Royal Blue and Fuchsia Wedding in Washington, DC by DHT Photography : Camille + Angelo

Camille and Angelo already knew how they wanted to celebrate their big day and thus hired a wedding planner, Tara Melvin, a full year and half before their wedding. With Tara’s help, their biggest goal was to plan a wedding that truly reflected their personalities and was meaningful, classy, and fun at the same time. They both feel the dancing at their reception was the most memorable part of their big day. Camille recalls, “Angelo and I looked at each other and the folks still on the dance floor and said to each other ‘this is exactly what we wanted – everybody up dancing, celebrating, and just having a good time.'”

Their beautiful wedding was photographed by DHT Photography.

How They Met & The Proposal

Angelo and I met in April 2003. We were both undergraduate students at Florida A&M University and we met at a party. Even though our relationship ended shortly before I graduated in 2007, we reconnected a couple of years later and our love has been going strong ever since. He proposed on Sunday November 13, 2011 at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC. It was a total surprise. He asked one of my best friends to convince me to “tag along with her” to the park so that she could sign up for an outdoor exercise class. After that, my friend and I were supposed to head to church. When we arrived at the park, there was no exercise class. But Angelo was there with an engagement ring and a photographer to capture pictures of the special moment. Luckily, I was dressed for the occasion, since I was under the impression that I was on my way to church. His proposal was beautiful, and we ended up doing an entire proposal/engagement photo shoot at the park.

The Wedding

I would say that my wedding style was traditional and classy, with a minimalist feel. I wanted a beautiful gown, but I also wanted a gown that reflected my normal style. I don’t dress in a super high-fashion, over-the-top manner on a daily basis, so I definitely didn’t want a big, glitzy ball gown. I also didn’t want an uncomfortable dress that I couldn’t move in; I needed to be able to dance in my dress! The first few gown shops that I visited had racks of dresses, with many brides all trying on gowns at the same time. I didn’t feel the experiences were personalized, and the sample dresses were all small sizes that didn’t fit well (I have a curvy bottom). While looking for her own dress, my mom a found new bridal shop that had opened near her called House of JonLei Atelier in National Harbor, MD. Upon our first visit, I immediately knew I’d be buying my dress from there. The shop was family-owned, with a small “boutique” feel and great customer service. The owners really focus on 1-2 brides at a time, so the service was very personalized. They also carry multiple sample sizes, so the gowns I tried on fit my figure better. I told them the style I was looking for and they recommended a dress by La Sposa that was perfect. It wasn’t over the top, but it had some unique aspects to it like a crumb catcher top, ruching, and a peek-a-boo tulle skirt. The shop also had a talented seamstress who added a beaded belt to my dress. I ended up loving my gown.

My husband and I are Christians so we incorporated our faith into the ceremony. We took communion together which honored Jesus’s death on the cross for our sins. It also represented God’s forgiveness for sins committed in our single lives and our commitment to God and each other as we start anew as a married couple. We also had a sand ceremony, during which we and our parents poured different color sand into a single glass canister. This represented the union of our families. Lastly, we “jumped the broom” after we were pronounced husband and wife, which paid homage to our African American ancestors. They would “jump the broom” to signify a married union back during the days of slavery, when their marriages were not legally recognized.

Vendors

Perfect Planning by Tara is a member of The Coterie, Munaluchi’s Exclusive wedding collective. Click here to view her portfolio. Interested in learning more about The Coterie? Click here to learn how to apply.

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