Connie and Chip’s elegant engagement session at the Vizcaya Museum and Garden in Miami, Florida, was a testament to their beautiful love story.
Featured in Issue 30, our very own Muna Coterie Photographer, Chip Dizárd, is engaged!
Chip and his beloved wife-to-be, Connie Gilmore, will be exchanging vows this weekend on Sunday, January 14th, 2024, in an upscale Hotel at the University of Maryland in College Park.
The couple, who first connected on Instagram, have an undeniable connection fueled by love, understanding, and compassion.
I knew there was something extremely special about Chip when he showed how thoughtful and intentional he was about me. Nine years ago I became a widow, and to say the journey has been difficult is a grave understatement. Chip has been so supportive, so comforting and so understanding of the space I was in.
Connie Gilmore (bride-to-be)
I knew she was the one when I was away at a wedding overseas and I missed her so much and I knew I couldn’t live one day without her in my life.
Chip Dizárd (groom-to-be)
After realizing he couldn’t live a day without Connie in his life, Chip planned a surprise proposal on Super Bowl Sunday. Surrounded by their friends and family (and a camera crew, of course!), Chip got down on one knee as one of their favorite songs, “Forever” by Robert Glasper, played in the background.
Ultimately, if their elegant engagement session at the Vizcaya Museum and Garden in Maimi, Florida, proved anything, it’s that their wedding photos are going to be filled with love, regal fashion, and gorgeous backdrops.
Read more about their romantic love story below. And make sure to check out their print feature in Issue 30 here!
- Couple: Connie Gilmor & Chip Dizard
- Wedding date: January 14, 2024
- Wedding location: Hotel at the University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland)
- Location of engagement: Vizcaya Museum and Garden (Miami, FL)
- Photographer: Peculiar Images
How did you meet?
We met on Instagram. Chip slid into my DM’s after he finished an inspirational IG live post on “Dreaming Big”.
What did you do on your first date?
From: Connie: We went to dinner at a restaurant called Woodmont Grill in Bethesda, Maryland. The original date was planned for later in the month, however, due to unexpected weather where Chip was scheduled to travel for work he suggested a sooner day/time. It was a great time and we actually saw each other the following day as well so I guess that was a good sign.
From Chip: I asked her questions (almost an interrogation) and even filmed her responses to some questions on our first date. We had a good meal and a great time and we found out that we enjoyed each other’s company. I knew from there we would be together eventually.
When did you know you found “the one”?
From Connie: I knew there was something extremely special about Chip when he showed how thoughtful and intentional he was about me. Nine years ago I became a widow, and to say the journey has been difficult is a grave understatement.
Chip has been so supportive, so comforting and so understanding of the space I was in. When he offered to go with me to the grave on the anniversary of my late husband’s death to place flowers, then proceeded to stand with me to support and push my Premature Widow Anniversary Gala like it was his own….my heart knew then that he was the one.
It takes a special person to love a widow this way, Chip is indeed that special person and I am so grateful for him and his heart towards me.
From Chip: I knew she was the one when I was away at a wedding overseas and I missed her so much and I knew I couldn’t live one day without her in my life. I also remember mentally choosing the wedding date on that day. To her amazement, it’s the exact wedding date we have now. So I knew back in 2022 that we would be married in January of 2024, I just didn’t have a location and venue.
Tell us your proposal story:
It was Super Bowl Sunday and we had planned for weeks to go and watch the game at the home of our close friends. The menu was set and we were tasked with bringing the chicken (or so I thought).
Chip picked me up as we planned, we went to brunch and both had a change of clothes to watch the game that evening. I walked into the house and immediately began to hear one of our favorite songs “Robert Glasper – Forever” and then saw a camera crew, and Chip said to me: “babe, it’s happening…”.
I walked through the foyer and saw a house full of family and friends cheering us on. He immediately got down on one knee and said how much he loved me and how long he had been planning this moment….then popped the question and of course, I said YES without hesitation!
Describe your engagement session. Did you have a theme?
It was classic and elegant. We love to travel so we wanted to have a shoot that showed a different place than where we lived. Miami was one of our first trips together as a couple so it made sense to do our photo and video shoot there. We also love classic cars so we had a class Mercedes Benz as part of our shoot with florals in the back seat.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?
We love to travel and visit new places, concerts, watching movies and we absolutely love dressing up and going out to social events. We’ve been to more galas as a couple than we’ve been to in our entire lives! We laugh a lot and enjoy each other’s company no matter where we are or what we are doing.
How has wedding planning been so far?
Wedding planning has been going great so far. Our vision of that day is in sync and we like a lot of the same things in terms of decor etc. so it hasn’t been stressful at all.
What are you looking forward to most on the wedding day?
Becoming one! Not only are we excited about being husband and wife but also recognize what a blessing it is for both of us to have a second chance at love!
We can’t wait for the celebration with family and friends and to see our vision come to life with the DECOR because we both love a room full of beauty and character.
And of course, with Chip being a professional photographer himself, we are definitely looking forward to our dope photos and videos that we will cherish for a lifetime.
Looking for more inspiration like this Elegant Engagement Session at the Vizcaya Museum?
Click here for more.
Vendors:
- Photographer: Peculiar Images
- Video: Templeton Image
- MUA: Beauty Expression.CA LLC
- Photo Assistant: Riki Marley
- Classic Car: @wingkingmussaddiq
- Tuxedo: Tuxedo by Sarno
- Styling Assistant: Nia S. Jones
- Hair: Erica B. Hair
- Wedding Day of Coordinator: Dot Every i Weddings & Events
- Wedding Day Decor/Design: Lady Victoria Designs
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