Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. – 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
Mitch and Cadene can thank President Obama for their chance meeting. Yes, thee President Barack Obama. In 2011 while Cadene was serving as an executive board member for the Washington DC Chapter of a campaign fundraising organization that targeted young professionals under 40 in the district, she encountered Mitch.
Mitch, a corporate executive, is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of an organization that hosts special events in the district and across the country. On August 4, 2011 he coordinated a fundraising event for President Obama’s Re-Election Campaign in Washington, DC, in partnership with the organization in which Cadene served. They crossed paths for the first time at the event amid drinks and dinner. And the rest was sweet history.
Mitch and Cadene met, fell in love in and plan to wed in Washington, DC – so it was only right their engagement shoot, captured by the uber-talented Lauren Cowart, take place in the city that has become their home. The first half of their engagement session, inspired by cherry blossoms, (which symbolize love and joy) is titled, “Spring Romance” as it speaks to the essence of both spring and the couple’s Spring 2017 wedding date.
For their next scene, the couple headed to Downtown DC’s edgy Mason & Rock hotel to shoot the “Presidential Love Story” portion of their e-session. The two hoped to convey a look that portrayed “James Bond meets Barack and Michelle at the White House State Dinner.” The couple also spoke to their “black-tie”, adults only ceremony, which is being planned by Coterie member, Yodit Gebreyes Endale of Favored by Yodit Events.
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Bride-To-Be: Cadene Russell
Groom-To-Be: Mitch Brooks, IV
Occupations: Cadene: Attorney | Mitch: Business Executive
Wedding Date: Spring 2017
Wedding Location: National Museum of Women in the Arts
Engagement session locations: Cherry Blossoms near the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC and Mason & Rook (A Kimpton Hotel) in Washington, DC
Wedding Hashtag: #BetterAsBrooks
The Proposal: “Love High In The Sky”
In 2015, while the pair were in Florida spending the Christmas holidays with Cadene’s family, Mitch told her that he had a special pre-Christmas surprise planned. He informed Cadene that he wanted to head to Miami for date night. On Christmas Eve the couple buckled their seatbelts and headed to an executive airport outside of Miami. Once they arrived the pair were whisked away on a breathtaking, sunset helicopter tour of the city and its surrounding beaches.
Following landing, just as Cadene was about to walk away from the copter, Mitch halted her tracks to serenade his love for her and also share how he wanted them to begin the rest of their lives together. Next, Mitch fell on bended knee and asked Cadene to be his wife. Of course, she obliged. In the wings, Cadene spied professional photographer, Cedino Teme taking photos of the beautiful moment while Miami Helicopter staff congratulated the two on their engagement!
Proposal Photo Credit: Cendino Teme Photography
What Did You Do On Your First Date?
Mitch: Cadene and I met at Union Pub on Capitol Hill one weekday evening after work. We enjoyed a few drinks and had a casual, but candid, conversation about our backgrounds, family, life goals and passions. We actually sat and talked for several hours late into the night until after the venue closed. Not wanting the night to end, we walked around the neighborhood, within just a few blocks of the Capitol, and spent the rest of the night talking and learning more about one another.
What Is Your Favorite Thing To Do As A Couple?
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
J.R.R. Tolkien was right when he said “not all who wander are lost” because we love to travel. Individually, both of us have a passion for seeing the world. We were avid travelers even before meeting so it only makes sense that one of our favorite things to do is hop on a plane and explore new countries and new cultures. As a couple, Europe and the Caribbean have been our homes away from home and we plan to add many more stamps to our passports over the years. In fact, we’ve touched down on the beautiful island of Jamaica quite a few times because it is where my (Cadene’s) family is from. Lucky for me, Mitch loves Bob Marley, the beach, and rum punch just as much as I do!
How Has Wedding Planning Been So Far?
Because both of us have been extremely involved in every aspect of the wedding planning process, planning has gone really well thus far. In fact, in certain areas of the planning process, Mitch has been even more involved than I have. I’ve lived in Louisiana for the past several months for work and he has had to visit venues in DC, Maryland and Virginia even without me on many occasions. Although we knew this well before wedding planning began, one of the blessings of this experience has been that it reinforces how great of a team we are. We also have an amazing planner, Yodit Gebreyes Endale of Favored by Yodit Events, who has helped us navigate the planning process.
Another interesting piece of the planning process has been creating the guest list: we both know so many people! More importantly, we have so many friends and family members who love and support us. So one of the first things we did as a couple, even before choosing a venue, was create a guest list. With that out of the way, planning has been pretty stress free! We will be getting married before God, at a venue that we love, and we will be surrounded by people we adore and that support our union. We couldn’t ask for anything better than that.
What Are You Looking Forward To Most On The Wedding Day?
Cadene: Walking down the aisle toward my husband and seeing all of those tears he is going to cry! Then hosting an amazing party to celebrate a wonderful new beginning.
Mitch: My bride walking down the aisle. That will be the single greatest moment for me on the wedding day
Vendors
Wedding Planner: Yodit Gebreyes Endale of Favored by Yodit Events
Engagement Session Photographer: Lauren Cowart Photography
Miami Helicopter Proposal Photographer: Cendino Teme Photography
MUA: Tiyana Robinson (formerly Luxury Brown Beauty)
Groom’s Tux: The Black Tux
Engagement shoot location: Mason & Rook (A Kimpton Hotel)
Mitch we are so happy for you and your beautiful bride to be.
The Naik Dental Team
This is absolutely beautiful! Congrats Mitch and Cadene.