7 minute read
We Said ‘I Do’ During The Pandemic
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TAMPA, FL.
Photography by Kristina Maness
WE MET: Through a mutual friend via Instagram followed by copious, purposeful phone conversations. We connected - mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When we finally met in person (after a delayed period of time because of COVID), our love story was sealed.
HE POPPED THE QUESTION AT: The
Sandpearl Resort [Clearwater Beach, FL on Alicia’s birthday]…It was nice, romantic and COVID proof. THE GREATEST CHALLENGE was finding a
nice venue available and that allows us the discretion to plan our wedding in a way to implement our own COVID precautions and to plan the wedding without fear of cancellation.
AS EVIDENCED IN OUR LOVE STORY of
meeting and falling in love during the COVID pandemic, the primary deciding factor is love prevails over COVID…Our COVID love story is incomplete without the COVID wedding as a testament of our love not withstanding crisis.
WE HAVE SPENT MORE QUALITY TIME
TOGETHER and have built stronger communication without activity distractions because of COVID restrictions. I would further say, ironically, COVID positioned us both to meet at a perfect time. Winter 2021|41| royalteemagazine.com
#RoyalWomen #RoyalMen
ATLANTA, GA.
GOT A RING ON IT: April 4, 2020
WE ACTUALLY MET twice and didn’t know it! The first time we met, Bakari was delivering furniture I ordered from his job. I thought he was so cute and a working man! I gave him the “female signal” to let him know it was okay to talk to me, but he did not take the hint (lol). Ironically, his co-worker took the hint for himself and tried to talk to me. Don’t you hate when that happens? I politely declined and he told Bakari what the deal was. He finally approached me, we exchanged numbers, and I invited him to a huge party my brother was hosting that evening. Bakari didn’t showed up. I deleted his number after he told me he was busy and couldn’t make multiple meetups. Later, I found out he was busy because he was on tour with his band every weekend.
Flash forward two years later on a Sunday, we met again at Boston Market. I didn’t know where I knew him from. I just thought he was cute. This time, he made the biggest effort to talk to me while I was simply minding my own business. We still didn’t know who each other were. In hindsight, Bakari told me that when he looked up and saw me, he softly whispered to God, “If she’s the one, give her to me.” He was working, so he took a risk…I called him two weeks later and the rest is history in the making. From a stranger to the love of my life.
Photography by Marcus Duval
WE’D ALREADY POSTPONED OUR
WEDDING TWICE… based on the increasingly strict guidelines, number of guests allowed, canceling of vendors and so much more. It was three weeks before our wedding when we postponed it the first time. We’d already planned our entire event then to be forced to cancel for the safety of ourselves and our guests, it was devastating. We decided our love can’t wait, so we tied the knot without all of the hype.
We said “I DO” in front of 10 or less close family and friends at our church headquarters. There were 1 or 2 people seated per row, us, and our Pastor. It. Was. Magical. In that instance, our priorities shifted. All of the things we planned and paid for were no longer a priority. Our love was/is. where it all started.
A DREAM WEDDING? Honestly speaking, as far as the venue, decor, and everything we hoped for, no. But as far as the joining of hands in holy matrimony to the love of our life, yes! No venue, flowers, extra guests, or food can top that.
TALLAHASSEE, FL.
GOT A RING ON IT: July 24, 2020
WE MET on Snapchat! (Millennials, right? lol) We had a mutual friend on the app who introduced us. At first I wasn’t giving James the time of day because I was so focused on myself and school and I didn’t want to be bothered with yet another failed fling. But I’m glad he persevered and kept sliding in my DMs!
Photography by Vernon Barber, Studio V Media
OUR ORIGINAL WEDDING date was slated
for November 7, 2020. But the pandemic was getting worse and a lot of the venues and vendors we wanted were closed and didn’t know when they would reopen. Then it hit us – we could save so much money by just having a private wedding ceremony with immediate family. And who doesn’t love to save a coin? Once we came to that realization it was no turning back.
WE HELD A CLOSED PRIVATE WEDDING CEREMONY with just our
parents and siblings and had a virtual wedding reception via Zoom so all of our other family and friends could celebrate with us. My godmother decorated the living room in her house like a reception venue and we celebrated “Mr. & Mrs. Thomas: Pandemic Edition”.
IT WAS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT than
what we imagined our wedding to be, but it was everything we needed nonetheless. We had our loving parents and siblings with us, and other relatives and friends joined via zoom so we still felt the love all around.
WITH US BEING YOUNG, we had some
murmurs here and there from outsiders about whether or not we were truly ready to get married. And we knew they would come, but when negativity is constantly in your ear it can get a bit overbearing. But we had the approval and blessings from our parents, and we stood firmly on the foundation we had created, and we knew what we wanted.
#RoyalWomen #RoyalMen
TALLAHASSEE, FL.
Photography by Drehow Photography
CAMBRIDGE CAME INTO MY LIFE AT A TIME WHEN I THOUGHT I
DIDN’T NEED ANYONE. He is hilarious,
always keeps a smile on my face and that is just what I needed at that moment. My first reaction, “This will be a cool friend.” Never would I have imagined where we would be today.
I MADE THE DECISION TO PROPOSE ON HER BIRTHDAY
because I wanted Allysan to have something amazing to remember that day by. I chose one of her favorite restaurants and I invited a few of her close friends and family to share that moment with us. She always told me that she didn’t want a huge crowd whenever that day came, so finding a creative way to distance ourselves wasn’t really an issue. The restaurant allowed us to reserve the back half of the building so that we could properly spread everyone out.
THIS SEASON OF LOVE FOR ME IS DEFINITELY GOD ORDAINED. I never
thought that I would be in a place where I would be planning a wedding. Three years ago, I was comfortable being single and focused on MY future. Then came Cambridge. He has been a complete joy to be with. Some days I wake up, struggling to get myself together and he will send a sweet text or an encouraging word that gives me the push that I needed. I opened my heart and my life to this man and I am READY for what’s to come!
I FEEL THAT I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING. I’M EXCITED TO DO THIS THING
CALLED LIFE WITH ALLYSAN. Growing
deeper in my relationship with God has allowed me to grow deeper in my relationship with her. I’ve made personal changes to ensure that I am the man that she needs and more importantly, deserves. I’ve learned so much over the past year and I am excited to her husband.
The interviews has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
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