more for me than himself is amazing to be with. He is everything I never felt I deserved and such a breath of fresh air.”

The post Culturally Rich {Ghanaian} Engagement Session in Boston: Adwoa + Samuel appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Now, this is an engagement session you have to see! From the couple’s infusion of their Nigerian culture to the unique theme and the great work by stellar photographer, Keith Cephus. Emeka, visiting the U.S. from London, met Ogo and had an instant connection. Through the long distance, they were determined to keep their relationship alive, with the highlight of Emeka’s proposal to Ogo on her birthday.

Here’s what Ogo had to say about their e-session:

“I wanted our engagement session concept to reflect us: that despite our trials and tribulations with having a long distance relationship, [it led] to a successful and solid union. [That originated] the concept, “By air, by land, and by sea…our Love goes the distance.”  No matter where we physically are, our hearts are always with each other.  Our love has no sense of time, place, and distance.  I am grateful that Keith Cephus Photography allowed our vision to become a reality with his AMAZING work.  He was so excited when I discussed our concept with him and he contributed with his artistic talent and we are so very pleased with the end result.  Thank you so much Keith!!”

Take a look at this lovely video of the e-session by Doel “Delta” Fontimayor of Delta Studio Productions.

The post Ogo + Emeka: {Engaged} appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Poulen Grimsley and LaShondra Whitfield were work neighbors – working across the street from each other. A series of trials assured them that their relationship was solid and extremely important. LaShondra states,

“Although our courtship wasn’t a fairy tale romance, it was perfectly orchestrated events that led us to where we are today. I’m incredibly happy to be marrying the most kind-hearted, loving, generous, selfless man ever- plus, it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes! *wink* After 6 1/2 years, tons of growth individually and as a couple, we will be joined in marriage on August 10, 2013. I literally cannot wait. I get a bit emotional and overjoyed when I think about our future. We’ve come a long way. The engagement session was so much fun. We decided to do low key photos taken at our home. I wanted them to show us and our interaction as a couple.”

Photos by Nicka Smith of NS2 Photography and Preston Davis of Divine Order Photography.

The post LaShondra + Poulen: {Engaged} in California appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

The first time Rob and Shani met, they were students at Morehouse and Spelman.  To be exact, Rob says the first time he encountered Shani, “…her smile just straight blew me away.”  So sweet:)

The lovebirds will be tying the knot on June 1st in Maryland.  We’re sharing their love story with you with gorgeous images thanks to Natarsha N Wright Photography.  And by the way, have you checked out Natarsha’s new site? It’s pretty awesome.  Enjoy these photos then check out more of her work here.

Natarsha N. Wright Photography is a member of The Coterie, Munaluchi’s elite collection of preferred wedding vendors. To find out more information on The Coterie, click here.

The post DC Engagement Session of Shani and Rob by Natarsha N Wright Photography appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Happy Wedding Wednesday!  Today we’re announcing yet another amazing partnership.  Starting today, we are partnering with the lovely team over at BellaNaija Weddings to showcase the best of African and multicultural weddings.  BellaNaija is the #1 online destination for the latest African news, entertainment scoop, events, lifestyle tips and fashion, and their recently launched wedding vertical is growing rapidly.  We’re excited about what this partnership has to offer and look forward to working with BellaNaija Weddings to inspire brides worldwide.

The Engagement

The post Traditional Nigerian Engagement in Abuja: Anu + Zebedee appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

We love this sweet couple out of Alabama!

Kadarryl  Simmons had his eye on his love, Candace Brantley, long before she even knew it. It wasn’t until Candace tagged along with a mutual friend to his Super Bowl party that the two officially met for the first time. After lots of cheering and great conversation Kadarryl and Candace scored big in each other’s books that night. And four years later they’ve decided to team up for eternity. Kadarryl actually proposed to Candace on a very special day… Here’s how it happened…

“It was his graduation day from UAB getting his degree in Civil Engineering. He had a graduation party later, where he called his parents up and told them how appreciative he was. Mother’s Day was coming up, so he told his mom that he wanted to give her the best present ever, and what else would be better than receiving another daughter, hence his other three sisters. He then turned to me, got down on one knee, and to this day, I can’t remember what he said, I just shouted YES!!!! With tears of joy running down my face, his graduation party turned into a graduation/engagement party.” How sweet!

