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T H E D AY Y O U ’ V E A LW AY S D R E A M E D O F Take the first steps of your new life together at the magnificent Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Whether you’re celebrating with grandeur for hundreds or planning a small gathering for those closest to you, our team has options for all types. Choose from several large ballrooms or select a more intimate space like our
Pulse Loft or Skyline Level, all with customized menus to reflect your distinct tastes. Relax with a pre-wedding massage and beauty treatment at our Spa while our professional teams of planners, caterers and events specialists create a day you’ll never forget.
©2019 Marriott International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All names, marks and logos are the trademarks of Marriott International, Inc., or its affiliates.
AT L A N TA M A R R I OT T M A RQ U I S 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303 404.521.0000 | AtlantaMarquis.com @ATLMarriottMarq 2
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
WINTER 2022
B:11.375 in
S:9.875 in
T:10.875 in
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Cover Story
A LOVE MET WITH PURPOSEFUL INTENTION Mame Adjei & Kwabana Seth Oduro
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Volume 12 Mary Chatman Editor-in-Chief Scott Chatman Chief Financial Officer Candice Davie Associate Editor Carly Totten Deputy Copy Editor Ty Davenport Senior Digital Marketing Specialist Amber Spence Sales Associate Toneka Royal Columnist
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Actress Raven Goodwin shares how she met the love of her life, Wiley Battle
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sylvia Brownlee Patricia Davis B. Gandy Stephanie Kilson-Thomas Shardae and Emmett Orr Cheryl Polote Williamson Nishaka Proctor Carmen and Will Watkins Shannon SG Jarrett Design, Art Direction & Production Mary Chatman Publisher
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Be Your Own Relationship Goals: Create Without Comparison Cheryl Polote Williamson
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Published by BLACK BRIDETM 320 Town Center Avenue Suite C-11 Suwanee, GA 30024 Copyright © 2022 Black Bride. All rights reserved.
First Comes Love:
Then Comes Marriage:
Health & Beauty
Real Engagements
Real Weddings
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Krystle and Joshua
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Miami, FL
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Janay and Jeremy
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Lauren and Shaq
New Braunfels, TX
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Orlando, FL
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Courtney and Leepole
Katherine and Roddy Chattanooga, TN
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How to Choose Your Bridal Makeup Artist
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Choosing the Right Hairstylist for Your Wedding :
Shantel and Otis Nashville, TN
Julie and John Atlanta, GA
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Planning for Your Big Day
Sydnie and Will
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Savannah, GA
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Janea and Marquis
Aisha and Jordan Birmingham, AL
Elevating Your Wedding Day Style with Accessories: Tips to Turn Your Bridal Look Editorial
Claymont, DE
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Brides and Breakouts: A Guide to Preparing Your Skin for Your Big Day
Houston, TX
Red Rock Canyon, NV
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Fatimat and Kingsley
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Benefits and Tips of Couples Fitness: Get Fit for Your Wedding Day
In Every Issue
Planning
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Editor’s Letter
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Our Favorite Things
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Real Engagements
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Real Weddings
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After the Aisle
Travel
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Bridal Beauty Glam
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A Parisian Dream
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Fashion Inspiration Boards
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How to Realistically Budget for Your Wedding
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148
Best All-Inclusive, Adults-Only Resorts for Your Winter Honeymoon
Bridal Suite 156
Collection of Fine Vendors Resource Guide
Bridal Fashion Trend Report
FOR MORE, SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TODAY Everything you need to plan your dream wedding: Inspiration • Real Weddings • Fine Vendors
GET SOCIAL WITH US! /blackbride1998
@blackbride1998
/blackbride
/blackbride
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UNFORGETTABLE WEDDINGS AND PRIVATE EVENTS 4 0 4 9 9 5 75 5 0 | WA L D O R FA S TO R I A AT L A N TA .CO M 3 376 P E AC H T R E E R D N E , AT L A N TA , G A 3 0 3 2 6 6
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DEAR BRIDES, Happy New Year! Congrats on your engagement. Whether you are newly engaged, or you’ve been waiting to marry the love of your life for months or even years, we commend you for being patient, flexible, and creative as you navigate your way down the aisle. Just like 2021, 2022 is gearing up to be a very busy wedding season, and we cannot wait to see and share your love stories and the details your creative professionals design for you. This issue is all about bridal fashion! As we continue to navigate through to a post-COVID life, we recommend working with a planner who can help you to navigate the CDC’s ever-changing gathering guidelines. We also take note that there have been many changes to the world as we knew it. Part of the change helped move the industry forward and pivot into a new direction as it relates to bridal style and a desire to move past traditional white dresses with lots of tulle and sparkle. The looks in our cover story are a variety of designs from various 2022 collections that showcase classy, elegant styles suitable for everything from your bridal shower to your wedding day and beyond. Of course, this issue is all about love, too! I sat down via Zoom with “Being Mary Jane” actress Raven Goodwin, who shared her endearing, manifested love story and intimate dream wedding with her financial executive beau, Wiley Battle, in Santorini, Greece. Also, be sure to check out the cover story featuring stunning model, actress, and activist Mame Adjei and her dapper actor fiancé Kwabana Seth Oduro. Mame is a real gem to work with — a professional that moved about like a chameleon in each look we styled for her.
