SAVING for Your Dream Wedding
THE
DRESS
ISSUE
Hairstyling Tools
That’ll Save Your Time
Wandjell Browning
Keeps Families CONNECTED
Photographer: Catchingzzzproductions Hair: Portia Lea Beauty Expert Makeup: Jillyne Renee Artistry Bridal Gown: Sweet Romance Bridal Venue: Bella Moon Barn Real Bride: Wandjell Browning
A Letter from the Editor To the Reader: In this issue, we wanted to highlight the good that one wife is doing in Houston, Texas and beyond! Wandjell Browning of Freedom Child Foundation is using the tough experiences from her past as motivation to help others who are currently going through hardships become resilient and want more out of life. Learn more about how Wandjell is impacting the lives of children with incarcerated parents on page 12. We had so much fun creating this edition of the magazine, producing shows on our network, Affinity TV, and promoting everything that Affinity Weddings has to offer for wedding vendors! The Dress Issue features content of a real wedding, the free wedding giveaway we hosted and lmed called My Dream Wedding, and images from our Winter Elegance-themed styled shoot. We hope you enjoy! Take a look at the upcoming shows for Affinity TV on page 9. Also, take a look at our brand new mobile, dynamic magazine.
Sincerely,
Zondra Victor Editor-in-Chief Affinity Weddings Magazine
Photographer: Asad Photo Maldives
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TABLE OF CONTENTS A Letter from the Editor 2 Meet the Team 5 Keeping Your Peace of Mind 6 Saving for Your Dream Wedding 9 Wandjell Browning Keeps Families Connected 12 Hairstyling Tools That’ll Save You Time 14 Innovative Ideas for a Dessert Table 16 Unique Floral Ideas 21 Dream Altar Options 23 Staying Physically Healthy While You Plan 29
Photographer: Pavlicek Creations
MEET THE TEAM Bailey Jordan
Jamilah Robinson
Zondra Victor
CEO
President
Chief Content OďŹƒcer
Editorial
Adeline Saunders
So a Gonzalez
Chantel Smith
Jocelyn Sauceda
Graphic Design
Ridhoh Sayfuddin
Production
Antonella Mazzei
Hannah Joseph-Alvarado
Production credits: Coordinator: Next Chapter Weddings Photographer: Pavlicek Creations Venue: Bella Moon Florals: Bring Joy Decor: Mulberry Basket Events, LLC
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Keeping Your Peace of Mind By Sofia Gonzalez
Most brides believe that the months leading up to their wedding is supposed to be the best time of their lives, but let’s be real, planning a wedding is no joke—and neither is the toll it takes on a person’s mental health. Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and mood changes are all illnesses that can affect a person who is under a lot of stress or pressure. It's common for most brides to bear the brunt of at least one of these while wedding planning. However, there are many things a bride can do to either steer clear of this all together, or get it under control with a plan. Before doing so, a bride must nd where this stress is originating from. Normally the stress begins with family, a wedding budget, the guest list, and the endless amounts of decisions one must make before their big day. Taking control of every aspect of these things will help you maintain your mental health. When it comes to family, not everyone likes each other or gets along, so this can be very difficult when making seating arrangements and a guest list. In order to try to eliminate this, you may need to communicate with family and tell them that if they are not willing to behave, then they simply will not be allowed. At the end of the day, you want your wedding to be a drama-free zone, and they should love you enough to respect that. As for the wedding budget, try to plan out everything needed for the wedding. Put this into a book and add up all the expenses. After doing this, take out things that you do not need, or nd alternatives to anything that may cause you to go over your budget.
Photographer: Pavlicek Creations
Also, don’t be afraid to ask family for nancial help. This can alleviate a lot of stress off your shoulders. Now for the guest list, not everyone needs to be invited and this is something that should be accounted for. Not every old friend or distant relative should get an invite. To minimize drama and costs, be picky with who you invite, and don’t feel bad for anyone you did not invite. If these people end up reaching out to you because they are hurt, don’t take it personally. They probably have not been an active person in your life for years and only want to go to the wedding for the party. Fortunately, you are not responsible for deciding every decision there is for the wedding day. Some things might need to be settled with you and your partner, or by your partner alone. In order to avoid drama with this, be sure to communicate with your partner and to not become frustrated when there is a disagreement. It is important to keep a fresh and open mind with everything. There are other ways that you can take control of your mental health during this stressful time. This includes working out, eating better, getting enough sleep, setting a set schedule daily, talking to a therapist, or talking to friends and family members that are married. In the end, don’t get caught up in making everything perfect, because nothing is. Take it one day at a time and don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed.
