Black Tie Affair Downtown Cincinnati Engagement Session: Courtney + Joshua

Joshua, a Contract Specialist played a good game on the volleyball court while a Resident Advisor his junior year with Courtney, her sophomore year. After managing to retrieve her phone number some weeks later, a greater dialogue began to form and over the course of six months, these two became inseparable. After years of dating, Joshua decided to take the next step.

Courtney, a Paralegal says of the timeless Black Tie Affair themed engagement shoot, “We were so comfortable expressing how we feel about each other in public settings. I believe the photos speak for themselves! Omari’s creativity and expert eye captured every moment. Omari made Joshua and I feel at ease during the entire shoot. We truly felt in our element! Thank you Omari!”

Wedding Date: June 11, 2016
Wedding Location: Olivet Institutional Baptist Church

Tell us about how you met and all about the proposal!

Joshua and I original met my freshmen year of college at Bowling Green State University. Joshua was working at the university at the same time I was moving into my resident hall. Lucky me, he saw me and my family unloading my car and graciously came over to help. As God would have it, after moving me in, Joshua and I went our separate ways. It wasn’t until a year later (my sophomore year, his junior year) that we met again during a sand volleyball game. As we played sand volleyball together he purposefully kicked sand in my hair. And many weeks later, he asked me for my phone number and six months later we were a couple.

Fast forward four years later. Joshua took me out to really nice Italian restaurant he used to bus at when he was in high school. While eating dinner by candle light, Joshua began to tell me his version of how we met. As I listened to him, slightly confused and amused, he got up from the table and got down on one knee. In shock and again, slightly confused, my first words were, “Babe, what are you doing? Get off the floor, we are in a nice restaurant…” Never wavering in his confidence, he popped the question. My next words were “You know I will.”

 What did you do on your first date?

Joshua knows the fastest way to my heart is food, specifically, Chipotle. As college students at the time, we didn’t have much money. So, he took me to Chipotle for dinner and then to the local $5 movie theater. And still to do this day, it was the best date I’ve ever been on. The conversation was effortless, the atmosphere was right, and the connection was instant!

What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?

Joshua is slowly convincing me to work out with him. And you wouldn’t be able to tell from our engagement pictures, but Joshua and I are very big anime fans.

How has wedding planning been so far?

In the last year, wedding planning has been our favorite pastime. Sarcasm intended. However, wedding planning hasn’t been as stressful as I thought it would be. Josh has been very hands on with planning which has taken a lot of the stress off of me. We communicate with each other on every decision, no matter how big or small.

Tell us what you’re looking forward to most on the wedding day.

Making the ultimate covenant between God, Joshua, and I. He’s my shoulder to cry on, my crutch when I need help standing, and my cheerleader when I need encouragement. In one phrase, he’s my best friend. I probably won’t remember every single detail of my wedding day, but I do know I’ll remember the moment I say, “I do.”

Congratulations, Courtney and Joshua! All the best as you continue to plan your big day!

Vendors:

Reception Venue: Cleveland Marriott East 
Photographer: Jazzymae Photograph
DJ: Lo-key Entertainment