Brandi & Justin 1
10
13
2018
Interview with the
BRIDE & GROOM page 12
exclusive
THE PROPOSAL STORY page 14
BRANDI & JUSTIN Wedding edition
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CONTENTS
47
Ceremony Information
8 12 Meet the Newlyweds
Interview with the Bride & Groom
The Wedding Party
14 16
How We Met
The Proposal
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WELCOME to our wedding
Welcome to our unplugged wedding ceremony. Our big day has finally arrived and we couldn’t be more happier to have you, our dearest friends and family here to celebrate with us! We kindly request you to be fully present with us during our unplugged ceremony, so please turn off all phones and cameras in this moment with us. We would like to thank our amazing parents. We wouldn’t be who we are today without all the love and support you’ve given us throughout our lives. We love you all more than you’ll ever know. Whether you traveled ten minutes or ten hours, your presence is truly appreciated. We love you all and look forward to celebrating with you-not only our marriage, but all the milestones and great times ahead in our lives as well. Now, sit back, relax, enjoy the ceremony, and prepare your mind for a wonderful celebration of love. Love,
Brandi + Justin
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the wedding
CEREMONY Prelude
Seating of Generations Seating of Mothers Wedding Party Processional Entrance of the Bride Welcome and Invocation Minster Terry Wallace, Sr Exchange of Vows & Rings Unity Cross Ceremony Minster Juerga Smith Song - The Lord’s Prayer Dexter Smith The Blessing of the Marriage Pronouncement of Marriage Recessional
Photographer Derrick Norris Videographer Fraizer Films Bride’s Dress Low’s Bridal & Formal Groom’s Attire Men’s Wearhouse
vendors
Bridesmaids Attire Azazie Groomsmen Attire Men’s Wearhouse Bride and Groom Cakes Mickey’s Sweets and Things Caterer House Catering
DJ and Uplighting Central Arkansas Entertainment Bride and Bridesmaid’s Hair Cushena Scott Bride and Bridesmaid’s Makeup Francys Alanis Wedding Coordination/Decorator Tessie Smith
To our coordinator, Tessie Thank you for giving us the wedding of our dreams. Your countless hours preparing, your patience, your understanding, and your love have made this process wonderful. We could never repay you for all that you have done. We appreciate you for taking our vision and making it our now reality. We love you!
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reception
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Ballroom 1100 Napa Valley Drive Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 Leaving Southside Church of Christ: Head north on Geyer Springs Rd toward Southwick Dr. Turn left onto I-30 Frontage Rd. Take the ramp on the left onto I-30 W. Merge onto I-30 W. Take exit 129 for I-430 N toward Fort Smith. Continue onto I-430 N. Take exit 8 for Rodney Parham Rd. Turn left onto N Rodney Parham Rd. Pass by Bank of America Financial Center. Continue onto Hinson Rd. Turn left onto Napa Valley Dr. Your destination will be on the right.
