Tara and Corey's Classic Rose Red Wedding in New York -Munaluchi Bride

With Corey being the best friend of Tara’s cousin, their paths crossed numerous times over the years, but it wasn’t until a family barbecue in 2013 that their love story would truly begin, putting them both on the path to happily ever after. Realizing that Tara was “the one” Corey planned their perfect proposal, and in the intimacy of their home on Christmas Eve asked Tara to spend the rest of her together as husband and wife…

Read all about Tara & Corey’s love story, Christmas proposal, and experiences in their classic rose red wedding in New York.

Bride & Groom: Tara & Corey
Occupations: Civil Engineer & Chief Information Officer
Wedding date: October 8th, 2018
Wedding location: Roslyn, NY

How did you meet? It seemed that it was always destined for us to meet. We met at a family barbecue in July 2013. My family already knew Corey as he was one of my cousin’s best friends and he attended numerous family functions. Prior to that July day, Corey and I only caught small glimpses of each other in passing over the years and the time never seemed quite right. We never expected that our chance meetings would turn into a timeless love story.

Tell us about the proposal. On our favorite day of the year, Christmas Eve, Corey picked me up from work and asked if I wanted to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree that evening. It was our tradition to visit the tree every Christmas season from the time we started dating. However, that evening I just wasn’t feeling up to taking the train ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Corey was not deterred by the change in plans. We decided to spend time at his place watching Christmas movies instead. That night my future husband was on bended knee in front of our decorated Christmas tree asking for my hand in marriage! Of course my answer was YES! It was a beautiful private moment with just the two of us and our love for each other.

What was the wedding shopping experience like for you? Tara: “We really wanted a garden inspired wedding with a lot of romantic details. My style has always been very classic and that was the same approach I took with my wedding dress. I visited a few boutique wedding dress shops in the New York City area but I could not find “the dress.” One night I decided to try David’s Bridal and I fell in love with this lace accented trumpet style dress with a sweetheart neckline. I knew then that my hunt was over. My experience with wedding dress shopping was extremely carefree as I wanted my decisions to reflect my personality and style.”

Corey: “I took some time to research and brainstorm the look I wanted for the wedding. I really wanted a customized option for my tuxedo to incorporate small details that reflected my personality. Mens Warehouse was extremely accommodating with my customizations and ensuring that I was completely pleased with the finished product. I added Tara’s name stitched into the jacket as a personal touch.”

Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? Corey and I wanted to incorporate our Caribbean roots into the wedding. With our bridal party being mostly of Caribbean descent, we decided that our reception entrance should showcase the many islands represented. Our guests were extremely shocked when our bridal party displayed the numerous flags of various Caribbean islands as we danced for our entrance. We also ensured our music and food selections included an infusion of Caribbean culture.

Wedding Party Gifts: The bridesmaids received personalized wine glasses and floral robes. The groomsmen received gift boxes with a traditional tie, bow tie and watch.
Gifts for each other: Corey received engraved cufflinks with our initials and an engraved keepsake box. Tara received a diamond necklace. We also both wrote cards to each other to remember how we felt leading up to our union.
Ceremony entrance song: “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
First dance song: “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green

What is your best memory from your wedding? Our best memory from our wedding was the first look. A few minutes prior to my walk down the aisle our photographer and wedding planner set up a first look in a secluded gazebo surrounded by the nearby lake. Corey’s reaction to seeing me for the first time was such a priceless moment. We were able to calm our nerves and share that special moment with each other. It was such a beautiful time to be able to look into the eyes of your future spouse and take in the day we were anticipating for months.

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Our best advice to couples is to stay true to yourselves during the planning process. Although your family and friends may have opinions on how to plan your special day, remember to keep your wants and needs at the forefront. In addition, we used our time as an engaged couple to reflect on our relationship and discuss our vision for the future. We achieved this spiritually by drawing closer in our faith together as well as with marriage counseling. We advise all couples to use this time to connect.