An interesting thing happened in 2020

besides the global pandemic, the quarantine lockdown and the BLM movement. Due to those 3 decisive factors, something interesting happened to the wedding industry. A spotlight was shown on the inequality that has gone on in the wedding industry since the very beginning. Couples and Wedding Vendors were beginning to notice and speak up about the discrepancy of who was being featured in mainstream wedding media. Everyone gets married but it was common for black couples to be overlooked in major wedding publications. It was shown that not only couples of color were not being represented by many publications but also black wedding professionals were not being featured.

This was one of the main reasons my husband and I started our wedding Photography business, Megapixels Media. Because when we were engaged and looking for wedding inspiration on Pinterest, Google and Instagram we couldn't find any couples who looked like us. You don't realize how discouraging that is until you're in the midst of the planning process. That was over 6 years ago and although the representation of black couples is improving there is still a lot of work to be done!

Which brings us to this shoot,

when Fayola of Creative Motion Events reached out and expressed interest in this idea we agreed to do it only if the vendors that we work with are behind the notion that Black Love Matters and that they are willing to graciously serve and promote all couples despite skin tone, ethnic background and sexual orientation. We were thrilled with the diverse team that she came up with! Not only were these vendors diverse but they were all genuinely excited about the message and willing to do any and everything to make this couple's shoot unique and inspiring to other engaged couples.

This couple was supposed to get married in Kenya

this month but due to COVID they eloped earlier this year in Maryland. We wanted Haven Street Ballroom to have some Motherland Charm so we adorned the space with earthy tones and furniture from Something Vintage Rentals. There were also African details on the Stationary by Amore Boutique and Africa shaped cookies by Tiny Tudor Cookies. We chose a warm color palette of orange, red and green with an accent of blue to decorate their shoot, so our florist, Rose and Bel Florals, had a good time arranging different tiger lilies, red sunflowers and roses together to create the perfect bouquet and table spread. Our florist even created an armband with Hey It's So Pretty Silk Ribbon so our bride could have a bouquet even when she didn't feel like holding it. Warm florals were also used on their hand painted cake by Save Room Desserts with matching Macarons by Mrs Macarons on a separate dessert table. Our couple completed this look with 2 very unique wedding attire choices. Jordan, our bride, wore a white desert sand colored dress that clung to her curves and made her feel like a queen while Pierre, our groom, wore a powder blue suit and camel toned beret. Jordan was dripping gold literally from head to toe while Pierre exemplified rose gold details in his outfit. They were stunned at all the details that went into their shoot and how relaxed they could be at something that was made just for them while taking photos with another husband and wife (Megapixels Media). Throughout the night they sipped on red wine, dined on sweets and just soaked in each others presence. The two exemplified Black Power and the way they spoke to one another let us know that they were all for the message that BLACK LOVE MATTERS.

VENDORS

Coordinator and designer:

@creative_motion_events

Photographer: @megapixelsmedia

Makeup: @ariellewisllc

Cake: @saveroomdesserts

Models: @mistamr12 @jordan.kendrall

Stationary: @amoreboutiqueoc

Cookies: @tinytudorcookies

Balloons @jessalbinsevents

Calligraphy : @copperstoneco

Macarons: @mrsmacarons

Rentals: @smthingvintage

Florist: @roseandbelflorals

Venue: @havenstreetballroom

Flower farm: @sevenpetalflowerfarm

Silk ribbon: @heyitsohsopretty