Jhenielle, a Marketing Manager and Jarrod, an Associate Product Manager blended their Jamaican and Southern cultures on their big day after a very delicious proposal involving Chipotle. After meeting in college, the two hit it off and it wasn’t long until Jarrod fell in love with Jhenielle and couldn’t imagine a single day without her.
Wedding Date: Saturday, July 11, 2015
Wedding Location: Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina
First Dance Song: “Everytime I Close My Eyes” by Babyface
Favorite Item on the Menu: Sweet Chili Salmon
Tell us about how you met and all about the proposal!
We met his freshman year and my sophomore year at the University of Georgia in Rooker Hall where we both lived, but we didn’t start dating until his junior and my senior year.
In jest, I once said to him, “I knew you were a keeper when you brought my favorite candy without me asking. I knew you were the one when you brought me Chipotle without me asking.” On August 15, 2014 while I was out running errands, Jarrod texted me to tell me he was on his way to my house and asked if I wanted Chipotle. Naturally my response was, “Duh. Chipotle is my life.” When I arrived at home and grabbed my bag of food, Jarrod said, “Apparently Chipotle is giving out prizes now.” Confused, I looked down in the bag to see a small box sitting on top of my container. Unlike any normal human being, my first reaction was to grab the box and say, “If this box is empty and you are messing with me, I am gonna be mad.” Jarrod laughed and said, “Open it!” I finally opened it and to my excitement, it was not empty. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and I still have the chipotle bag that changed my life.
Wedding Style
My wedding dress was an ivory English net trumpet style dress with a beaded sweetheart neckline. Wedding dress shopping was easy for me. I am a very visual person and pretty decisive so I know what I want when I see it. I did research prior to dress shopping, so I had an idea of what I wanted; however, I tried on different shapes and styles because I wanted to make an informed decision. I tried on a total of ten dresses, but it was the fourth dress I tried on. I knew it was my dress because it was the only one that made me envision my groom’s face looking back at me when I saw myself in the mirror.
Culture
My family is Jamaican and his family is Southern (from Georgia), so my theme was “Southern Tropic.” We had a steel drum player during cocktail hour during which we served cornbread and pulled pork as well as shrimp and grits. Our signature drink featured mango and rum. We had plantains as a garnish for the entrees. We played reggae and the electric slide during the reception. I also grew up in Canada, so our welcome bags included a sweet tag packet, Tim Horton’s single serve cups, and banana chips. Everything came together very nicely.
Memories
My favorite memory from our wedding was Jarrod and my choreographed dance together. Jarrod does not normally dance, but he knows I love to dance and it would mean a lot to me. My sister made up the dance and he gave his best effort of practice for two weeks. The dance turned out so well at the wedding! Our friends and family didn’t know, so it was nice to see how surprised and excited they all were. I love this because that’s who Jarrod is to me. He is willing to try things outside of his comfort zone to make me happy. I’ll never forget that!
Help a bride-to-be out!
Consider doing marriage counseling through your church early into your engagement. Although we had been together for over five years before we got engaged, it definitely offered new insight and different perspective that we found valuable through our engagement and now marriage.
Whether you decide to have a small wedding, a big wedding, or no wedding at all, make sure you are being true to yourselves as a couple. Everyone is going to have an opinion about what you “need to do” or what they would do differently throughout your engagement period. In retrospect, we regret nothing from our wedding because we followed our hearts and it was a wonderful, beautiful extension and representation of who we are as a couple.
Photography: Catherine Ritchie Park of MyLife Photography
Videography: Ryan Lindsay of Imagine Video Productions
Wedding Planner: Jhenielle K. Brown
Wedding Dress Designer: Allure
Wedding Dress Salon: Anya Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy via Bridal’s by Lori
Hair: Shameka Nesmith of Entense Styles
Makeup: Jillian Nicole, Maya Stroud, Jourdan Loving
Shoes: Blue by Betsey Johnson
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Hyatt Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina
Florist/Day of Coordinator/Designer: Crème De Le Chic Events
Cake: Oh How Sweet
Programs: Keonda Banks
Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas
Steel Drum: Hendy’s Steel Vibes
Photobooth: Exquisite Sounds Entertainment
Lighting: Fonix Entertainment
Reception Chairs: Angel Chair Cover
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