The couple’s e-session was photographed by Elle Danielle of Elle Danielle Photography.

{You Make Loving You So Easy}

“I would say he loves my eyes. The way they smile everytime I look at him makes him feel like he’s the only man for me. He sees how much I love him through my eyes and they reassure him that I’m his forever.”

 ”The one thing I love most about K is his caring spirit. The way he interacts with his family and knowing how much they mean to him is something that made me fall in love with him from the very beginning. It makes me excited to think about when it’s time for us to have our own family, how great of a father he will be.”

The post Alabama Engagement Session of Candace + Kadarryl by elle Danielle Photography appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

We all have our favorite love songs that put us in a romantic mood and remind us of the bond we share with our special partner.  However, when Bobby proposed to Tiffany, he took it to the next level.  Bobby wrote and recorded his own love song to express his devotion and desire to be with Tiffany for the rest of his life!  That type of proposal can only be complemented with an outstanding engagement shoot.  Bobby and Tiffany wanted their engagement pictures to exude sexiness, class and style. The chic Highland Cigar Bar in Atlanta, GA was the perfect setting, and their beautiful pictures were captured by Chelsea Patricia Photography.  Read as Tiffany describes how Bobby pulled off the prefect proposal.  We guarantee their love story will be music to your ears.

How they Met

Bobby and I met in Indianapolis, IN, of all places.  I say, ‘of all places,’ because we are both from the south and love everything about our Floridian and North Carolina roots. Bobby was working as a Business Analyst at Eli Lilly & Co. the summer that I interned there.  He recalls meeting me at a picnic in the city and thinking I was an annoying youngster, and I didn’t recall him at all.  As fate would have it, I returned to Indianapolis full time after finishing undergrad.  It was there that our courtship began as we developed a strong friendship.  It was our love of God, family, and our strong southern ties that founded our friendship and holds us strong today. 

The Proposal
Bobby proposed on a sunny summer day in Downtown Atlanta on the rooftop of The Glenn Hotel.  He’d convinced me to join him at a fashion show in the city, and then bailed on me at the last minute.  He was traveling that week and let me know that he would not be in town for the show.  When I arrived at the hotel, I was shocked to see him waiting for me there.  One of our pastimes was dancing in his living room to our favorite R&B songs.  True to form, we danced on the rooftop to all of our old favorites with the last one being a song that was unfamiliar.  It was Bobby’s voice that I heard coming through the speakers.  He wrote and recorded a song just for me.  As we danced to my very own love song, in true Cinderella form, he twirled me around and got down on one knee.  It was the most beautiful moment, and I could only nod my head yes.  Just then I heard clapping and our parents came out from hiding!  I was shocked and overjoyed at the same time.  It couldn’t have been more perfect.

Engagement Shoot Inspiration

Bobby came up with the idea for the engagement shoot.  He wanted a very sexy look that was full of class and style. His inspiration was Jonathan Goldsmith in the Dos Equis commercial.  He is a huge fan of Cigars as well, so the Highland Cigar bar provided the perfect setting.  We decided on coordinating black with a splash of red in his red pocket silk.  While many of our pictures are of us with a very sexy pose, our favorite shots are of us laughing hysterically.  Bobby has a great way of making something serious into a circus.  The shoot was also a preface for the wedding affair.  We wanted our wedding to be sexy, classic, and chic.  We actually used a wonderful picture from the engagement session on a canvas alongside the seating chart table.

Loving You is Easy Cause You’re Beautiful…

Bobby described it best in a video he did for me on our wedding day. It was recorded the morning of the proposal. “This is the day that I have always looked forward to. When I think about the things that make me a complete individual, it’s adding you: a wife, partner, lifelong friend and supporter to the mix.”

Bobby is what God has always wanted for me. He is a gentleman, funny and kind. He is able to make me better person and we are able to grow together. I feel that I am able fulfill God’s purpose for my life with him by my side encouraging and supporting my dreams.

