Both Nick and Charnetta knew there was something special happening between them the moment they first met over 15 years ago. Their hunch was correct, and shortly afterward they began their romantic journey to the altar. Read their love story and see their spectacular wedding day.
The bride-to-be and her bridesmaids were dressed to impress long before they put on their gowns.
“My makeup was done by Ms. Shea Zephir,” says the bride. “And, my hair was styled by Loctician Sylvia of Harlem Berry Beauty Lounge.”
“I viewed a lot of pictures of bridal styles for women with locs on Pinterest and then worked with my stylist to decide on the perfect style,” Charnetta tells us.
“I went to three stores and found my dress as the last store,” Charnetta admits. “Still, I didn’t order it initially, I went home and thought about it and then came back. However, when I think back, I knew it was the one as soon as I tried it on.”
This photo shoot was totally worth the intermission.
“I knew this dress was the one by the way I felt when I put it on,” says Charnetta. “It was the first dress that I tried on that I immediately started imagining myself getting married in.”
Charnette chose gorgeous gowns for her bridel party. (We love it when the bride lets everyone shine too.)
Charnetta’s little cousins served as flower girls. Cutie pies in the house!
“I really wanted to focus on the dress so I kept my accessories minimal,” says the bride. “ I wore diamond earrings that my husband had given to me as a gift and a diamond necklace that he had also given to me and a simple ornament in my hair. I also wore a crystal cuff on my wrist. My veil was long and feminine but very simple to keep the focus on the dress. I did wear shoes with a lot of bling.”
“Although we had talked extensively about marriage and what we wanted for our future together, it was still one of those surreal moments when he actually proposed,” Charnetta recalls. “In addition, we had picked out a ring a few months ago, but to be honest it wasn’t the ring I really wanted. When he opened the ring box, he had switched the ring to the one I really wanted, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise. I have to admit, I did drop a few tears!”
We just can’t get enough of these flower girls. Can you?
“Since we were on a budget, we definitely had to be frugal when it came to the flowers,” Charnetta shares. “One way we did this was by hiring an up and coming but extremely talented and knowledgeable florist. She was able to turn my dreams into a reality.”
Charnetta turned heads in her bridal gown as she walked through the streets of New York City looking flawless.
And the reward for best use of balloons in a wedding photo goes to…these lovely ladies, who stopped traffic, literally.
“The groomsmen really enjoyed their time laughing and joking,” the bride and groom recall.
“New Yorkers are not phased by much but me along with my 12 bridesmaids and two flower girls walking down the block to take pictures really made everyone stop and look,” says the bride of her crowd-stopping photo shoot.
“I had my bridesmaids rent their dresses from Rent the Runway and this amounted to a total cost of approximately $60 each for the dresses,” says budget savvy bride Charnetta.
“Although I knew she was special the day I met her, I really knew how much I loved her after we separated,” Nick admits. “There was a time in our relationship where we went our separate ways for a while. I really missed her and knew I had to get her back. It became clear that she was the one for me. I also knew that I didn’t want to spend my life without her.”
“Nick is a man of faith,” Charnetta tells us. “Because of this faith, he is a constant source of inspiration in tough times. Nick is extremely hard working. When he is determined to do something, it gets done. He is also the one everyone turns to when they need advice and a listening ear. They do so because he is always honest and really cares about people.”
“I chose to make her my wife because she had everything that I wanted in a wife and for the future mother of my children,” says Nick. “I also chose her because of her faith in God and because of the way she loves me. I decided to propose when I started thinking about my future and I just couldn’t see it without her, I wanted to be with her.”
Everyone shined on their way down the aisle at the couple’s glamorous reception.
We can’t take it — it’s too cute!
“She is beautiful, extremely intelligent, and determined,” says Nick. “I remember when she told me several years ago that she wanted to become an OBGYN. I said ‘okay, but to watch her meet challenge after challenge and actually do it is a testament to her strength. She is also compassionate and a woman of faith. She also taught me about the value of charity and this is something we want to pass down to our future children.”
“My father walked me down the aisle and I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” says Charnetta. “My father has sacrificed so much for myself and my siblings. I would not have been able to accomplish my goals without his support and my mother’s support. My husband was very emotional and did shed a few tears as I walked down the aisle.”
“It was one of those surreal moments,” says Charnetta of the moment she and Nick made it to the altar. “This event marked the culmination of events 15 years in the making. It was truly amazing, especially since we got to share that moment with family and friends.”
“We decided to personalize the ceremony by writing our own vows,” says Charnetta.
Nick and his lovely bride sealed the deal with a kiss.
“We also jumped the broom because we wanted to participate in this time honored tradition,” shares the bride.
“Since we absolutely loved our venue, we wanted to take full advantage of it,” says Charnetta. “As a result, the reception was held in the same space that we held the wedding ceremony. Our cocktail hour took place on the outdoor terrace, which also had a great view of Manhattan. During the cocktail hour, we were able to turn over the space in preparation for the reception.”
“Since part of both of our families are from the Caribbean and since our wedding was Labor Day weekend, which is also the time of the annual West Indian Day Parade (aka J’Ouvert) in Brooklyn, we wanted to incorporate a Caribbean vibe,” says Charnetta. “As a result, we entered the reception with Samba dancers and to mix of Caribbean music. Everyone at the wedding was also provided with a flag to wave ‘jump and wave!’”
The couple chose ”What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong for their irst dance song. We love this pick!
A custom cake topper to celebrate the bride and groom topped off the couple’s fabulous cake style.
Join us as we congratulare Charnetta and Nick on their bridal bliss. Leave the happy couple a little comment love below. Want to see your wedding featured in Bridal Bliss? Email us now!
