Surrounded by love and community, social justice activists, Briana and Denzel, tied the knot at their early spring wedding in Nashville, Tennessee!
Briana and Denzel were first introduced through a mutual friend and fellow community organizer. Briana knew of Denzel and had seen him at a few meetings. When the friend suggested that she should connect deeper with him, Briana was apprehensive because she thought Denzel was still attending grad school over 600 miles away.
However, the friend told Briana that he had moved back to Nashville. So Briana reached out to Denzel via Facebook and he confirmed that he was finished with school. Immediately, their conversation flowed smoothly leading to their first date at a crepe shop, which lasted for hours.
Through their shared passions of social justice and liberation, Briana and Denzel formed a deep connection that extended past their shared activism and transformed into a loving relationship, full of compassion, respect, and an unshakable dedication. Together they have attended many racial justice protests, gone to various Black history museums, and have traveled to learn more about their history as a people.
Their liberatory love is extending unconditional care, affection, compassion, trust, and respect to themselves and each other. They take pride in their shared values to be a part of building a world where everyone is afforded human rights and can reach their full potential.
– Tanza (Lee Henry Events)
After four amazing years together, Denzel proposed to Briana on her birthday while they were staying at a boutique hotel. With assistance from the hotel experience coordinator, Denzel surprised Briana with a cake and a custom song. After the song finished, Denzel got down on one knee and asked Briana to be his forever.
Briana and Denzel’s spring wedding celebrated their values, passions, and the beauty and power of black love throughout generations.
They incorporated traditional elements from the African Diaspora, focusing on Sankofa, a concept from the Akan people of learning from the past to build a future.
The wedding was a spin on traditional elements with the Sankofa bird, a Ghanaian symbol that represents learning from the past to build the future, was the cornerstone. They see the principle of Sankofa as a way to honor individual and collective healing: healing seven generations back and seven generations ahead.
– Tanza (Lee Henry Events)
Learn more about their inspiring love story and see the beautiful details of their early spring wedding below!
- Couple: Briana & Denzel
- Occupations: Denzel works in civics education and the social change nonprofit arena and Briana works in education justice philanthropy.
- Wedding date: March 30, 2024
- Wedding location: Conrad Nashville
Quick Facts:
- Bridesmaids gifts: Gold Anton Heunis sun ray earrings as an accessory for dresses and monogrammed sage green robes.
- Groomsmen gifts: Metal coins with their names engraved on one side and a Black historical figure, with whom they share qualities, on the other side, and a book detailing each figure’s life. The groomsmen who were graduates of Morehouse College, Denzel’s alma mater, received custom shirts that included the name of the freshman hall in which they met. One of the Best Men, Denzel’s childhood best friend, received a set of glass Dragon Balls in a box, symbolizing their favorite childhood show.
- Gifts for one another: We decided that our personalized vows would be the gift that we wanted to share on our special day.
- Ceremony entrance song: Denzel’s entrance song was “Happily Ever After” by Case and Briana’s entrance song was “Point of It All” by Anthony Hamilton.
- First dance song: Dance medley featuring “A Love of Your Own” by Average White Band, “War” by Edwin Starr, “One Thing” by Amerie, “Mi Gente” by J Balvin & Willy William ft. Beyonce, and “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe.
How did you meet?
Both community organizers, Briana and Denzel officially met in 2018 through the gentle coordination of a mutual friend and fellow organizer in Nashville. One day Briana and the mutual friend were at dinner and the friend brought up this amazing guy with whom she thought Briana should connect more deeply. According to the friend, this guy, Denzel, was someone who was committed to human rights and applying his values to his organizing work and personal life.
Briana knew a little about who Denzel was because they were Facebook friends, and she had seen him out at a few community meetings. However, Briana remembered seeing posts about Denzel being in graduate school in Oklahoma, over 600 miles away, and would come out to events when he was at home on breaks.
The friend had heard that Denzel had recently moved back to Nashville. Briana was in disbelief because it seemed too good of a coincidence. To confirm her friend’s suspicion, she sent Denzel a Facebook message. He quickly responded and said that he’d graduated and was in fact back in Nashville. This question flowed into a beautiful conversation about books, which led to a first date at a crepe shop that lasted for hours. Bonded through their shared passion for justice and social transformation, Briana and Denzel have gone to protests for racial justice, canvassed together for campaigns, and traveled places to learn more about their history as a people.
Tell us about the proposal.
After nearly four years together, Denzel proposed to Briana on her birthday, October 11, while staying at a boutique hotel. With the help of a hotel experience coordinator, Denzel surprised Briana not only with her birthday cake but also with a custom song made about her. After listening to the song, she walked onto the balcony to meet him on the other side of the door. On one knee near a glowing fire, he asked her to walk together in this life forever.
Bonded through their shared passion for justice and liberation, they went on dates to the Frist Museum to view a Civil Rights exhibit, the African Street Festival, and Fort Negley, the largest inland stone fortification built by enslaved and free Black people during the Civil War. Their first trip together was to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum in Montgomery, AL. Throughout their relationship, they’ve been to protests for racial justice, city council meetings to push for the end of a private prison contract, and canvassed together on electoral campaigns…
Wedding Style:
As an early spring wedding, Briana’s and Denzel’s colors were sage green, white, champagne, and gold accents.
Denzel wore a tailor-made champagne suit, Egyptian cotton white shirt with gold buttons, gold Talley and Twine watch, matching gold cummerbund, light brown shoes, and a boutonnière. Briana wore an ivory, floral Mermaid style wedding gown with champagne hints, champagne shoes, and cream and gold Anton Heunis sun ray drop earrings.
