Moroccan Themed Wedding in Atlanta: Shaunta and Tim -Munaluchi Bride

Happy Monday! We hope you had a great weekend and are ready for another week packed with gorgeousness. For starters, today’s wedding is fabulous in so many ways…bringing a little bit of Northern Africa to Atlanta. The planner, F & G Weddings did an outstanding job on the Moroccan-themed decor. You’ll see a wide array of bold colors, creative light fixtures, and vibrant tablescapes. But what stands out the most is Shaunta’s entrance. Truly a showstopper. Thanks to Shawna Herring Photography for sharing these pretty photos with us. Take a look!

Bride – Shaunta Vaughn
Groom – Tim Brown
Wedding date – April 29, 2012

From the bride…

After my first marriage ended in divorce, I always said that if I got married again, two things I knew for sure: 1) I was going to have a wedding planner; and, 2) I was wearing Vera Wang. As soon as we got engaged, we set about making the first requirement happen. We found the partner, advisor and friend we needed in Brian Greene of F&G Weddings. Unfortunately, at the time we met Brian, we no idea exactly what we wanted for the theme of the wedding! Through processing and eliminating lots of ideas culled from magazines and bridal shows, it became clear that our wedding and its elements needed to reflect who we are and what we value: love of friends and family; good food and better wine; and, travel. Our ceremony involved an intimate group of 75 immediate family and closest friends, officiated by Ambassador Andrew Young. The reception décor was inspired by Mo rocco, and the curry spices and dates brought that region’s flavors alive during dinner. The gift to our guests was a specially selected bottle of wine stamped with our personally monogrammed wax seal.

Wedding style…

Initially, I fully intended to wear a Vera Wang wedding dress. I’d made this determination long before I had the chance to start shopping based on a preconceived notion of a fairy tale. Luckily, a trip to NYC was a requirement in my storybook process, which meant I was able to visit the Vera Wang flagship store. As expected, the gowns were beautiful and there was a leading contender by the time I left the salon. However, there was one other designer I wanted to try and it so happened she had authorized retailers in NYC- Ines di Santo. Coincidentally, there was a trunk show at Bridal Reflections the weekend of my NYC trip. From the moment I arrived at Bridal Reflections, the staff went out of their way to make my shopping experience even better than a fairy tale. In addition to finding the perfect gown, I met the designer herself, who took time to pose for p ictures with me and made a sketch of me in my dress as a keepsake.
Two pieces of advice to all brides-to-be: don’t be so attached to a particular designer or style that you disregard all others, and don’t buy a dress without trying it on. Until you’ve put on the gown that transforms you into the bride you’ve always dreamed of, you haven’t found the right one.

Best memory…

So many things were memorable about our wedding day: the quiet, contemplative time before the wedding party arrives; the first look; the moment before walking down the aisle when the realization hits you that your life is about to change; the first kiss; the sense of relief that all the planning was worth it. But, the most poignant moment of the day came during the reception, when my husband saw his extremely shy and reserved father do something he’d never witnessed before- dance with his new daughter-in-law with a huge grin on his face.

Love Notes

What he loves…I knew when we first met that Shaunta was the only woman for me and there are so many things that I love about her. She is an extraordinary person who is self-assured, supportive without losing herself, selfless when it comes to giving of herself to others and always seeking a higher purpose in her life. Although she can be shy at times, Shaunta is bold when it comes to pursuing her passions and inspires everyone with whom she comes into contact. She loves me freely and creates an environment where I can continue to grow as a husband, father and man.

What she loves…Tim is entirely comfortable with who he is and in our relationship. That “groundedness” enables him to be a caring father, an effective professional, and supportive husband without feeling the need to control everyone else around him.