Fairytale Wedding (Sumter, SC)
Event Info
Location: Sumter, SC
Event Date: October 19, 2019
Album Story
They say you find love in unexpected places…
We met while serving in the military, actually, we were getting ready to deploy for the very first time to Afghanistan. During this time we saw one another in passing and barely spoke to one another. While we were “downrange” we actually got a chance to speak and see each other on a more frequent basis. What started off as playful joking led to a more romantic relationship that we still cherish till this day!!!
Associated Vendors
Hair Stylist: Nyquasia Gilmore
Other: Silovision Weddings
Specialty Foods: RM Enterprises LLC
Fashion Designer: Danie Dakor
Tuxedo and Mens Attire: Imperial Custom Clothiers
Design and Decor: Your Signature Designs
Makeup Artist: Shades of Kim Beauty LLC
Beauty: Beat By Dae
Caterer: L & A Catering
Invitation Designer: Marry Me Magazines
Reception Venue: Sumter Civic Center
Transportation: FX limousine & Rolls Royce
Equipment Rentals: Party Reflections
Equipment Rentals: illuminations SC
Cake Designer: Bonnie Brunt Cakes
Event Planner: The Diva Wedding Planner
Photographer: Creative Images Photography
Client Questionnaire
Q1: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A1: For our day the most important goal was to have an elegant event where people could be themselves and help us celebrate our union in style. Based on our goal we chose to go with the combination of colors, black, rose gold and ivory, as a way to accentuate the elegant look while keeping the colors simple. We incorporated traditions from both families as we performed a sand ceremony, which included the bride and groom’s parents, and we also incorporated a memorial table for our grandparents.
Q2: Let’s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A2: For the ceremony and the reception we hired a well known decorator from our area and asked that she decorate in a classic bold, eye-catching manner with a hint of vintage for good measure. We chose not to include any do-it-yourself materials in the decor, as our decorator had a great plan and concept and executed our vision flawlessly. Live flowers was a must have and our decorator was able to utilize flowers, candles and a mixture of arrangements to establish a breathtaking ambiance.
Q3: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A3: We decided to include live flowers in as much of the wedding day activities as we could. The flowers were ivory hydrangeas with a combination of lilac, fuchsia and soft pink roses, wrapped with an ivory soft pink silk bow. Live flowers were used for the bridal bouquets, centerpieces and the ceremony backdrop, as well as in the floral canopies in the church and at the reception. We also incorporated live flowers into all of the boutonnières for the men who were in the wedding party, to include the best men, groomsmen’s, father’s of the bride and groom and God-fathers. Flowers were an integral part of our wedding and a must have for the bride, as she has a deep passion for all things floral.
Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A4: We chose to highlight our guest experience in a variety of ways, however, there were a couple of moments that stood out. During our cocktail hour we served way more than just cocktails, in fact, our cocktail hour featured a fully stocked open bar with signature cocktails for the bride and groom. Our cocktail hour also featured two carving stations, with carvers who carved and served roast beef as well as roasted pig among the other appetizers. During the formal dinner portion of our reception we incorporated a concept to encourage our guests to dance and mingle, called the “Boogie to the Buffet,” where every table was given a buffet song and once their song was played they danced their way to buffet to help themselves to the second portion of their meal.
Q5: Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A5: Lets start with the groom – the bride has a love for velvet so she was adamant about incorporating velvet into the grooms look. The bride also loves flowers so that was another must have for the groom, to ensure he looked the part for her. When it all came together the groom wore a custom sleek ivory paisley print jacket and vest, with a black velvet lapel and black velvet buttons. The groom also wore a white shirt with black buttons and a black velvet bow tie. The grooms pants were slim fitted satin pants with a velvet stripe going down the leg. The grooms shoes were black velvet with a gold plated crest featuring the first initial of the grooms name. For the bride – the bride wanted a princess themed wedding, so she was looking for a ballgown style dress that was unique and stood out from the norm. The bride fell in love with a custom Demetrios bridal dress that was an off the shoulder style, champagne gold in color and trimmed in ivory, gold and rose gold, with 3D flowers throughout. The dress also had shear long sleeves with gold beading and it also featured a long train. The brides shoes were custom made converse, blinged in rose gold and champagne, with custom messaging on the heels.
Q6: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A6: We met while serving in the military, actually we were getting ready to deploy for the very first time to Afghanistan. During this time we saw one another in passing and barely spoke to one another. While we were “down range” we actually got a chance to speak and see each other on a more frequent basis. What started off as playful joking led to a more romantic relationship that we still cherish till this day!!!
Surrounded by family and friends our proposal took place in our home at what was presented as a “family and friends cookout.” During that period of time having friends over for dinner and drinks was not uncommon, so when my husband asked if I was ok with having a cookout naturally I agreed. Little did I know he would use this as an opportunity to propose and spark a chain of events that would forever change our lives.
Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A7: Our most anticipated moment was the wait to see one another prior to us taking our vows. We both were eagerly waiting to see one another so we could share in our special day together. When a King meets his Queen, 10.19.19 is a day we will never forget!!!
Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
A8: Plan early and have patience. Don’t allow others to force you into doing something you and your partner may not want to do. This day is about you and your partner, make this day your own and make it about you!!! Enjoy the process!!!
