When did you and your husband meet?
K: Dave and I attended undergrad and graduate school together at Florida A&M University (FAMU) 1999 – 2004. We were in the same professional MBA program, had classes together and tons of mutual friends. However, we only knew each other casually during college. We ran into each other in Philadelphia in 2008 while I was attending a professional conference. While out to dinner with a group of friends from college we stepped away to talk; an hour into a conversation about our goals, dreams, and passions I knew he was special. We started a long distance courtship between NJ and NC (where I was completing my PhD) and 10 months later he proposed. We were married at Couples Negril Resort in Negril, Jamaica on November 18, 2009.
How was your big day?
K: Our wedding was absolutely amazing!! It was honestly more beautiful and intimate than I could have ever imagined. I always wanted to get married on the beach. Walking down the isle barefoot to the love of my life was simply indescribable. Our wedding was very small and intimate, we were only joined by our mothers and a close family friend. The resort made the process stress free and we were able to enjoy 10 days together in Jamaica on a beautiful honeymoon away from the hustle and bustle of the world.
How did you wear your hair?
K: I wore my hair in a twist-out with the back pinned up. Determining how to wear my hair for our wedding was a somewhat stressful process. I looked through tons of hair sites and books, but was unable to find many natural brides. I knew that I did not want to straighten my hair for our wedding, especially not being in the Caribbean. I wanted a natural, yet elegant style. The resort’s website had a message board with pictures of other brides, but very few were African American or natural brides. We had to arrive in Jamaica two days prior to our wedding before being allowed to marry so that made it even more difficult to style my hair prior to the wedding. I finally decided to let my stylist stateside flat twist my hair back (similar to cornrows) and the stylist in Jamaica unraveled it the morning of our wedding and secured the back with bobby pins. I added a small vintage hair clip and a birdcage veil to complete the look.
Everyone loved my hair including the resort staff and guest, in addition to our friends and family back home when they saw the video and pictures. I have always known that Dave loves me just as I am and he embraces every part of me. As I walked down the isle to my husband I felt beautiful, confident, and completely at peace in my natural state. There is no better feeling in this world than to look into your husband’s eyes and know that he loves you totally and completely for who you are.
