The last day in May began with a beautiful morning. I packed up the gear and headed to the Washington Duke Inn to meet with Adrian + Kamala for their wedding preparations. Everything was well planned out. Early on Kamala brought on Erin McLean’s team, then the venues and my team along the way. We consulted, then consulted some more and today was the day for which all the planning and preparation was all about. Today Adrian + Kamala would wed a fairy tale come true. And I had the good fortune to document part of the journey just for them! I present Adrian + Kamala’s story book wedding:
Washington Duke Inn Wedding Prep
Insights from the bride!
Share with us how you two met:
We met in the summer of 2011 at our friends’, Kameshia’s and Randy’s, house. We were both there for Kameshia’s birthday party. We noticed each other, liked each other, talked and laughed a bit, and went our separate ways. Football season began, and if you don’t know, Adrian is all about all things football. So, during football season, he’s a ghost unless you’re at the games, on a football field or on the football team he coaches (Go Spartans!). And, if you know me, you know that a football game is DEFINITELY not a place that I’d be on a Friday night because they don’t serve wine and I’m a lamp light vs. a Friday night lights kind of girl. :-)
During this particular football season, and all of the ones before that, I was living my fabulously single girl life, and then, football season for high schools ended, and guess who I began to see around town? AJay! Over the next month, he happened to turn up at the same places that my girls and I were hanging out. What a coincidence! Or, was it? :-) One night, Kameshia gave him my phone number, he called, and we’ve been together every since!
Oh, and by the way, I’ve not missed a football game since…..even though they STILL don’t serve wine and he’s moved from coaching in high school to coaching in college. The thing is, I’ve found something at the football games that’s better than wine – I found my husband. :-)
Tell us about your proposal:
Adrian proposed on my 39th birthday, August 3, 2013. It’s a long, funny story, but there’s not enough space for it here. Short version – I was in my kitchen in my pajamas preparing a seafood boil of crab legs, shrimp, potatoes, corn, eggs and sausage. He wanted to go out and I didn’t. Totally unexpected! He’d been a football practice all day. I’d been with my parents celebrating my mom’s and my birthday.
Tell us about your gown:
The bride wore an ivory Vera Wang strapless, soft sweetheart, full, A-line gown with a draped wrap bodice and swirling frothy draped skirt with delicately asymmetrical tulle layers. She also wore a Vera Wang cathedral-length raw edge ivory tulle veil. Over 7 months, during the engagement, the bride traveled to Vera Wang’s Bridal House in Manhattan, New York six times for design and fittings in order to create the perfect gown and fit!
How about your wedding shoes and jewelry:
Shoes: Jimmy Choo strappy, glittered, 4-inch heeled sandals
Jewelry: David Yurman diamonds
Tell us about your flowers:
The bride carried a lovely, lush bouquet composed of white peonies accented with blush spray roses and touches of accents of mini green hydrangea and ivy foliage, which was finished with a wrap of double faced ivory satin.
Tell us about your bridesmaids:
- Matron of Honor: Mrs. Kahni Ward Uzzell of South Riding, VA, sister-in-law of the bride
- Bridesmaids: Ms. Crystal Jones of Durham, NC, sister of the groom; Ms. Regina Jones of Durham, NC, sister of the groom;
- Mrs. Euba Wilkerson McKoy of Durham, NC, cousin of the bride; Mrs. Teshor Jones Oates of Holly Springs, NC, childhood friend of the bride; Ms. Lillie Peebles, Esq. of Raleigh, NC, sorority sister of the bride.
- Flower Girl: Miss Kamila Jacinta Uzzell of South Riding,VA, niece of the bride
Tell us about your hair & make up:
Hair: Samantha Webb Designs
Make-up: Tinia Campbell-Drury and Marita Campbell
Was there any particular theme or style for your wedding:
Sophisticated elegance.