Photography: Chelsea Patricia - www.chelseapatricia.com

Venue:  Highland Cigar Co. & Bar - www.highlandcigar.com

The post Atlanta Engagement Session of Tiffany + Bobby by Chelsea Patricia Photography appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Almost ten years ago, Vanna Jones and Greg Johnson met during their freshman year at Shaw University. The beginning of their romance didn’t start until the end of their college tenure. These college sweethearts are set to wed where they took their first trip as a couple, the Bahamas. We can’t wait to see their shabby, chic, destination wedding come to life!

The post Engagement Session of Vanna Jones + Greg Johnson appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Bride- Nailah Daniels
Groom- Olaoluwa Aderinola
Occupations- Bride-Speech-Language Pathologist, Groom-Project Manager
Location- Houston, Texas

Hot mocha couple coming right up! That’s right… Nailah and Olaoluwa’s lives changed forever over a cup of coffee at Starbucks. What started off as two strangers forming a friendship blossomed into a whirlwind romance and loving relationship. These two love birds will be tying the knot on November 30, 2013 in Lafayette, Louisiana. We love their e-session for its aesthetic ,but even more because it showcases such a fun,loving, and stylish couple.

Thanks to Suzy G Photography for sharing their photos!

The post Houston Engagement Session by Suzy G Photography: Nailah + Olaoluwa appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Leia and Jerel used to see each other all the time on the bus in high school, but neither one of them made a move face to face.  It wasn’t until they were in their twenties, when Leia saw a picture of Jerel with a mutual friend, that the couple started dating.  What started as a sweet conversation over drinks, turned into a three year courtship and a surprise holiday engagement! Now after six years the couple is ready to tie the knot. Their stunning outdoor engagement shoot at a Philadelphia art museum was captured by Bernard and Tiffany Hamilton of Your Endless Memories Photography.  Be prepared to be captivated by their gorgeous smiles and bask in their affection as Leia describes their beautiful love story!

How They Met

Since Rel and I went to neighboring high schools, we would see each other on the bus but didn’t converse at all. Years later when we were in our twenties I saw a picture of him with a mutual friend and told the friend to bring him to the club where I bartended.  I wasn’t a skinny tomboy anymore, I was a grown woman and clearly he needed to see that! Hahaha!  Our friend did bring him up to my job; Rel and I chatted and exchanged numbers.  Things didn’t progress initially.  We lost communication for a couple of months, but after I heard he lost a family member I reached out on MySpace (yes, MySpace lol) to send my condolences.  I told him if he wanted to go out for drinks to give me a call.  We ended up setting up a date during that convo. The day of our date Rel was supposed to come pick me up at 8:30 pm, he called me at 8pm and said he hadn’t gotten a haircut yet. I couldn’t believe it!! I told him that I was going to go out and once he was done we could link up later. I went and sat at a girlfriend’s house (clearly I had nowhere to go, but he didn’t need to know that LOL) he called me a couple of hours later, we went for drinks and have been together ever since…that was 6 years ago…

The Proposal

After 3.5 years together, on Christmas morning 2010 I found out I was pregnant. I cleaned off the pregnancy test, wrapped it in festive paper and put it under the tree. Although we both wanted to be married before we had a child, we were extremely excited to be expecting.  Rel mentioned we would definitely be engaged before the baby came. Months went by and no proposal.  We scheduled to have a 3D ultrasound of the baby and a family photo-shoot with myself, him and our son (his biologically).  During the part of the shoot with just him and I, Rel asked the photographer if she was finished.  She said no, she wanted to take more photos.  After about 10-15 minutes he asked her again if she was finished.  I, pregnant and annoyed, asked him why he kept asking her that and if he had somewhere to go. The photographer made her announcement that she was done and he started to bend down.  I looked at him as if he had lost his mind and asked him what the heck he was doing; then I noticed the black box he pulled out of his back pocket. I was completely surprised!  The photographer was in cahoots and knew he was going to propose.  He said he wanted to wait until the shoot was over because he knew I’d cry and mess up my make-up; that’s why he kept asking if the shoot was over. The photographer captured the entire thing, it was brilliantly planned!!