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meet the
NEWLYWEDS brandi monai lewis
Birthday: March 13, 1987 Hometown: Magnolia, Arkansas Education: Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Education in School Counseling, Master of Science in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling Current career: School Counselor Favorite movie: Love & Basketball Favorite musician: Beyoncé Celebrity crush: Kofi Siriboe (“Ralph Angel” from Queen Sugar) Dream car: Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV Dream vacation: Bora Bora
justin anthony wallace Birthday: November 29, 1990
Hometown: Hernando, Mississippi Education: B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies Current career/occupation: Senior Minister College Heights Church of Christ Favorite movie: Life Favorite musician/musical group: Calvin Richardson/H-Town Celebrity crush: Lauren London Dream car: Rolls-Royce Wraith Dream vacation: Anywhere with my Bride
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an
UNEXPECTED encounter
AS TOLD BY JUSTIN & BRANDI Justin: For Brandi and I, church has always been a vital part of our lives. Growing up at church where my father was the pastor, preaching was something that always grabbed my attention, little did I know that God’s calling of preaching and ministry on my life would lead me to my Proverbs 31 woman. While preaching at an engagement in Magnolia, I remember seeing a very beautiful woman walk into the sanctuary of the church, take her seat, and engage in the service. Brandi: I wondered why he kept staring at me. If you truly know me the expression on my face spoke VOLUMES! Justin: While preparing to preach I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was, I would get a good look at her then I would look away really quickly so that she wouldn’t notice me looking. While preaching my lesson I couldn’t help but think in the back of my mind I have to talk to this woman. I couldn’t wait for service to be over so I could introduce myself, I was so nervous I almost didn’t speak. Brandi: After church, I saw Justin standing at the back door. When it was my turn to exit, he tried hugging me but it ended up being really awkward. I remember looking up at him and seeing that big smile. I on the other hand, quickly tried to leave. I wanted to know more about him which lead me directly to Facebook and us connecting. Justin: I spoke to her but it didn’t happen the way I had planned. After leaving the Southview Church in Magnolia social media became a medium that kept us connected and eventually we exchanged contact information and from there our journey began.
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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
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an
INTERVIEW with the couple
What was your first impression?
Who was the first to say “I love you”?
B: I thought he was very handsome and
B: Justin, definitely. He was so nervous. J: I was the first to say I love you.
was quite surprised by how well he could sing and preach. J: I was amazed by her beauty and her attentiveness while I was preaching.
What did you do on your first date? B: On our first date we went to a local restaurant in my hometown, Flying Burger. I was so nervous. J: We had our very first dinner date at a restaurant named Flying Burger, our conversation was amazing and intriguing, it was an amazing evening.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned about each other? B: Justin is a fly by the seat of his pants type of guy and I literally try to plan out everything. I don’t know who stresses each other out the most when it comes to doing something. I also don’t think I’ve ever met a person who could eat BBQ as much as he does. I think that’s only one of two meals he knows how to prepare. J: The most interesting thing I’ve learned
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about my honey is the way she cooks her omelets. She puts all of the ingredients in a ziplock bag and then drops the bag in a pot of boiling water, they are delicious. She is also a very detailed oriented person who loves decorating, reading, and watching LMN.
What is one thing you enjoy doing as a couple? B: We love going on dates. Movies, bowling, or trying new restaurants, We make quality time a priority. I would say we love shopping together, but I don’t enjoy him always asking, “Babe, how much longer?”, or “Babe, do you really need somehting out of there?” but you know I do enjoy him carrying all of my bags without me asking, so I guess it’s a fair trade. J: We love going to the movies, going shopping, and going to church.
What do you love most about each other? B: Justin is seriously the sweetest person I know, he loves surprising me. I also love how he’s so easy going.
J: I love her sacrificial, kind, and loving spirit. I also love her detail orientedness because it directs my free spirit.
When did you know he/she was the one for you? B: I knew Justin was the one after reflecting back on everything I had prayed specifically for in my future husband. Justin is literally everything I asked God for and then some. Patience and Prayer works. J: I knew she was the one when I called her one night very down. I had just finished crying about a certain situation that really vexed my spirit. She spoke life into my spirit and prayed for me.
What’s next for you two? B: We’re super excited about vacationing together. There are so many places we can’t wait to visit. New York is at the top of our list. J: We’re planning on taking several trips before we have children, there will be some job changes but with our love for God and each other, we can make it through our transitions.
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the
PROPOSAL
of a lifetime
ACCORDING TO THE GROOM I believe you all can see which one of us is the more detailed one. I am a very fly by the seat of my pants type of person and my lovely bride is a very strategic and methodical person, so as you can imagine this proposal was not strategic or methodical which would force her to be all over the place until it was time to pop the question. I planned this proposal in one day, as a matter of fact I bought the ring, called her mom, sister, and her two closest friends all in
the same day. On the way back to Pine Bluff I called her mom and asked for her daughter’s hand in marriage, very spontaneous right. I didn’t plan anything extravagant, I wanted to surprise her on a normal Sunday because I knew she wouldn’t expect to be engaged on this normal Sunday. I was so excited, nervous, and worried all at the same time but I received the greatest answer to a proposal question that was a very emotional “YES!”
