Q: 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?
A: The inspiration behind our wedding day was a rustic Italian theme. Our color scheme was navy blue and dusty rose with a formal style. We did end up incorporating our Christian religion into the ceremony along with a sand pouring section that United us together.
Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A: We decorated the ceremony with the help of our florist “Flowers by Burton” who did a wonderful job in putting together a lovely arrangement at the end of each row of the seats. We had our wedding in August 2020 when there were still very many restrictions due to the pandemic. Which meant we didn’t get to have our reception at the venue but instead hosted a smaller more intimate gathering at a family members backyard. All decorations at the reception were DIY bought from Etsy, Amazon and Joanne’s
Q: 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?
A: Pinterest was my overall savior in deciding on the floral arrangements. I originally wanted peonies for myself but unfortunately they were out of season. I instead got pink roses mixed with bits of eucalyptus, my bridesmaids got white roses, white ranunculus, and eucalyptus wrapping it all together. All the bouquets were held together at the stem by burlap and lace.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: Due to the restricts we had to improvise a lot but we were able to set up a nice dance floor and bring music to the party thanks to the speakers that were provided to us. My favorite part was marrying my best friend, wearing my dress, getting such beautiful pictures and seeing everyone have a good time at the reception.
Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A: I had an idea as to what details I wanted to include in my dress: lace, pearls, v back, long train, and 3D flower appliqués. I kept searching until I found one online on Kenneth Winston and asked a local little boutique if they had one to try, which thankfully they did in a cream color. Once I tried it on I fell in love and ordered the color and size I wanted. For my groom, I shared ideas that I loved and thankfully he loves dark colors such as navy as well therefor we went with that for the suit color along with the dusty rose of the brides maids color being added as the grooms tie color. For the bridal party everyone wore the same style in the groomsmen and for the bridesmaid the Matron of Honor had a similar look to the bridesmaids but with a different design on the top. For the ring bearer, he dressed with kakis, suspenders, and a white button down along with a dusty rose bow tie. For the flower girl, I wanted her dress to have similar details as my dress so I made sure there was some small 3D flower design and lace. Her dress was a light gold/beige tone to match the ring barer
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A: Our story begins on the day we first met August 18, 2016.I was traveling to New York with my friend Alex to accompany him to an engagement party for two of his friends in Connecticut. I had never been to Long Island before and I was going to meet his friends and the rest of his family (since I had met his parents a couple of months prior). The first stop was his house, where I would meet his brother and grandparents. We walked in and that is when his brother emerges from a hallway with dark features and fair skin, very timid and not as social as Alex. He introduces himself as CJ. That night we all went to have dinner in Little Italy. I successfully made their parents question my mentality as I smiled and occasionally waved to all the serious faced New Yorkers. As Alex and I twirled around the streets I laughed because I knew they thought I was weird but I knew I'd probably rarely ever see them again... little did I know. Once Alex and I had left New York I would have no contact with CJ and only hear things about him every so often. The next time I were to see him would be right before halloween on October 2017. He was visiting Alex and I with a girl he was dating and greeted me as an old friend. He was no longer as timid and unsociable as I remembered him to be. During his visit I managed to go out to breakfast with them once due to my work schedule.Two months later, right after Christmas I made my way back up to New York to celebrate the holidays with Alex's family and accompany him on a road trip back down to Florida. I almost didn't go on that trip but with much persuasion from Alex and his mother I decided to go.On my first night in Long Island, Alex suggested that himself, CJ, and I go out for a drink. Once we were settled into conversation in the Del Fuego pub/restaurant we got into the topics of relationships and Alex funnily made a comment "well you're looking for a husband and you're looking for a wife, so why don't you both get together". CJ and I looked at each other and laughed as in no way that's going to happen.A couple of nights later, December 29th, 2017, we went out to Stella's for a work get together for CJ and Alex's mom. With how everyone was seated it aligned that CJ and I sat next to each other. As everyone else was reading a poem/story, we started discussing on our views on relationships, comparing it from modern to old times. Then we started playing a game called "what are the odds" to which on one of the rounds he asked "what are the odds that you will go talk to that Cowboy over there" and I replied "1 in 3" (since I don't mind talking to anybody and love meeting new people). Then we both said "1, 2, 3" and we both said "1". Which meant that since we both said the same number I lost and had to go talk to the cowboy. I stood up to which CJ looked alarmed and said "what are you doing?" and I replied "I'm going to talk to the cowboy". Clearly he's not one to play games since he doesn't understand the rules. Once I was talking to the cowboy, Joanne (Alex/CJ's mom) comes up asking what I was doing there to which I explained the game and how I lost. At one point the man asked how did she know me, to which she replied "she's my daughter in law" and I obliged.The rest of the night I played the dutiful daughter in law part, clearly a little too well because I ended up falling in love.On March 7, 2018 Christopher Jospeh Samson, made me a promise. A promise that his intentions were true, pure and for one day to marry me.At first I will admit I was guarded, not because I wanted to be but because of past hurt I had experienced and gone through. The thought of broken promises, fickle words, and much disappointment.Yet, every action, word and sign of love has silenced and banished those thoughts completely. I slowly invited him into my world. Into my community, group of friends and family.This man is everything and more that I have endlessly prayed for in my many cries to God for my “future husband”. The battle of waiting for the person that He has so perfectly and carefully crafted for you is HARD, but in every dark and lonely place there is a calming reassurance knowing that our Heavenly Father meets us there and will guide us through it.Since the making of that promise, we have both worked very hard through making the most and being as intentional with one another as can be living 1,136 miles apart.Which through the endless letters, back and forth packages, vases of flowers, edible arrangements, surprise visits, time zone changes, 32 flights (14 for him/18 for me), road trips up/down the country, FaceTime calls, falling asleep on Skype together on every Monday night date night and much more.On December 29, 2018 CJ and I returned to Stella's for an anniversary dinner of when it all began. That night we sat across from one another we once again talked about relationships, but this one our own. As CJ talked to me about his vision for our future and how one day I will be his wife I knew everything was about to change. Also him wearing his coat all through dinner confirmed the thoughts to which my mind had conceived. We walked out of dinner and he asked me to walk to the right for us to take a picture. As I glance up at him to give him a skeptical look, two of his friends literally jump out from a bush and run toward us with phones out recording us. I then look back at him and rush to put the take out down on the ground and ready myself for the question that I had endlessly heard in friends proposal videos, movies and read about in books. "Will you marry me?" I of course said yes through hurting cheeks as I smiled and laughed as I saw the detail my soon to be husband had placed even to the ring box by adding an LED light to it.All I can say, looking back at our time line and time together is that I am thrilled I decided to come to New York those times. I also look back to all my longing for my future husband and I honestly can say it was worth the wait.Thank you for reading and for sharing this moment in our lives with us.
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: Hands down; walking down the aisle, the anticipation of not seeing each other and then the big reveal of seeing each other at either end of the alter is such a beautiful moment that will forever be in my heart.
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?
A: If you aren’t able to have your dream wedding, someone crashes your ceremony or a family drives you crazy just shake it off and have a cheeky drink. It’ll help you relax and enjoy the day instead of stressing out over every detail. Find comfortable shoes for the reception and make sure to sneak some time with your new hubby and family members. Also be sure to thank everyone that has helped you make the day wonderful!