For the reception outfit, Denzel wore a white and gold African two-piece set, a dashiki with matching pants, with white and gold sneakers. Briana wore a floor-length gold gown with gold-speckled Betsey Johnson sneakers.
An early spring wedding, their colors were sage green, white, champagne, and gold accents. The wedding was a spin on traditional elements with the Sankofa bird, a Ghanaian symbol that represents learning from the past to build the future, was the cornerstone. They see the principle of Sankofa as a way to honor individual and collective healing: healing seven generations back and seven generations ahead…
Finding “The Dress”…
Briana found her gown at Maggie Louise in Memphis, the second boutique she had an appointment with. The experience was incredible. When Briana submitted an appointment inquiry, she received a prompt response from the Maggie Louise team. They were professional and thoroughly explained their booking process and what would happen at the appointment. They also cheerfully answered Briana’s questions which was very reassuring, sending a follow-up text and email to confirm details.
Briana brought her mother to the appointment and had matching T-shirts designed for the momentous occasion. Briana was blown away as soon as she arrived at the boutique. Her bridal stylist was a ray of sunshine and offered a personalized experience. In fact, there was no other soon-to-be bride in the boutique.
Briana and her mother received champagne as they were set up in the suite. The bridal stylist had carefully studied the Pinterest board that Briana sent with gown inspiration photos. The gowns that the bridal stylist pre-selected were in perfect alignment with the inspiration photos!
As Briana tried on gowns and showed her mother, a member of the Maggie Louise team took pictures so her mother could be fully present in the moment. Briana was stuck between two gowns and tried both on a few times. The bridal stylist was so patient and affirming.
A week or so later, Briana’s bridal stylist mailed her a personalized letter that was thoughtful and warm. The intentionality was present throughout the entire experience. The Maggie Louise team sent Briana updates on where her dress was during the production process, setting her up with a seamstress once the dress was finished and shipped to Maggie Louise. The entire experience, from beginning to end, was a dream come true!
Culture:
The wedding blended various traditional and modern elements from the African Diaspora, centering on Sankofa, a concept from the Akan people that represents learning from the past to build the future. The principle of Sankofa is a concept we use to honor individual and collective healing: healing seven generations past and seven generations in the future.
The ceremony…
During the ceremony, we reserved two empty seats for our late grandmothers (ancestors) and placed “In Loving Memory” signs to honor their memory. The officiant opened the ceremony by inviting guests to share the names of other ancestors so that they may be a part of the occasion. Instead of my father giving me away, the entire group of wedding attendees were invited to collectively affirm our union.
We decided to write our vows, expressing how we’ve chosen to love in the way that Bell Hooks described in All About Love, as well as our commitment to individual and collective healing. After we were pronounced husband and wife, we jumped the broom. We decorated it together and it included elements from our familial and communal lineages and was consecrated by the officiant.
Cocktail Hour…
During cocktail hour, guests were invited to leave a message for us on a rotary phone and play a Black culture trivia game for a prize. To find their reception seating, guests visited a sage green wooden shelf with the words “A Seat With the Ancestors” displayed across the arched top. The escort cards were designed in the shape of the Sankofa bird. The table numbers corresponded with names of pivotal Black figures such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Shirley Chisholm, and Paul Robeson. Our families sat at tables named after our grandmothers.
The Reception…
For our introduction to the reception, we were musically escorted to our sweetheart table by an African drumming group named Sankofa. Our first dance was a choreographed routine to a medley of songs from several decades about Black love. During the send-off, guests received shakers to rattle as the Sankofa drumming group performed alongside us as we danced toward our exit to our luxury suite.
What is your favorite memory from your wedding?
Our favorite memory is our choreographed first dance that featured popular Black songs. The choreography was a surprise for our guests and was developed by a family friend who is a professional dancer. Our wedding guests continued to tell us that they were so excited to see us dance that they forgot to record the moment.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
The wedding is about the couple, not for anyone else. Choose the wedding experience that makes you, the couple, happy and honors your relationship. Regardless of the opinions people around you may have, this is YOUR special day, no matter how grandiose or intimate it may be.
Briana and Denzel are excited to take this next step on their journey as a couple. Their liberatory love is extending unconditional care, affection, compassion, trust, and respect to themselves and each other. They take pride in their shared values to be a part of building a world where everyone is afforded human rights and can reach their full potential. As they grow together in love, they also commit to continuing to support each other with their own dreams…
Looking for more spring wedding inspiration?
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Vendors:
- Photography: JAO Photography
- Planning and Design: Lee Henry Events
- Rentals: Every Day Fiestas
- Rentals: Please Be Seated
- Stationery: Lepenn Designs
- Venue: Conrad Nashville Luxury Hotel
- Videography: Marsh 1 Productions
- African Drum and Dance: Sankofa
- Aisle Runner: Original Runners
- Audio Guest Book: After The Tone
- Bridal gown: Maggie Louise
- Bride’s Hair Stylist: The Mane Room
- Bridesmaids dresses: Revelry
- Cake and Dessert Table: City Girl Treats
- Ceremony Musician: William Davenport
- Cocktail Hour & Reception DJ: The DJ Cevan
- Dance Floor Wrap: Inkredible Dance Floors
- First Dance Choreography: Sam Taylor
- Floral Design: Fiorella Nashville
- Groom’s Tux: John Michael Exclusive Wardrobe
- Groomsmen Tux: Men’s Wearhouse
- Photo Boards: Create10Me Designs
- Makeup Artist: Pure Glamour Makeup
- Mirror Photo Booth and Printed Photo Layout: Magic Mirror Nashville
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