Shereese and Brandon were undergraduate college sweethearts. Their love survived the excitement of college party life, and the stress of mid-terms and thesis papers. Their bond continued to grow stronger as they transitioned into their professional careers. When Brandon decided he wanted to make Shereese his wife, he planned an elaborate proposal. It was Shereese’s 25th birthday and Brandon threw a surprise birthday party for her at a Chicago restaurant. When Shereese walked in and saw all of her family and friends from out of town, she was overwhelmed with happiness. The night got better when Brandon got down on one knee and proposed to a thoroughly shocked Shereese. Their gorgeous wedding had a theme of “Simple Elegance,” which featured a classic white color scheme with gold and purple accents. In His Image Photography photographed all of the beauty and loveliness of their big day. This elegant wedding has been shared with our partners at Ebony.com.
- Bride: Shereese Vick
- Groom: Brandon Vick
- Wedding Date: July 13th, 2013
- Venue: Cardinal Club Raleigh, NC
How They Met:
Brandon and I attended the same high school. I knew of him in passing, but we never really interacted in high school. A few years later, we’re both college students living in the same residence hall on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University. A mutual friend thought we’d make a perfect match, so she set us up. We quickly became friends. It wasn’t very long before we were hanging out several times a week. I admired his intellect and laid-back but confident nature. He liked my bubbly personality and quick wit. In summer 2007, a month before the start of my junior year, we agreed to become an exclusive couple. Our relationship continued to grow as we transitioned from undergraduate to graduate school, and finally into our professional careers.
The Proposal:
It was my 25th birthday, and Brandon and I were in Chicago for a fun-filled weekend to celebrate this milestone. We’d spent most of the day on Saturday visiting Chicago attractions, and had planned a romantic birthday dinner for later that evening. Unbeknownst to me however, Brandon had another plan that he’d been working on for weeks. It was a plan that included our families and my best friends traveling to Chicago and joining us for dinner that evening to witness the memorable moment when he would ask me to become his wife. It was a top-secret plan and no one was to breathe a word of it to me. It would be one of the biggest surprises of my life! So on that evening, as we climbed into the backseat of the taxi headed to the restaurant, I had no idea that what I thought was going to be a quiet birthday dinner for two, would turn out to be an engagement celebration with family and friends. Now…fast forward to just before dinner, immediately after I’d been surprised and shocked beyond belief at seeing our families and my girlfriends from North Carolina and Atlanta at the restaurant in Chicago, and after I’m all cried out and still thinking everyone’s in Chicago for my surprise 25th birthday celebration, ……… Brandon asks for everyone’s attention and begins to speak. I hear him talking, but I’m not really listening to him (sorry babe), because my mind is still in shock! Brandon begins to read the Bible verses (1Corinthians 13:4-8) about love being patient, love being kind, and as he’s finishing, I see him pull out a small box, and walk towards me. Then, in front of our families and my closest friends, he drops down on one knee and asks me to marry him. In total shock and disbelief once again, I opened my mouth to respond, but the only words I could muster as I looked down at him holding the open box, with the beautiful diamond engagement ring inside was, “Of course!” It was definitely an unbelievable and romantic moment, shared with family and friends!
Wedding Description:
Our venue the, Cardinal Club, fit our style and desired location. Our wedding theme was Simple Elegance. The Cardinal Club’s elegant spiral staircase and stunning views of downtown Raleigh was the perfect backdrop to fit with this theme. We wanted a downtown Raleigh wedding and liked the look and feel of the Cardinal Club space. We also wanted the ceremony and reception to be held under one roof, and the Cardinal Club was able to provide that seamless transition, as well as full-service amenities. The ceremony and the reception were both held under the same roof, at the Cardinal Club in downtown Raleigh. The reception was held on the 29th floor (penthouse). The stunning view of the city from the huge floor-to-ceiling window, especially at night, complemented the glowing candles and impressive flower arrangements of our reception décor beautifully.
The ceremony and reception areas were decorated beautifully with gorgeous tall and impressive floral arrangements, consisting of white hydrangeas and roses, designed by Lyn Graves of Fresh Affairs.
The five-tier wedding cake by Cinda’s Creative Cakes looked absolutely stunning! It consisted of a crystal rhinestone band around the base of the cake and crystal jewels accented on the cascading flowers. This bling effect definitely added sparkle and provided a very elegant presentation. The cake not only looked amazing, but it was also very moist and tasted delicious! The layers were filled with chocolate and vanilla flavors with buttercream icing.
For the wedding ceremony, we chose traditional classical music performed by harpist Winifred Garrett. We danced our First Dance to John Legend’s “So High”. Our reception songs can only be described as high-energy party songs and DJ Red October kept the dance floor rocking all night long! Our guests had a really great time.
We distributed several wedding favors: chocolates, gelato, and photo booth strips. We sent each guest home with a small silk organza bag filled with Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses chocolates. The attached tag read, “Hugs and kisses from the Mr. and Mrs.” It was a super cute idea and all of the guests really loved it! The Gelato Bar provided by Henry’s Gelato was also a huge hit as a favor for our guests! Everyone definitely enjoyed posing with the many props from the photo booth provided by Behind the Curtain. Those photo strip favors will definitely remind our guests of the great time they had at our wedding!
Wedding Style
I chose an all-white bridal bouquet consisting of roses and calla lilies, secured with a white satin ribbon and white pearl-head pins. The handle of the bouquet was accented with my (deceased) grandmother’s crystal vintage brooch.
My wedding gown was strapless with a sweetheart neckline. It was a mermaid-style (fitted at the top and flared at the bottom) with a lace and beaded bodice, and a train that provided a very elegant look.
My wedding hairstylist was Gia Peebles of Aura Salon and Boutique in Durham, and my wedding makeup artist was Sharon Davis of S. Davis Makeup Artistry. Gia created a soft and elegant bun that was swept to the side for my wedding hairstyle; it gave me a very polished look. Sharon gave my face an absolutely radiant and flawless look that lasted all day long, and did not appear overdone on me. I looked absolutely gorgeous! Thanks Gia and Sharon!
My bridesmaids were my sister, my sister-n-law, my college roommate, and two of my best friends since middle school and high school. Bella Bridesmaids of Cary provided their attire. My husband and his groomsmen were all best friends from high school and college. Men’s Warehouse of Cary provided their attire.
Advice for future brides.
Yes. Enjoy the ride. Make a budget (and stick to it), don’t sweat the small stuff, and begin the planning process as early as possible.
Most Memorable Moment
One of the more memorable and surprise moments of our wedding occurred during the reception, when I was suddenly lifted into the air on a chair by Brandon’s fraternity brothers. It was so much fun bouncing to the beat of the music from up high!
Vendors
In His Image Photography and S.Davis Makeup & Artistry are a members of The Coterie – Munaluchi’s wedding collective. Click here and here to view their portfolios. Want to learn more about The Coterie? Click here to learn how to apply.
Such a cute wedding departure, from the photography snapshots the wedding looks like it was a blast!
Aw, the couple looks like they had so much fun, and you can just see the love! Note from the groom … adorable! And the elegance of the reception, lovely. What a great venue.