Vow Renewal: Shekinah + Thaddeus

OCCUPATIONS: (Thaddeus) Professional Basketball Player, Indiana Pacers #21, (Shekinah) Entrepreneur/Owner of Forever Young Beauty Bar

WEDDING DATE: August 18, 2012 at the Esplanade in Cordova, TN.

MARRIED FOR: 5 years

LOCATION OF ANNIVERSARY: Chimes & Occasions in Memphis, TN

What was your wedding like?

Our wedding was very traditional. We had classic invitations in black and white. Our wedding was in the evening and the attire was formal. Inside the venue was lit by candles and decorated in black, white and red. The singer, Tank, sang the bride down the aisle with a live band.

As you celebrate your anniversary, what do you remember most about your wedding day?

Thaddeus: My wife was as happy as I have ever seen her. She looked beautiful walking down the aisle. I was nervous leading up to that day, but seeing her walking down the aisle removed all the nervousness and calmed me down because I knew I made the right decision and she was the one I couldn’t live without. Shekinah: When the doors opened for me to walk down the aisle. I saw Thad and our families and it just felt right.

What are your favorite things to do as a couple?

We love to travel, go to the movies, bowling, and relax together because we both have crazy schedules.

Who cooks?

Thad can’t cook! We currently have a chef that prepares most of our meals.

Do you have any children or pets?

Yes, we have two boys, Thaddeus Jr.(7), and Taylor Young (4).

When it comes to career, what do both of you do and how do you make time for each other?

Thaddeus is a professional athlete with the Indiana Pacers. Shekinah owns a beauty salon in Memphis. We always try make time for each other, even if it means Shekinah flying to see Thad in far away cities. We devote a lot of the summer to our family.

What would you say are the most important elements for a successful marriage?

The most important elements for a successful marriage is communication, commitment to growing together each day, and making time for each other.

How do you keep the spark in your marriage?

"We keep the spark in our marriage by being best friends and continuing to focus on each other.

Tell us about the shoot. What inspired it?

Around the time of the wedding Shekinah saw a photoshoot by Ainsley & Sebastian and instantly fell in love with their irreverent and fun concept, it was her first inspiration. She wanted to build on the idea of Las Vegas fun, mix it with a little bit of the fashion forward L.A. vibe and plant it in their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Best part, she wanted the whole thing to be a complete surprise for Thaddeus. Since they travel so much, it was important to them to be surrounded by family at their anniversary. Shekinah and Thaddeus love to go “ALL OUT” on their parties so they called Bella Baxter Events to design and produce a seriously fun guest experience for the party. Elvis officiated and then joined the crowd for cocktails and gambling! Guests were treated to custom Forever Young temporary tattoos, photos by the photo trailer Amurica, pop rock inspired signature cocktails, and an Elvis inspired menu. The bride also wanted to have a cutting edge photo session and really show her fashion forward side. The Bride owns her own salon and had her expert stylists do her hair and makeup. Custom outfits were created for both the Bride and Groom.

What advice can you give for newlyweds?

"Communicate each day. Help each other become better individuals because growth is key to marital success."