Tell us about his groomsmen:
- Best Man: Mr. Colon Oliver, III of Greensboro, NC, college roommate of the groom
- Groomsmen: Mr. Michael Jones of Durham, NC, brother of the groom; Mr. Kenyatta Uzzell of South Riding, VA, brother of the bride; Mr. Brian Williams of Atlanta, GA, cousin of the groom; Mr. Christopher Williams of Portales, NM, cousin of thegroom; Mr. Darry Williams of Durham, NC, cousin of the groom.
Union Baptist Church Ceremony
We attend and are members of Union Baptist Church. We started worshiping at Union together one month after our first date. I’ve (Kamala) have been a member for over 15 years and it is the church at which Adrian’s football team worshiped the year they won the State Championship (2013). Our love and marriage are strong because of the spiritual foundation we built through Union Baptist at the beginning and throughout our relationship.
What songs did you choose for your wedding ceremony, and why:
Ceremony:
- “The One He Kept for Me” was sung by my sorority sister, and is a testament to us getting married at 39 & 40. God kept us to later in life and prepared us for one another.
- “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban was sung after a trumpet fanfare for my entrance.
- “The Prayer” by Celine Dion and Josh Groban was sung during the unity candle lighting.
- We had a string quartet, a trumpet, two vocalists, and a pianist.
How about the wedding invitations & stationery:
Our invitation suite was designed by Maria Scheel. We chose a Crane Pearl White card stock, letter-pressed in gold and shell. The suite included a Save-the-Date and envelope, Invitation and envelope, RSVP card and envelope, Reception card, Make it a Weekend card and a gold band with a custom logo with our initials. Each envelope was addressed in metallic gold calligraphy by Carrie Shuping of Calligrapy by Carrie.
Bay 7 Wedding Reception
Tell us about your reception venue
Following the ceremony, guests were invited to join us in an evening of celebration at Bay 7 on the beautiful American Tobacco Campus. What was once the manufacturing facility of the well-known Lucky Strikes cigarettes, is now a renovated and remarkable entertainment destination in Durham. With its restored architecture, quaint river walk, shops, restaurants, residences, and sparkling market lights, the American Tobacco Campus is the epitome of Durham. Guests were treated to a cocktail hour and seated dinner catered by the Angus Barn of Raleigh, NC.
And your decorations:
Lots of flowers and candles. Our ceremony was candlelit and so was our reception. Pink and gold were the colors. We wanted shades of pink, gold, silver, mirrored decorations, and greenery. Our event spaces were BEAUTIFUL! For the reception, we brought in lounge furniture and walls of shrubbery. FANTASTIC!
And your cake:
Our cake was designed and baked by Cinda’s Creative Cakes in Holly Springs, NC
It was a 4-tiered round strawberry and golden butter cake, frosted in pale ivory buttercream with alternating tiers decorated in a lacing pattern and the bottom tier was decorated with pale ivory fondant ruffles. The second tier was wrapped in a satin ribbon with a brooch in the center. The cake rested on a silver cake board and silver cake plateau.
Any wedding favors:
Out-of-town guests received a gold Welcome Bag with pink ribbon, full of goodies from Durham.
What songs did you choose for your wedding reception, and why:
Reception:
- My dad and I danced to “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston version). He chose this song because of the words and meaning. He will always love me and I will always love him.
Tell us about your wedding photography:
Photography was by In His Image Photography – Dajuan Jones
And your videographer:
Videography was by Blu Hat Films – Dennis Stone
Tell us about your honeymoon:
We honeymooned in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and Miami Beach, Florida
Any advice for future brides:
Enjoy every single aspect of the process. Hopefully, you’ll only do it once! Planning our wedding and designing my gown and the event spaces was an experience that I will never forget. Adrian and I had a wonderful time and grew so much closer because we planned everything together. Also, DEFINITELY hire a reputable wedding coordinator who will walk with you from engagement to the morning after the wedding. Money well spent!
What’s your favorite image from your wedding day, and why:
Too many to chose just one!
Any final thoughts:
Everything was perfect!