Looking Forward to the Wedding

While working full time, caring for two children and a fiancé, I decided to throw in an accelerated master’s program. To say that planning this wedding has been somewhat of a challenge has been an understatement.  But with the help of my wedding planner (a family friend who knew I needed some help) things have been going better than expected.  We will be moving soon after the wedding so we wanted it to be elegant but inexpensive.  I suppose our wedding could be described as romantic, with a vintage feel.  The colors are black, champagne and rose.  Instead of having floral centerpieces we will do candelabras to give the room a warm, romantic feel.  It just so happens that October 19th is a little known holiday called “The Sweetest Day” founded in Cleveland in 1921.  During this holiday, a candy company would hand out sweets to orphans, the elderly and the sick. We are paying a little homage to this holiday at the wedding with a candy bar and because it will truly be the sweetest day for us as well.

Loving You is Easy Cause You’re Beautiful

• Jerel says he loves how real I am and how devoted I am to our family and our lives together.
• I love that regardless of what is going on, he has no problem being silly to get me to smile…even when I don’t want to.

Photography: Bernard and Tiffany Hamilton www.yourendlessmemories.com

The post Philadelphia Engagement Session by Your Endless Memories Photography: Leia + Jerel appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Lamar didn’t have to do much window shopping to find his fiancée, Dehondra. From the moment he spotted her in the mall with one of her girlfriends he knew she would be on his long-term wish list. After introducing himself, the jokes and small talk led to him locking his number in her phone as “boo”. The two will officially become lifelong “boo’s” by taking their love to the next level this August 24th  in Philadelphia.

Read on for a few more details on how the groom-to-be  popped the question!

The stylish couple’s e-session was captured by Reiner Photography.

The Proposal
It was a Saturday evening in 2008 I was coming home from my best friends house. I arrived home to the house dim lite. I walked in the living room there were candles lite Lamar had cooked dinner. As I approached the kitchen he stopped me and smiled. I knew he was up to something. He said looks nice in here doesn’t it? I said yes. He asked me to grab something off the table where the candles were lit so as I approached that table I saw a box on top of a candle holder. My heart began to race. I opened the box and he said will you marry me. I cried and said yes. And kissed him and cried some more.

From the planner

[Dehondra and Lamar] are very stylish and up on the latest trends. Dehondra and I worked on creating a look for the styled engagement session. I than later chose to shoot at some of the trendy philadelphia hotels, such as “the hyatt at the bellevue” , worked with a professional make-up artist, and one of our preferred photographers. Wil will also be capturing their wedding day.

Vendors

• Wedding Planner. Events by Katrina Gilbert www.katrinagilbertevents.com
• Makeup www.shanahmua.com
• Photography Wil Reiner
• Location Downtown Philadelphia Hyatt at the Bellevue

The post Philadelphia Engagement Shoot by Reiner Photography: Dehondra + Lamar appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

There is nothing like finding your soul mate over a heart warming plate of soul food.  Nakisha and Devin met as recruiters at a college fair, and their first date was at Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons  restaurant in Savannah, GA.  Years later, their relationship came full circle, when Devin took Nakisha to a restaurant, got down on one knee and pledged to be her’s for life.  Their engagement shoot  at the Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, SC is full of southern charm and natural beauty.  The adoring couple and bright landscape was exquisitely captured by Wanda Cavazos of Richard Bell Photography. The contentedness of Nakisha and Devin shines through their smiles; they will fill your heart with joy!

• Bride: Nakisha Scott, Therapeutic Counselor at Carolina Children’s Home
• Groom: Devin Randolph, Assistant Vice President/Director of Residential Life at Claflin University
• Date of Shoot: 11/03/2012
• Location: Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens- Charleston, SC

How They Met

From the Bride: Once upon a time not long ago, when people wore pajamas and lived life slow, I met a beautiful man that captured my heart. Devin and I met in Augusta, GA, in August 2008, where we both were working as college recruiters at a college fair. I had never seen Devin during my travels and to be quite honest, I really didn’t want to say much to him, because he had arrived very late to the college fair. Late arrivals to college fairs equaled “like, are you serious?” stares, from other recruiters. That day we only said, hello, and smiled at each other. Honestly, I thought about him after I left, not much, but there was something about him and I had hoped that I would see him again. 

