Swipe Right for Love

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUDIE JACKSON

EVELYN + DERRICK’S STORY

Evelyn and Derrick met on Tinder in 2018. “Derrick swiped right first,” says Evelyn. She swiped right a week later and their love story began.

“The proposal story was simple,” says Evelyn. The couple were vacationing at Excellence at Montego Bay in Jamaica for Evelyn’s birthday and Derrick coordinated a “fake” photo shoot with the resort photographer for the proposal. Evelyn said “Yes!”

THE WEDDING

Evelyn and Derrick chose their close family and friends to stand with them as their wedding party. “Family is very important to both of us so sharing this day with them made things even more special,” says Evelyn.

Although Evelyn’s father passed away in 2020, she and Derrick found several ways to celebrate his memory at the wedding. “We included an empty seat with his hat as well as a memorial table for him so his presence could be felt,” she shares. “I also carried a picture of him on my bouquet so he could be there with me walking down the aisle.”

The ceremony and reception took place at Club XLIV & Encore in New Orleans. Evelyn had a vision for the ceremony, including a mirror aisle and dramatic floral arrangements that event planner Tenisha Keller of Chocolate Bunnie Events brought to reality.

“My favorite part of the wedding day was walking down the aisle with my mom and seeing my handsome husband smiling at me at the end of the aisle,” shares Evelyn. For Derrick, the moments after he and Evelyn were announced ‘Husband and Wife’ was his favorite.

“After all the hard work and preparations, what really mattered to us was done and {we} were now officially a married couple.”