For more inspiration and wedding vendor information, visit our website at www.BlackBride.com, follow us on Instagram @BlackBride1998. Email us at hello@blackbride.com and let us know what you think of the winter issue.
As you flip through the 2021/22 winter issue, know we are so honored and excited to share Black love stories! We hope you can see your own story reflected back at you as you read about the love between real couples, and we hope you feel inspired by the work amazing wedding professionals are doing to bring your vision to life on your big day. Like all of the content we share, we curate it just for you — and I’m so excited for you to explore every page. Cheers to love, health, and 2022!
Mary
Mary Chatman Editor-in-Chief
CHECK OUT OUR EDITORS’ TOP PICKS FOR THE SEASON
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Editors' Top Picks
Here are a few of our favorite things for the season
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Pink Moon Rose Quartz Gua Sha Facial Tool $35; Pinkmoon.co
L O V E 2022 Planner $28.99; Papier.com
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Urban Skin Rx Even Tone Super Glow Serum $23.99; Urbanskinrx.com
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Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum $132; yslbeautyus.com
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Delon Candle $38; Deloncandles.com
Silver and Riley Durban Convertible Crossbody and Clutch Leather Bag $295; Silverandriley.com
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COVER SHOOT CREATIVE TEAM...
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he vision for the cover shoot was to highlight cover-girl Mame Adjei and her fiancé. It’s an honor to share their love story, while telling a story about bridal fashion. Through the couple, the cover story features new semi-formal and formal looks and style trends that are refreshing and forward thinking. From the bachelorette to the bridal shower, and the wedding to the afterparty, day-after brunch, and honeymoon, we wanted to showcase plenty of looks in this issue to offer the most inspiration to you, our readers. We also want to extend a special thank you to Jean Cedric (@jeancedricd) for designing the textured watercolor backdrop inspired by the sky, sand, and sea. It’s a place where most of us want to be! Meet the creative team that came together to make it happen!
CREATIVE DIRECTION Mary Chatman Editor-in-Chief Black Bride Magazine
PHOTOGRAPHER Amy Anaiz Amy Anaiz Photography Amy Anaiz is an intimate editorial wedding and portrait photographer based in New York City. She is keen on creating beautiful, joyous, and heartfelt imagery that tells a story. Her style is focused on connecting with her subjects and capturing the emotion and personality of everyone she works with while using beautiful, flattering light, paying close attention to detail. IG:@AMYANAIZPHOTO | AMYANAIZ.COM
SET DIRECTOR Tony Minifield YNOT Images
SET LOCATION Chil Studios Located in the heart of the historic West End and Adair Park, the studio consists of sleek, warehousestyle production and event spaces that are conveniently housed inside MET Atlanta. The studio spaces are designed by creatives with professionals and content creators in mind. With over 3,000 square feet of minimalistic creative space, the possibilities of what you can do are endless. IG: @CHILSTUDIOS |CHILSTUDIOS.COM
Antonio "Tony" Minifield is the lead photographer at YNOT iMages LLC. He has the honor of having his wife, Haley Minifield, as his main second shooter. Tony and Haley are passionate about love and people. Their #1 focus is wedding photography and cinematography and have been in business for 11 years. In addition, they have been a part of the Black Bride family since late 2014. They believe that the key to their success in capturing people's special days is not just the lighting or the angles; it’s the EXPERIENCE! IG: @YNOT_IMAGES | YNOTIMAGES.COM
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BRIDAL FASHION STYLIST
Dara Adams Veil by Dara Adams
Dara Adams is the founder and lead stylist of the bridal fashion styling agency, Veil by Dara Adams. Dara created VBDA to give Black Brides a safe space to express their authentic selves through bridal fashion. When styling her clients, she feels it’s necessary to not only recognize their lifestyle, culture, and values but also to use it as the inspiration to create and execute a personalized wedding day look that truly reflects the unique essence of each client. Dara lives in Brooklyn, New York, but she enjoys styling weddings and editorial projects worldwide. IG: @VEILBYDARAADAMS | VEILBYDARAADAMS.COM
BEAUTY
B. Gandy
B. Gandy is a highly sought-after Luxury Bridal Makeup Artist based in Atlanta, Ga. With over 15 years of expertise in beauty, Bee has dedicated her career to creating Iconic Red Carpet Inspired Looks for Women of Color. As a leader in the industry, Bee has expanded to education and continues to raise the bar as it relates to make up for Black Women. It is her belief that every Bride deserves to look and feel her absolute BEST on her wedding day IG: @BFORBEAUTE.CO
GROOM FASHION STYLIST
Aaliyah Taylor The Favorite Life Inc.