As God would orchestrate it, on September 19, 2008, we met again at a college fair in Atlanta. Well, let me rewind just a bit…during those few weeks since I had last laid eyes on Devin, I came in contact with a few students who I identified would have been a better fit at the university that Devin worked at (side eye) (all a part of my plan), since the students were from Orangeburg (the same area as the university) and I knew the reputation of the school. Okay, fast forward…during the fair in Atlanta, we had a little down time before the next group of students arrived. This was my opportunity to speak to Devin about the students (notice students is listed first) and then to find out a little about him. We spoke for about five minutes, exchanged business cards and immediately hit it off. The next day, Devin sent me email and the rest is history! Our first date was a few weeks later at Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons in Savannah, GA.

The Proposal

From the Groom: A couple years after Kisha and I started dating seriously, we decided to pursue graduate school in New York. I attended Cornell University and Kisha attended Syracuse University. We lived an hour apart, and every single day that we spent up there, I thought about the perfect proposal because I was ready to seal the deal on this great girl and knew she deserved something special. Since Kisha has a very calm personality I knew that she would appreciate something simple, but meaningful. I remember it like it was yesterday, it was raining the entire day and things were not looking good. I asked her if she would like to take a break from our studies and Ramen Noodles to partake in much needed “end of semester” dinner. When we arrived at Attillo’s restaurant in Syracuse, NY we were seated by a huge bay window and I started to tell her how appreciative I was of her and admired her faith and how she made me a better man. I asked her for a hug and as we met in front of the table , I knelt down and asked her to marry me. As I knelt down, I remembered seeing a rainbow through the window affirming God’s approval of our relationship. The date was June 24, 2011 in Syracuse, NY.

Engagement Shoot Inspiration

We called our engagement shoot, “Crazy in Love”. Our e-session was at the historic Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mt. Pleasant, SC. We love the outdoors and also loved the bright landscape of the venue.

Loving You is Easy Cause You’re Beautiful 

The Groom… I love that Nakisha is patient with me and that in her, I want for nothing. 

The Bride…I love that Devin is a man of faith and loves me even as Christ loves the church. He would sacrifice his life for me as if it came to it. There is a feeling of safety/protection that I cannot even explain that I feel in him.

• Photographer:  Richard Bell Photography – Wanda Cavazo
• Make-Up:  L’Tonya Scott Makeup Artistry
• Hair:  NyKeisha Footman of Divine Beauty Hair Salon

The post South Carolina Engagement Session by Richard Bell Photography: Nakisha + Devin appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

They say the sweetest melodies are sung from the heart and we say the sweetest proposals are too!  Tennille and Andrew have a story that couldn’t have been possible without real love. This lovely couple met at a friends graduation party and quickly began writing the lyrics to their love song.

Keep reading to find out how the groom-to-be got the girl of his dreams to sing a love melody. Their romantic, vintage-themed e-session was captured by IYQ Photography.

Bride: Tennille Perotte
Groom: Andrew Francis
Occupations: Medical field
Location of Shoot: Richmond, Virginia

The Proposal…
My fiancé proposed to me at a karaoke bar. It was one of the best proposals one can experience. While singing a song by Mary J Blige “Real love” What a coincidence with my song choice LOL. The TV screen went blank so while asking the attendant what happened ? She pointed to the monitor which then read ” Will you marry me”. I was so surprised I literally turn red! My fiancé then sung a song by Drake ” Best I ever had”. It was so beautiful, we also had friends in attendance which made that moment even more magical.

Inspiration for the Session…
For our engagement shoot we decided on a old Hollywood vintage shoot. The inspiration came from the both of us. We have been together for almost ten years now, and remain deeply in love. We wanted to show that romance in our engagement shoot.

