Ebony, Ivory and Gold: Teija and Brian's Chic Virginia Wedding -Munaluchi Bride

Teija and Brian first connected at age fourteen when Teija was visiting her grandmother in Virginia for the summer. Young love blossomed between them and their connection continued through letters and long-distance phone calls when Teija went back to Canada. Even then Brian was signing the letters to his “future wife.” As time went by they lost touch when Brian went into the Navy. Until ten years later when Teija, after finding some high school letters from Brian, decided to reconnect over social media. In Teija’s words, “two months later I flew to Virginia to visit him. Six months after that he proposed.”

Read all about Teija & Brian’s love story, proposal, and experiences in their chic and sophisticated Virginia wedding – featuring floral designs by MunaLuchi Coterie member The Flower Guy Bron.

Bride & Groom: Teija & Brian
Occupations: Real Estate Agent & Navy Chief
Wedding Date: May 26, 2018
Location: The John Marshall Ballrooms Richmond, VA

Tell us how you met. We met in Virginia when we were 14 via BlackPlanet. I was visiting my grandmother that summer. When I went back home to Canada we started to write each other and run up our moms’ long distance phone bill. We lost touch once he went to the Navy. Ten years later I found him again on Facebook after finding the letters he wrote me in high school. They were signed to “My Future Wife.” Two months later I flew to Virginia to visit him. Six months after that he proposed.

Tell us about the proposal. I ruined all his plans asking so many questions and not getting ready for the reservations he specifically told me to dress up for! I’m just like “naww” this Adidas tracksuit is bomb!

Describe your wedding attire. For our wedding style we were aiming for sophisticated and chic. I wanted my dress to make me The Belle of the Ball and Groom and Groomsmen had an old Hollywood feel. Everything tied into our ivory, black and gold wedding decor.

How did you know they were “the one”? Every time we were together no matter where we were it felt like we were home with each other. Things we would never normally do with other people felt so natural. Our first week of officially dating we got a Wonder Woman and Batman Tattoo. Our friends thought we were crazy! We just knew.

Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? Being of Jamaican decent I definitely wanted our guests to feel the Caribbean. Our DJ played a lot of reggae and calypso. We had the traditional vanilla cake and Jamaican Rum Cake for our guests. And our signature cocktail was an Island Rum cocktail.

Wedding party gifts: Jamaican Rum Cake!
Favorite item on the menu: The main course was amazing but the venue gave out mini cheeseburger snacks later in the evening and those were heaven sent!
First dance song: “At last” by Etta James

What is your best memory from your wedding? Seeing our families together in one room dancing and laughing was a beautiful thing to witness.

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Choose your wedding party wisely: let your bridesmaids know from the beginning what’s expected of them. Don’t sweat the small stuff. The wedding is about you and your partner. Don’t let others discourage you from your vision. Opt for two photographers if you have a big wedding. Delegate! Delegate! Delegate!