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Production credits: Photographer: Libra Scale Creative Venue: BienVenue Model: Ivanka Garrett Makeup Artist: Mama Bear Beauty Hair Stylist: Mercy’s Hair Designs Bridal Gown: Impression Bridal Florals: Fauxtastic Floral Creations
Production credits: Photographer: Libra Scale Creative Venue: BienVenue Model: Ayesha Love Makeup Artist: Donyale MUA Hair Stylist: Mercy’s Hair Designs Bridal Gown: Impression Bridal Florals: Frankie + Flora
Production credits: Photographer: Libra Scale Creative Venue: BienVenue Model: Ayesha Love Makeup Artist: Donyale MUA Hair Stylist: Mercy’s Hair Designs Bridal Gown: Impression Bridal Florals: Frankie + Flora
SAVING for Your Dream Wedding By Chantel Smith
After the proposal, there’s the question of what’s next. Setting the date, selecting a venue, creating invitations, the list is endless! Hours on end, we spend days researching and the dollar signs add up right before our eyes. The fantasy that we’ve c re ate d i n o u r h e a d s a n d Pinterest board now feels impossible to reach, until now. Before settling for less here’s a handful of practices that will make your fairytale wedding come to life. Let’s keep it real. When setting goals many of us go in head rst, seeing the nished product and overlooking the steps that’ll get us there. As you and your love begin to plan for the big day it is impor tant to analyze your nances. This will be handy years down the road as you keep
track of your expenses and additional funds. Seeing the numbers up front gives you the advantage to make an action plan: including ways to increase income, decrease spending and make allocations to save. You and your life partner will decide which sacri ces and duties to commit to; and although tedious, this creates a realistic starting point, a foundation for the efforts needed to reach your perfect wedding. Next, it’s time to prepare for the unexpected. After calculating your budget, according to your logical expectations and timeline, make room to save for an emergency. Save at least 510% of your budget as a buffer to any incidentals that may occur throughout the planning process. In a worst-case scenario,
the money is available and stress is lowered. In the best case, if not used, the additional funds can go towards your honeymoon! Throughout this period separation will do some good, for your savings account that is. Opening a new savings account dedicated to wedding expenses keeps your eyes on the prize and focused. As a recommendation also set automatic week ly payments. Paying yourself forward will feel rewardful as you make adjustments to costly habits and see your wedding wallet grow throughout the months. Trust your future spouse, yourself and the process. You’ll feel joyous celebrating the moment that your wedding dreams become a reality.
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Wandjell Browning
KEEPS FAMILIES CONNECTED by Zondra Victor
Wandjell Browning, CEO of The Freedom Child Foundation, is a bride who has more than just a wedding in her view. Growing up, Wandjell experienced life as a child with incarcerated parents. She was able to see, rsthand, the lack of funding available to help families and children pay for necessities like food, stationer y, and transportation for visitations. Now, Wandjell is trying to make that experience better for others. She and her groom, Marty Browning, research, supply materials, and organize transportation services for eligible applicants. “When I was younger, I was severely impacted by parental incarceration because both of my parents were incarcerated,” says Wandjell. “I just remember, profoundly, the emotions, the lack of resources that I had to stay in contact with both of my parents.” The Freedom Child Foundation serves minors between 5 to 17 years old and is open to children w h o h a ve o n e o r b o t h o f t h e i r p a re n t s incarcerated. Not only does Wandjell’s foundation provide stationery supplies for children, they provide transportation if a child has to travel an hour or more away from their home. “Most correctional facilities are like hours away from home,” says Wandjell. “And so it can be very hard trying to get on a train, or get a rental, get gas. Or maybe even once they get to visitation, the food is very expensive.”