Aaliyah Taylor is a Costume Buyer and Beauty & Wardrobe Consultant. Throughout her career she has styled television commercials, ad campaigns, music videos, as well as fashion photo shoots and runway productions. Along with commercial projects, Aaliyah enjoys styling her private clients. Aaliyah always strives to improve a person’s confidence through the enhancement of their own personal style. IG: @OOHLALA_LILI
SET ASSISTANCE
Megan Pennan - Intern
Megan is an aspiring luxury bridal stylist, with an eye for bridal fashion and style. Megan has styled dozens of brides during her tenor at Winnie Couture.
HAIR
Tevin Tribble
IG: @TEVIN_TRIBBLE
IG: @OHMYMEGAN
*The textured watercolor backdrop is inspired by the sky, sand, and sea. It’s a place where most of us want to be!
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Sandra Garcia Bridges Bridges Cinema Bridges Cinema is a husband-andwife team with a passion for family, music, and creativity. The couple loves creating films that are unique, timeless, and emotional. Their style is unobtrusive, but they are sure to capture moments that will be preserved forever. They create cinematic films that capture timeless and emotional moments. IG: @BRIDGESCINEMA | BRIDGESCINEMA.COM
CUSTOM BACKDROP DESIGN
Jean Cedric
Jean Cedric graduated with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the University of the District of Columbia. He is a graduate student currently based in Rockville, Maryland. Jean is a creative individual who thinks outside of the box. Passionate about his work, he aspires to use it to impact the world around him. IG: @JEANCEDRICD | JEANCEDRIC.COM
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Real Engagements How real couples knew they were the "one" for each other
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Courtesy of Amsale
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BRIDAL FASHION TREND REPORT
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OUR COVER STYLE
Inspiration
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believe a Bride’s wedding look should be a reflection of who she is and her life experiences. With Mame Adjei being such an esteemed high fashion model and disruptor within the fashion industry , It was important to select garments that were not only bridal, but embodied an essence of elevated style. We sourced gowns from all over the world that would stand apart from what we usually expect from bridal fashion. Just as Mame has made an effort to stand apart from what we’ve learned to expect from fashion models. I think intentionality is the perfect word for weddings. I love to see couples who have been intentional with their love take the step towards marriage and to be intentional with their wedding planning and design. Wedding fashion should also be a part of that thought. I hope by seeing this dynamic range of bridal fashion in the fashion issue inspires brides to be intentional with their wedding looks as well.
Dara Adams Bridal Stylist
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COVER STORY
Mame Adjei
& Kwabana Seth Oduro A LOVE MET WITH PURPOSEFUL INTENTION WRITTEN BY CANDICE DAVIE
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After THE AISLE Lessons Learned in Love and Life with Your Spouse
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TRAVEL
Photo: Excellence Oyster Bay
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Best All-Inclusive, Adults-Only Resorts for Your WinterHoneymoon WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE KILSON-THOMAS
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he thrills of planning a wedding are coming to an end, and it’s time to start planning for your honeymoon! Couples begin planning their honeymoon roughly 4-6 months prior to their wedding date. This gives couples time to wrap up paying for their wedding and begin investing into their first trip as Mr. and Mrs. Couples look for different experiences while traveling for their honeymoon — some want adventure, some just want to relax and go to the spa, and some like a mix of both. One thing we’ve found that lots of couples have in common is they all want adults-only resorts to celebrate their union (sorry, kids!). Let’s look at some of our top adults only resorts for honeymoons.
EXCELLENCE OYSTER BAY Location: Trelawny, Jamaica Excellence Oyster Bay is an absolute dream. With 315 rooms, your room won’t be too far from the beach, restaurants, and pool. Couples have the option of choosing junior suites with a garden view, pool view, or one with your own private pool. This resort is located on the peninsula in Jamaica with direct access to the Luminous Lagoon, a popular excursion in Jamaica.
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