Wedding Details…
We are having a catered reception at Jericho Terrace in L.I. we are expecting 300 guests. I’m that girl that always dreamed of having a big wedding, I’m excited that the groom to be also imagined that as well. Both of our schedules are pretty tight with work and school, so we hired a wedding planner to assist in the planning process and hope to relieve a lil stress lol..Thus far the challenges we face is the guest list, we wish we could invite the world but it is just not feasible at the moment. We chose a Parisian theme, I love the romance and colors it details.

The post Richmond Engagement Session by IYQ Photography: Tennille + Andrew appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

Jamila Boddie and Gary Goodman were introduced by Gary’s best friend, at a party at Gaylord National Harbor. Jamila was so impressed when Gary flashed his bright white smile that she couldn’t hold back from letting him know. That night, the two of them exchanged numbers and they’ve continued to keep one another smiling ever since.

The couple’s e-session took place  where Gary’s smile first lit up the room,
Gaylord National Resort in Washington, DC and was shot by Keith Cephus Photography. Their session is sure to brighten up your Monday!

Bride: Jamila Boddie
Groom: Gary Goodman
Occupations: (Bride) Program Coordinator for non-profit
(Groom) CEO of IT & AV Engineering and Design

Jamila describes the proposal…

I wanted to throw Gary a birthday party since he’d never actually had friends, cake with candles or a birthday song! I planned his party with his friends, cake, favors, birthday gift…whole shebang lol. I wanted it to be a surprise but he kept asking questions and wanting to know what the plans were, so I got tired of being evasive and just told him the details. He was already planning to propose at his party so he wanted to know what was going down.

Earlier that day he mentioned that a camera crew would be filming the restaurant for an interview and I didnt think much of it. We showed up and the camera guy was there filming the building. While we’re inside I saw Gary walk off with the camera man and I had an idea that something was up. I asked my friends and they acted clueless and I asked my mom who gave me the blank stare.

Just as we were going to cut the cake he says he wants to talk and pulls out a full page printed speech. He thanked everyone for coming and at that moment I noticed that he was wearing a mini microphone on his collar, so I blurted out “Are you wearing a microphone??!!” He thanked me for interrupting him lol and he continued. He told me how much he’s been able to grow and learn in our relationship and how much he valued our relationship. He said that he found the person he could continue to grow and learn with. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. So the surprise was on me, although I had an idea what was going down.

Turns out he hired a videographer and a photographer to capture the evening. We had a LOT of fun that night and it was really great being in a room full of people who showed us so much love. It was exactly what I wanted and perfect.

{You Make Loving You So Easy}
He loves…”Her uniqueness. It’s exciting.” 

She loves…”He has the biggest heart! So incredibly thoughtful.”

The post D.C. Engagement Session by Keith Cephus Photography: Jamila + Gary appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.

This love story is all about destiny. Samatha and Aswad grew up in the same town in Massachusetts and lived five minutes apart, but had never met. As fate would have it, the two finally crossed paths while in college at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. During college, they shared a special gift of friendship that turned into what Samatha describes as a “great love affair” right before she headed to Mississippi for graduate school. After a year of long distance dating, destiny brought this fated couple back together. On 1/1/11, Aswad proposed to Samatha changing their lives forever.

The couple’s e-session was photographed at their alma mater by Gregory Harren of Greg Brett Studios Photography.

Bride: Samatha Vilme
Groom: Aswad Evans
Location: Newport, Rhode Island

Inspiration for the Session…
“Our engagement session was so much fun. We found a great up and coming photographer in Greg Harren. He made us feel so comfortable along with his fiancee, Colleen. We found it fitting to do our photo shoot in Newport, RI back on Salve Regina’s gorgeous campus. We loved the whole laid back atmosphere of the shoot.”

Wedding Details…

“Our wedding style is a colorful romance theme. I loved the symbolism behind peacocks so we are adding that element to our wedding. After 8 years of friendship and love, we are finally completing the trilogy on August 10, 2013. We are so excited to finally be married after a 2 year engagement.”

The post Rhode Island Engagement Session by Greg Brett Studios Photography: Samatha + Aswad appeared first on Munaluchi Bridal Magazine.