Wandjell and Marty are creating a positive and lasting experience for children that will bene t from being able to hold on to their relationship with their parents, even during the incarceration period. The Freedom Child Foundation works to solve several issues that may keep children from maintaining those relationships. Wandjell and Marty are providing a community of support for children so that both they, and also the parents, have a chance to keep their connection. “Children may seem forgotten or they get lost in the system and that’s one thing we don’t want…” says Marty Browning, Wandjell’s husband and COO of The Freedom Child Foundation. “When you don’t have that parental structure in the home, you lose a lot. Our parents are very important and we do want children to know that no matter what your parents went though, you don’t have to go down that road.” During this year’s pandemic, Marty and Wandjell have had to change plans for how they operate business. They’ve gotten to hear many different stories and learn about the backgrounds of their applicants from all over the nation through their website. Visit Wandjell and M ar t y Browning at www.freedomchildfoundation.org or on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about The Freedom Child Foundation in a special video interview with Affinity Weddings by visiting us on YouTube, Roku, or Amazon Fire Stick.
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Wandjell Browning, CEO of The Freedom Child Foundation
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Hairstyling Tools That'll Save Your Time By Chantel Smith
For many of us, nding love is a journey of vulnerability and a seemingly endless search for the one that completes our puzzle of life. However, when we nd that missing piece we then cherish that moment and every second after, knowing that the union created brings forth love and excitement for the future. The same can be said for nally nding the hair tools that create the perfect hairstyle, especially for the big day. Throughout this journey we will share three tools that will help you style and maintain your crown and glory while saving time and hassle. Our rst pick is great for adding volume to your strands. Wave irons are the new “it girl” of styling tools. With three heated prongs you can easily create luxurious body waves in an instant! Part your hair into four sections (a cross shaped pattern is a great method), spray each section with a heat protector, clamp down and repeat until the nished look is accomplished.
At last, we’re bringing attention to an overlooked classic in styling tools, the hot comb. Thankfully, there are now adjustable temperature options available instead of the renowned stove top original comb. Hot combs are perfect for straightening hard to reach places such as roots, nape, and areas around the ears. The results to this day are still unmatched.
If you are a heat conscious naturalista exi rods give you the ability to create a variety of waves, curls and coils without the added damage of intense heat. After detangling and moisturizing your hair, make one-inch sections to wrap around your preferred sized cushioned rod and secure by curving the end of the rods up. These tools are soft enough for sleeping and can be protected with a silk based bonnet or scarf and easily removed by untwisting by hand with a light hair oil to avoid frizzing.
These amazing items can be found at your local beauty supply store and select drugstores at affordable prices. May your explorations lead you to perfect your styling and give your tresses the love and attention they deserve!
Production credits: Photographer: Libra Scale Creative Venue: BienVenue Model: Sara Chau Makeup Artist: Pink Ladies Texas Hair Stylist: Mercy’s Hair Designs Bridal Gown: Impression Bridal Florals: Fauxtastic Floral Creations
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Innovativ Ide
for a Dessert Table By Jocelyn Sauceda
T
hink of your dessert table as an opportunity to be creative. Weddings are often formal and thought of in a serious manner. An innovative dessert table can alter the entire feeling of a wedding. These fresh ideas will inspire and get you excited. First off, many people don’t love the idea of having a table dedicated to sweets. If sweets aren’t exciting to you, consider a fruit table instead. Fruit is colorful and can be beautiful to look at. Experiment with cutting fruit into different shapes. There’s a number of ways to execute this. The rst way is to have a large bowl of fruit salad. Guests will simply walk up and serve themselves. This method requires the fruits in a large
preferably clear bowl. A clear bowl will allow the colors of the fruit to show. The second method is to separate the fruits. Having everything in separate bowls will give guests the chance to select only the fruit they want. This will also give your dessert table a fuller look. The next idea is interactive. Display at least two cupcake avors. Make sure the cupcakes are bare. Have a variety of icing, sprinkles, and any other toppings you can think of. Guests can make their own cupcakes. This is a great way to keep people entertained. The act of making their own desserts often brings nostalgic feelings and memories that will make everyone smile.