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ACCORDING TO THE BRIDE Sunday, October 8, 2017 started like any normal Sunday for me. My mom and I went to church together and afterwards she took me home. My sister, Kimi ended up stopping by not long after I made it home to catch up. As she and I were talking, Justin called and told me that his brother, DJ and sister in law, Shirell had surprised him at church and they all were headed down to see me. After a couple of hours Justin, DJ, and Shirell finally made it. Then a few minutes after that my mom pops up requesting paint she mentioned earlier so we all headed outside. I still didn’t know anything was up. I was just excited to have everyone over. That same week Justin had been out of town. He informed me that he brought me a gift back. He knows how much I love surprise gifts. I opened it and it was exfoliant body scrub. He keeps going on and on about how good it smells and asks me several times if I like it. After the 5th time of him asking me, I’m like what is wrong with you, it’s just body scrub lol. My mom interrupts by telling me
she thinks she left a pair of earrings in my bedroom and she wanted me to help her look for them. So we all head back in the house. So, I’m looking for these earrings, and Justin is calling my name to come here over and over. I go and see what he wants and from there things get really weird. He starts telling me to hold his hand and if you know me I’m already asking why. Lol He then begins telling me how much he loves me and how much I mean to him. He gets on one knee then it finally clicks in my head what’s going on, I literally begin crying uncontrollably. Through all of the tears, I excitedly said YES!!! My mom quickly came and embraced me but the shock of my life was when I turned around and saw my two closest friends there witnessing the whole thing, I screamed and cried all over again, It meant the world to me that Justin included his family, (His dad, mom, and sister were all on FaceTime watching), my sister, mom, and friends in one of the best days of my life.
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our
SUPPORT KIMI JEFFERSON
CHANDRA CLAYTON
ROBIN HARPER
PHORSYTHIA MARSHALL Bridesmaid
KENDRA PHILLIPS
ELLANA STUART
Matron of Honor
Bridesmaid
Bridesmaid
AUDREAUNA WALLACE Bridesmaid
Bridesmaid
SHIRELL WALLACE
AUDRIANA CLAYTON Petal Princess
Bridesmaid
Bridesmaid
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TERRY WALLACE, JR. Best Man
JULIUS BLACK
MARCUS BLACK
VICTOR BLACK
NICK INGRAM
BRANDON MALONE
Groomsman
Groomsman
Groomsman
ROBERT MARSHALL Groomsman
ZARIAH SMITH Petal Princess
Groomsman
Groomsman
KEITH MOORE Groomsman
ZANTERRYION WALLACE Ring Security
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newlywed
TRIVIA DID YOU KNOW: Brandi started out majoring in Criminal Justice during Undergrad. Justin’s favorite colors are blue and black. Brandi can’t swim. Brandi has Justin watching movies on Lifetime Movie Network. Justin loves grilled food; he can eat it everyday. Brandi is afraid of heights. Justin calls Brandi “BUGG” 90% of the time. Brandi really enjoys watching reality tv. Brandi was born on Friday the 13th. Justin’s mom and dad almost named him Jonathan Thomas. Brandi could eat seafood everyday. Justin loves going to the movies. Brandi dislikes most vegetables. Justin’s favorite restaurant is Longhorn Steakhouse. Brandi wants three children. Justin loves looking at rims, tires, and speakers for trucks. Brandi took 7 years of dance (clogging, twirling, and jazz). Justin gets really nervous around new people or big crowds. Brandi’s mom was very close to naming her Brittany or Heather. Justin wants five children.
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“Once in a lifetime, you meet someone who changes UNKNOWN
everything.�
magazine design by Unlike Juliet photography by Derrick Norris