Bridal Bliss: Howie and Blair's Wedding Was Oh So Sweet

Bride: Blair Marion Parkman, 34, Advertising Groom: Howie Norman, 34, Tech Entrepreneur The Big Day: 10/7/16 Location: Detroit, MI Style/Theme: Traditional

Howie had some help as he prepared for the big day!

“After we went to my friend’s wedding and she met all of my friends,” shared Howie. “It was confirmed about 100 times over I wasn’t crazy, Blair was the one.”

“The amazing and humbling thing about being a bride is how everyone around you, especially your best girlfriends and family members are so ready to serve you make sure your day goes so smoothly,” said Blair.

To complete her bridal look, Blair wore pearls on her big day. “Howie’s aunt gave me a beautiful pearl bracelet to wear as my something borrowed,” she shared.

Howie popped the question to Blair on Valentine’s Day in 2015 and it caught her completely off guard! “Howie always writes special notes in all his cards,” recalled the bride. “He hardly ever just buys a card and gives it as is, he like to write personal notes in them. But, on this Valentine’s Day, for the first time he had forgotten to write me a card. I, on the other hand, happened to have taken my time to write him a special personal note in the card-which I never do!) He said he felt the exact same way about me and read to me my words I wrote to him. He then got on one knee, showed the ring and said ‘I don’t want this home without you being my wife in it. Will you marry me?’ Sigh, Best. Day. Ever.”

Blair and Howie incorporated some fun into their big day with the boutonnieres the guys wore!

“Howie and I ended up being long distance for about a year and a half because as we all know a big part of this life we have together involves his entrepreneurship goals,” the bride shared. “So when he was accepted into his first tech startup accelerator all the way in San Francisco, of course I told him to go for it! We had only been dating a few months and I wanted him to pursue his dreams! Besides the program was only 3 months and he was going to return to MI afterwards. He never returned to live in MI because he had found opportunities there so spent about a year trying to convince me to move there. The next time he visited MI, he sat down and talked with my mom about how he was serious about me and wanted me to be with him in SF and that he thought it would be good for me in general and for my career. My heart was already there so I had to follow it. That’s how I knew he was the one.”

Howie’s tuxedo jacket was divine!

Blair couldn’t help but check out all of Howie’s wedding day attire down to the details inside his tuxedo suit jacket!

Blair’s dress is every bit of yes, yes, yes!

When Blair and Howie first met, the bride couldn’t help but notice how tall her groom is! Even on their wedding day, Blair had to look up to look her love in the eye.

“I wore Badgley Mischka shoes for my ceremony and then wore a very sparkly pair by INC for the dance reception,” said the bride.

When looking at Blair on their wedding day, Howie admits he often times lost his focus but that’s only because he was so lost in her beauty. Aww!

“Everything about her personality and values were aligned with the person I had been looking for,” shared Howie on why he chose to make Blair his wife.

We totally love Blair’s unique engagement ring!

“My number one answer is because I love him,” said the bride. “He understands me, he listens to me, and we get through trials so well. We are a team and I could see that even before the day he asked me to marry him!”

In a room full of people on their wedding day, it seem like the love between Blair and Howie made them the only ones there.

When asked what he loves most about Blair, the groom replied, “because she cares as much about my goals and passions as I care about hers, along with the fact the “hard things” you always hear about in a marriage are the easy things for us.”

“It was awesome!,” said Howie of how he felt on his wedding day. “No one dreams of being a groom I don’t think, you dream of marrying someone great, and that’s what I did.”

“Howie is ambitious, intelligent, loving and fun,” said Blair.

Howie’s groomsmen were a mix of friends and family. His best friend from elementary school even stood by his side on his big day!

“I was so honored to be surround by so many wonderful ladies who love me so much and have my back,” said the bride.

“She is strong, thoughtful, caring and patient,” Howie said to describe his Mrs.

“My Dad AND Mom, it was important to me that they both gave me away,” said the bride. “When people describe me, there is a consistent quality that comes up–my compassion for others. Also, Howie, when he tells me what he loves about me one of the first thing he says is that he loves how kind I am to others. So, the truth is that I get that number 1 quality from my mother. She is the one who made me and molded me into that loving, kind, compassionate individual. She is my example and she is why I care for other people so much. And when I think about my husband saying to me that he noticed early on, that I was so kind to people, and was attracted to that, I realize that if it weren’t for my mommy, I may not have snagged this awesome man I have in my life.”

“My groom had such a gentle and softness in his air for me that day,” shared Blair.

Just like that, they did it and Howie sealed his marriage to Blair with a kiss!

As for what she loves best about him, Blair says Howie is “always persevering” and she adores his “never give up attitude!”

“We started off dancing to John Legends Interlude “Angel” Feat Stacy Barthe,” said the bride. “But then surprise our guests to salsa music by Tito Puente. This was very unique because on our first date, randomly, salsa music came on, and Howie asked, “Aren’t you a dancer?” I said ‘yes!’ And so even though no one else was dancing, we salsa danced right there beside our table. The first thing I did after that date was text my girlfriends: ‘Howie salsa danced with me!'”

On her wedding day, Blair felt “happy & ready” for her bright future with Howie.

“We had a simple two tier cake with flowers made of frosting and had a monogram of our initials,” said the bride. “Our cake was specially made with real strawberries baked into the batter! Our guests were given vanilla cupcakes that were just as good.”

“Nope, I figured I’d take Blair out on a date because she lived around the block,” joked Howie when he asked if he thought he’d ever find true love. “Been stuck with her ever since!”

As Howie and Blair entered their reception, “If I Ruled The World” by Nas played.