Finally, instead of cake go for pie. A table lled with a variety of pies will look beautiful and draw attention. Pick a variety of pies that all look different. For example, a banana cream pie will contrast an apple pie. The juxtaposition of appearances is fun and gives guests options. If you prefer a cohesive table choose pies that have similar appearances. This will assure your table is just as formal as a wedding cake but incredibly unique. Production credits: Photographer: Libra Scale Creative Venue: BienVenue Models: Ayesha Love, Ivanka Garrett, Sara Chau Makeup Artist: Donyale MUA, Mama Bear Beauty, Mercy’s Hair Designs Hair Stylist: Mercy’s Hair Designs, Pink Ladies Texas Bridal Gown: Impression Bridal Decor: Grand Events Party Planners Florals: Fauxtastic Floral Creations, Frankie + Flora
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Production credits: Photographer: Libra Scale Creative Venue: BienVenue Models: Ayesha Love, Ivanka Garrett, Sara Chau Makeup Artist: Donyale MUA, Mama Bear Beauty, Mercy’s Hair Designs Hair Stylist: Mercy’s Hair Designs, Pink Ladies Texas Bridal Gown: Impression Bridal Decor: Grand Events Party Planners Florals: Fauxtastic Floral Creations, Frankie + Flora
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Venue: BienVenue Events Florals: Fauxtastic Floral Creations Decor: Grand Events Party Planners
Unique Floral Ideas By Sofia Gonzalez
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howcasing you and your husband-to-be’s unique personality is important for the perfect wedding day. You might be asking yourself, “How can I differentiate this wedding from anyone else’s?” An easy way to do so is through unconventional oral ideas. If you are an old soul and have a knack for rustics or antiques, try hanging lanterns off of an arch oral design. This can be done for any outdoor or indoor wedding. However, if rustic isn’t your style, then you can stick with the arch design and colorcoordinate the owers to your wedding. For those who don’t just want an altar or plain background—have a orist design the perfect altar for you instead. To get this look, use a lush greenery implemented with either birch or again, owers of your choice. This will give a very organic, yet serene feel to the ceremony, making it that much more romantic for you and your partner. Now, here is one for all of the couples debating whether or not they should have an indoor or outdoor wedding—why not try both? You can hold the ceremony inside but ask the orist to place grass onto the oor of the venue. This can make the ceremony feel informal, yet personal. It’ll be as if the wedding is taking place in your own backyard. If you’re interested in sprucing up your bouquet, you can customize how it’s wrapped. Ask your orist for help when doing so, but you can wrap around it anything with sentimental value, Venue: BienVenue Events Florals: Frankie + Flora Decor: Grand Events Party Planners
from a grandparent’s watch, to your own watch, or even an old friendship bracelet. Whatever it is you choose to do, it’s guaranteed that that bouquet will be one-of-a-kind. Other ideas for bouquets are the ones for bridesmaids. For those brides that are more laid back, olive branches are perfect. They are very simple-looking and also symbolize peace—bringing serenity to the ceremony. Cocktail hour is also something to think about in regards to oral ideas. This is something that can be fun. Instead of having just a normal bar, consider having a oral backdrop for the bar, or just greenery. This will create a statement bar, bringing it to life. Along with a bar, cocktail hour entails having small tables set up for guests. If you are wanting to add onto the oral idea of the bar, have the tables’ legs intertwined with a oral idea. This will also bring them to life and add more personality to the wedding. As for the reception—you want to stay budget friendly, but also have the perfect centerpieces for your wedding. This one is extremely unconventional, but also has an elegant look to it w h e n e x e c u t e d c o r r e c t l y. F l o r i s t s h a v e experimented with tumbleweeds to resemble chandeliers. They go above the tables and are added on as that extra “oomph” for a centerpiece. Whatever route you decide to take with your wedding, ask your orist for advice when taking an unconventional idea and run with it. If you want to stand out from every other bride, don’t be afraid to be yourself and immerse your personality into any of the oral ideas for your wedding.
