Keva and Leonard are a young God-fearing couple that wanted their wedding to be both rustic and spiritual.
The couple met online in 2017 while Leo pursued his master’s degree at the University of Central Florida while working at Bethune-Cookman University. Both of them are photographers, and Keva admired his work enough to inquire about him taking some birthday photos for her. “Initially, Keva wanted to shoot in Nassau,” Leo explains, “but I was persistent insisting about shooting in her hometown Bimini because I’ve always wanted to visit.”
Their connection was instant, and there were many signs from the Lord up above that told Leo he should make Keva his wife. With the help of Keva’s pastor, family and close friends, he pulled off a memorable engagement that is wife will cherish for eternity. “I felt his words with every fiber of my being and I said YES! ,” Keva remembers. “There were no tears on the outside, but inside, my heart was crying and leaping for joy.”
Thanks to the help of their inner circle, Leo and Keva received help with their DIY accouterments which allowed them to stay on budget. “We were blessed with numerous family and friends who supported our union, so we didn’t have to pay for a lot of necessities,” they tell ESSENCE.
Scroll through and enjoy the best photos from Keva and Leonard’s beautiful Bahamian wedding.
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01
Meet The Crearys
Bride: Keva Kenrell Minus, Teacher + Photographer, 27
Groom: Leonard Lloyd Creary, Jr., Web & Graphics Developer + Photographer, 27
Theme: Tropical rustic DIY wedding
Venue: Gateway Outreach Ministries, Bimini, Bahamas
Reception: Blue Waters Resort, Bimini, Bahamas
Wedding Planner: Ana Rolle
Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal
Groom’s Suit: ASOS
Best Man & Groomsmen Attire: Alain Dupetit
Matron of Honor & Bridesmaid Attire: JJ House
Bride Hairstylist: Hair by Averie (HBA)
Makeup: Beauty for Ashes
Wedding Invitations & Programmes: Shan’s Creative Invites
Cake: Take A Bite Bahamas
Caterer: Skillett’s
Flowers & Decorations: Lings Moment
Music: DJ Syco
Photography: Scharad Lightbourne
02
The Proposal
Leo traveled to Nassau, Bahamas to visit Keva on a spur of the moment trip. Little did she know, he had quite the surprise up his sleeve. “Leo took me to dinner. Before the meal, he asked to take my photo on the rooftop. It was challenging getting me up there but I finally gave in. When we arrived, I saw was my aunt. Then I saw a few more of my friends and family holding balloons. I was so dumbfounded and went numb for a moment. Leo guided me to this beautiful seat overlooking the island. There were flowers, the weather was so beautiful, and my friend Gabrielle sang ‘One and Only’ by Adele. Leo got down on one and asked me to marry him.”
03
Worth It All
“There were moments that I wanted to pull my hair out and scream to the top of my lungs,” Keva admitted. “In the midst of it, there was an excitement and a joy beyond compare. Becoming Mrs. Creary was worth a few strands of hair and a sore throat.”
04
The Makings Of A Wife
Leo says wife’s best qualities include, “her passion for God, smile and loving presence.”
05
Before The Big Day
Keva and her flower girl looked too beautiful for words.
06
Yes To This Dress
“I went to Orlando to search for a dress, three weeks before my wedding,” Keva said. “It was challenging, given the time limit. I finally found a dress at David’s Bridal. I knew it was the one, the minute I tried it. My sisters started to get emotional.”
07
To The Altar
Keva walked the aisle to Matthew West’s “When I Say I Do. “Oslien Jadorte sang this song live as I walked down the aisle with my father,” she told ESSENCE.
08
Divine Intervention
Leo says he asked God for a sign before proposing, and the Good Lord came through. “I told God that I didn’t have enough money in my account, but said if He truly desired for Keva to be my wife to prove it. Exactly four minutes later, I had two wedding clients pay their full balance and I just started crying.”
09
You May Now Kiss The Bride
The Crearys made it official at the altar and looked so in love!
10
Easy Breezy Wedding Style
Keva turned to wedding retailer JJhouse for her bridesmaids dresses. “They had a wide selection of dresses and the perfect colors for the rustic theme.” Leo chose the suits for the groomsmen based on word of mouth from his line brother.
11
Love As Deep As The Ocean
The beautiful couple looked stunning while watching the sunset after their ceremony.
12
When Two Become One
“I’m been excited and happy that God has given mentally prepared myself to be a spiritual and physical husband,” LEO told ESSENCE
13
Mama Knows Best
Keva said her mother played a critical role in preparing for her big day. “My mom is disabled, so she couldn’t help me physically. However, she kept telling her how beautiful I looked and that she’s proud of me. She gave me an understanding of the commitment I was about to make. That was all the help I needed.”
14
Flowers Are A Bride’s Best Friend
“My bouquet was made by a tiny flower shop in the community. We didn’t have a florist, so we bought flowers from Lings Moment and the ladies from church along with our wedding planner designed everything.”
15
My One And Only
“I knew that Leo was the one the day he gave his life to God,” Keva said. “I knew Leo loved me from just the look in his eyes, from the way he sacrificed and always put me first.”
16
Sunset Views
After the reception, the couple took a dip in the crystal clear Bahamian water as the sunset painted the sky.
17
Rustic Treats
Keva and Leo’s DIY reception was accented with artificial flowers, garland, and wood. “Our centerpieces were simple,” the couple told us. “We had natural wood slices, with a wase and different images of us on each table. We had a beautiful two-layered cake that had a dusty rose color and plenty of gold treats on the dessert table.”
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18
Lets Dance
Keva and Leo share their first dance at their outdoor reception.
19
Honeymoon Bound
“We decided to do a portrait photoshoot on a cay the day after the wedding. Once we finished, we got on a boat and headed to Florida to catch our plane our honeymoon in Switzerland.”
