Roxanne + Taa: {Engaged}

Engagement sessions are just as important as picking a wedding date.  But why, you ask?  It’s really the single and most effective way to get to know your photographer before the emotional-stressful-eventful-tearful-most cheerful day that is your wedding.  A good relationship with your photographer = awesome photos = lifetime of memories.  On the wedding day, there is little time to build a rapport with or a sufficient level of comfort with your photographer.  So again, the engagement session is just as important as picking your wedding date.  And that brings us to our e-session feature for today.  This couple is just too cute, and really stylish…they changed five times!  The stunning images and moments were captured by Petronella of by Petronella Photography and you can just tell from the photos that the couple and photographer vibed effortlessly.   We love that this couple will be incorporating their Jamaican (bride) and Liberian (groom) roots into the wedding, and especially the way they added a hint of culture to this e-session.  Meet the couple.

FROM ROXANNE:

“We met on a Memorial Day boat ride in May 2003, and clicked from the start. We’ve been friends for over 8 years and have been dating consistently for the past 3.  The proposal occurred on the evening of May 25, 2011, on a private yacht that sailed the NYC waters that we first met on the night of May 25, 2003. I had a strong feeling that the proposal would come soon, but since Taa told me that he wanted to take me on a surprise vacation for our 8th yr anniversary, I had no doubt that the proposal would happen while we were away. Our anniversary was the day before the “surprise trip” , and since we were vacationing the next day, we decided to just relax and enjoy each other’s company. We walked around NYC and later in the evening decided to go for drinks at the Boat Basin, a Hudson River marina in NYC. While enjoying our margarita’s and the beautiful weather, Taa suggested we take a private yacht cruise around NYC, in honor of how we met. I agreed, he left to make the arrangements (or so I thought), and shortly after we were sailing away on a private yacht. 

After about an hour, the owner of the yacht suggested we record an anniversary message. When Taa began speaking, playing in the background was a song I’ve dreamed of walking down the aisle to. Being the hopeless romantic that he is, and after convincing myself that Taa would propose on our “surprise vacation” I didn’t think much of the moment, until he literally got down one on knee. 

After accepting the proposal, with an “OFCOURSE”, and leaving the yacht , we were greeted at the marina’s cafe by family members and close friends, screaming “Congratulations”. Unbeknownst to me, Taa had prearranged with everyone a toast, in celebration of our new engagement.   Needless to say, there was no “surprise” vacation…….. but the surprise I received that evening, far outweighed any vacation to any where in the world.”

INSPIRATION FOR THE SESSION:

“Since Taa is Liberian and I am Jamaican we included props that signified our heritages. During select shoots, we wore African attire and raised our country’s flags. In addition to the inclusion of items of cultural significance, we included props that defined us. Taa had a scrabble board in which we used to compose words that defined our love; we had King and Queen of hearts cards; and also two relationship books that we’ve been working on completing since the beginning of our relationship.”

{LOVE BIRDS}

He loves that…”I am very strong, yet caring”.  I love that…”He’s naturally selfless.”

Thanks so much to Petronella for sharing this fun e-session with us, and much thanks to Roxanne and Taa. We can’t wait to see how stylish you’ll look on your wedding day.   Happy Planning!  In the meantime, check out their new wedding website.  Click any thumbnail below to view the entire gallery.

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Munaluchi Bride is the leading authority of bridal inspiration for women of color. Our stylish and chic print publication is released quarterly in major bookstores across the US and internationally.  If you crave culture, and style, then you’re in the right place!

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