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DREAM ALTAR OPTIONS By Adeline Saunders
W
hether you’re getting married in a church or decide to have a scenic wedding, the altar may be just about the most important space in the venue. The bride and groom might only be up there for a few minutes, but it is de nitely the most meaningful (and most photographed) spot in the entire ceremony. Some of the most natural and elegant looking altars include greenery installations. Installations are fun because they come in all different shapes and sizes. Try a large, leafy wreath, or if you want to opt for something a little more classic, try an arch covered in your favorite greens and owers. For the boho chic couple, go with a birch teepee! Try weaving owers and greenery into this setup so it can be extra special. These altars make for a beautiful addition to the ceremony and look great in photos. Chuppa altars are a classic and look great both indoors and outdoors. Whether you decide to use sheets and owers or want to try something different like string lights and vine, there are plenty of unique ways to customize your chuppa. If you
want something simpler, try a metal based chuppa. This sleek and modern look is a great asset to pictures under the altar and don’t take too much away from the bride and groom. For the couples who want to ditch the altar all together, try tying the knot under a beautiful tree covered with lanterns or string lights. The lights add a magical addition to one of nature's oldest wonders. Another great idea is surrounding yourselves with themed aesthetic decale or your favorite plants. This way you can say goodbye to the traditional altar but still get the attention you deserve. The ceremony is the most important part of the wedding. It’s a time for the bride and groom to profess their love for one and another while being surrounded by their family and friends. Choose an altar that says “I love you” in your own unique way because you two are going to be the only people standing at it.
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Mr. & Mrs. Raulie
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Photographer: Carmen J. Williams Photography
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WANDJELL & MARTY BROWNING
Vendors: Hair: Portia Lea - Beauty Expert Catering: Flavor Fetish Catering Company Makeup: Jillyne Renee Artistry Bartending: On the Rocks Bar Service and StafďŹ ng Ceremony & Reception Music: DJ Touch Venue: Bella Moon Decor & Linens: Wonderfully Made Cake: TrishAnn's Delicious Desserts Bridal Gown: Sweet Romance Bridal Dessert Bar: Alchemy Bake Lab Day of Coordination: Timeless Rose Events Florals: Bring Joy Photography: Catchingzzzproductions
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Staying Physically Healthy While You Plan By Adeline Saunders
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ife can be busy, especially when planning a wedding. With all the time and energy that goes into planning, most brides are spent by the end of the day, but regardless of how busy you are, it’s important to keep up with your physical health. Making sure you’re getting the nutrients and exercise you need will not only keep you looking and feeling great, but it will help you lower stress levels and get through your pre-wedding journey with ease. Working out can be fun and (surprisingly) relaxing! Not every form of exercise is fast-paced and vigorous. If you’re crunched for time and want to relax while you get your body moving try yoga at home. We live in an age where we don’t even need to leave our houses to get a lesson from a certi ed yoga instructor. Try waking up 30 minutes early to lay out your mat and
participate in an online yoga class. Doing this each morning will leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed, and motivated to get going with your day. Or try going for a walk. Whether it be brisk or a two-hour hike, walking is always a good way to get your blood owing while providing the relaxing elements of nature. Nothing beats being able to relax and get a work out at the same time! If you’re prone to high stress levels and you’re looking for a way to blow off more steam, try running or hitting the gym. Studies have shown that strenuous exercise helps you lose weight and boosts your mood. High-Intensity Interval training (HIIT) is proven to help you gain muscle and help you breathe. Yeah, that’s right, HIIT can help improve your oxygen consumption, so you’ll be able to breathe easily during all of the stressful wedding planning.
For those of you who don’t know where to start, try hiring a personal trainer or downloading an app that will help you get t. See if your local gym has a personal trainer option or if you’re on a budget, there are many mobile apps that provide various exercise ideas and even help you keep track of your steps and caloric intake. This way you’ll be able to track your success and continue to live a healthy lifestyle. Regardless of where you are or what’s going on in your life, physical health should always be a priority. When you’re a brideto-be, taking care of your health is especially important, so make sure you make time for you. Eating right, staying hydrated, and getting active are the building blocks of self-care, so nd time each day to relax, move, and breathe. Give yourself what you need to be a happy and healthy bride!
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Start your wedding planning journey today! Create a pro le and use our planning tools to guide you in making decisions for your wedding day. To learn more about Affinity Weddings, visit affinityweddings.net or email hello@affinityweddings.net.
www.affinityweddings.net @withthisring_aw @WithThisRing_AW @affinityweddingshouston
Production credits: Photographer: Libra Scale Creative Venue: BienVenue Models: Ayesha Love, Ivanka Garrett, Sara Chau Makeup Artist: Donyale MUA, Mama Bear Beauty, Mercy’s Hair Designs Hair Stylist: Mercy’s Hair Designs, Pink Ladies Texas Bridal Gown: Impression Bridal Decor: Grand Events Party Planners Florals: Fauxtastic Floral Creations, Frankie + Flora
