“Meant to be…” Chereece and LaShawn’s Stylish Wedding in Brooklyn NY

“Meant to be…” This is a phrase we’ve all heard at some point when discussing love and relationships. There are those that believe and those that do not in the possibility of this romantic sentiment. Regardless of your stance, it’s stories like Chereece and LaShawn’s that continue to make it a possibility.

Having met through a mutual friend at ages seventeen and nineteen, this teenage romance has blossomed into twenty-three years of love, devotion, and two beloved children.

Read all about Chereece & LaShawn’s endearing Christmas morning proposal, and their elegant and stylish Brooklyn NY wedding!

Bride & Groom: Chereece Davis & LaShawn Davis

Occupations: Benefits Coordinator & Personal Trainer

Wedding date: May 27, 2016

Wedding location: The Riviera in Brooklyn, New York

Tell us how you met and all about the proposal: We met through a mutual friend – I was 17 and he was 19. We’ve been together ever since, totaling 23 years. We have two children together LaShawn, 17, and Saniyah, 9 years old.

The proposal – Christmas morning – 12/25/14: he had finally brought me this Louie Vuitton bag that I had my eye on. I was so excited that I had gotten this bag. I mean jumping up and down, doing a dance. He kept saying “open the bag, open the bag”, but I didn’t, I just kept doing a dance. I danced all the way to the mirror. Everyone is following behind me including the kids screaming “open the bag, open the bag”. My son who is trying to video the whole thing is looking at me like “would you open the bag”! Finally I take a moment to notice that everyone is looking at me and they all look very annoyed. So I stop doing my dance in the mirror and open the bag. And under the tissue is a ring box, I open the box, but no ring (side eye), but when I turn around to question it Shawn is holding the ring in his hand and he asked me to marry him. Saniyah said, “finally” and Shawn who was supposed to be videoing the entire thing is videoing, but he videoing the sneakers that he had just gotten, so we have no video (side eye again). LMBO…

Wedding Style: My wedding dress was by Allure – Ivory, and Champagne mermaid style dress with silver beading on the top.

What was wedding shopping like for you? Wedding shopping was fun. I decided to just take 1 good girlfriend with me to try on dresses. I wanted to avoid too many different opinions on what looked good and what didn’t. I was surprised at what styles I liked. I always thought I would get married in a ball gown, but once I tried on the mermaid, I was like ooh la la! Overall it was a good experience, scary though, but good nonetheless.

What is your best memory from your wedding? The best memory of the wedding, wow I have to choose? There was so many. But if I had to choose just one it would be during the reception when I took off the garter belt. LaShawn put on some kinda performance, complete with sunglasses and push ups! Hysterical!

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Plan your own wedding, do what makes the two of you happy and not what makes everyone else happy. The last thing you want to do is look back on the day and have a bunch of regrets. Also, breathe. Take the time to just enjoy the day (dance, drink, eat and laugh) because it really does go by so quickly.

Bridesmaids/Groomsmen gifts: Bridemaids – Jewelry for the wedding, personalized Wine Bottles, Groomsmen – Bottle of Alcohol

Favorite item on the menu: I heard the calamari was good.

First dance song: “Fortunate” by Maxwell

Vendors:

Photography: Rando Lawrence

Event Planner & Designer: Coordinated to Perfection

Make-up Artistry: Nicely Faces

Luxury Car Services: Reliance Group

Wedding & Events: About the Details

Event Rentals: Evolution Event Rentals

Florist: New York City Flower Project

Make-up Artistry: Shameika Bowman of Your Face, My Canvas

Music: DJ Lance