Featured in MunaLuchi Bridal Magazine, Issue No. 27, Amy & Sam’s engagement session highlights their shared artistic and eclectic style while also paying tribute to their individual Ghanaian and Washingtonian roots.
Sam and Amy’s whirlwind romance began with a blind date in Los Angeles in 2020. While their mutual friend set them up, according to Amy, it wasn’t ‘love at first text.’ She even admits to ghosting him. However, Sam was not deterred and the week of the wedding they both happened to be attending, he reached back out to Amy and asked if she had transportation from the airport. If not, he offered to pick her up and take her on a date before the wedding. Amy admits, “I had arrangements, but I canceled them! Who doesn’t love a Man with a Plan?”
They’ve been inseparable ever since! Only a year later, the pair were engaged in LA while on a family trip for Amy’s birthday. Fast forward to their engagement shoot in Washington D.C., they showed off their personalities and cultures through their attire and location.
Both come from culturally rich backgrounds. Samuel is of Ghanaian descent and Amy is from 4 generations (both maternal and paternal) of Washingtonians. In their engagement shoot, shot by the esteemed Stanley Babb, they sought to immerse the audience in their bond and bring out their cultures through photography.“
Wedding Planner, Love Clark
More on their love story and eclectic meets glam engagement session below!
- Couple: Samuel Sarfo & Amy Allen
- Occupations: Sam is a Program Manager of D.O.D. & Amy is an Interior Designer
- Wedding date: October 14, 2023
- Wedding location: Baltimore Museum of Arts
- Location of Engagement shoot: Conrad Hotel & Lincoln Memorial
How they met…
In 2020, during the tail-end of the pandemic shutdown; Sam and I were both single parents to little girls. We lived 70 miles apart between Baltimore, Maryland, and Woodbridge, Virginia. The chances of us crossing paths were nearly impossible. In November, Sam was preparing to be a groomsman in his best friend’s wedding in Los Angeles. I was a friend of the bride, and at the last minute, she invited me to come as well.
Weeks before the wedding, the bride happened to see me rant, via social media, about a bad date I had experienced. She instantly reached out to me to ask if I was ok. And then, she told me that she had a guy that she thought I should meet because we had so much in common. After having two back-to-back bad dates, I thought… ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’
So, she put Sam and I in touch via text; and I must say… it was not Love at first ‘text’! We messaged back and forth a few times and I “ghosted” him. I simply didn’t think blind “hook-ups” were a thing for me. Sam, however, had other plans! The week of the wedding he reached back out to me and asked if I was still coming to the wedding; and if so, did I have transportation from the airport. He said if I did not, he’d like to pick me up and take me on a date before the festivities began. I had arrangements, but I canceled them! Who doesn’t love a Man with a Plan? Sam met me at the airport and took me on our first date… and we’ve been inseparable since that day!
The proposal…
As a unit, one of the things that Amy and I pride ourselves on is planning and preparations. With that in mind, we were planning our first family trip with the kids and her mother. The timing of the trip “happened” to land on Amy’s birthday, in July. It would be our first time back in Los Angeles since the wedding. There was a lot of speculation amongst her friends that I was getting ready to propose.
So, I firmly put to bed the idea and assured her that this was simply a trip for her birthday and for the family. Once I had her convinced, I then proceeded with my plans for our “Engagement Trip”! To my benefit, the jeweler was in Beverly Hills and her two best friends reside there as well. They would be my allies in keeping the plans running smoothly. As Amy and I made plans for activities with the kids and reservations to her favorite restaurants, I was trying to secure the perfect place to have our proposal dinner. The problem was finding a reservation in LA for 7 adults and 5 children during covid; it was like trying to find toilet paper at target during the height of the pandemic!
Once we found a restaurant, the last obstacle was the delivery of the ring. I had been in contact with the jeweler since April designing the ring and while it was completed in June, I couldn’t very well just have it delivered to the “queen of packages” doorstep. So, the plan was to pick it up during our trip. I waited until we’d taken the kids to the pool, and a courier delivered the ring to me downstairs, I had to lie and tell her that I needed to take a work call on a Saturday! This was the day of the proposal mind you.
Everything afterwards went smoothly; Amy had NO clue she was getting engaged up until the moment I got down on one knee. She was shocked during and even after saying yes, that she admittedly stated, “I don’t know which hand it goes on!”
When they knew they found “the one”…
During a family dinner with my brothers and their significant others, watching the way she interacted with my family and how well I saw her get along with my friends, I knew she was the one. She always just fits right in.
Engagement session & theme…
With our engagement shoot we wanted to accomplish two things: Culture and Style. Sam’s family is from Ghana, and I come from 4 generations (maternal and paternal) of Washingtonians. It is traditional for Washingtonian couples to take engagement pictures at the Lincoln Memorial, and there we chose to dress in our take of Modern African Style. At the Conrad Hotel, we wanted to showcase our personal style and flair. I am an interior designer and architecture is a passion of mine. I love the eccentric style of the hotel’s atrium and there we showed our personal style as a couple.
Their first date…
Sam picked me up from the LAX airport and we went on a brunch date. We talked for so long that he was late for a wedding rehearsal and dinner!
Favorite thing to do as a couple…
We are both foodies and love going to new restaurants. We also like doing family activities with our kids and traveling.
Wedding planning so far…
So far wedding planning has been a breeze. Sam and I are natural planners; combined with the strength of a wedding planner, we are steadily knocking things off our to-do list early. Our goal is to pay off the entire wedding prior to and walk down the aisle debt free!
What they’re looking forward to most on their wedding day…
The theme of our wedding is ‘Cinderella’ and that is really a tribute to our daughters. I want my daughters to know that no matter what happens in their journey, they can STILL meet prince charming and live happily ever after! I can’t wait for them to see us married. We also look forward to seeing our family and friends have an amazing time and witness our genuine love for one another. We want every moment of the day to be memorable from the morning’s mimosa to the reception’s champagne toasts!
Looking for more eclectic & glam engagement inspiration?
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Vendors:
- Photographer: Stanley Babb of StanLo Photography
- Planner: Love Clark
- Brides Hair: Kyndal Baldwin
- Makeup Artist: Makki Araya
- Ankara Gown: Kathy Anthony
- Pleated Gown: Fouad Sarkis
- Ankara Suit: GG Bespoke (Ghana)
- Burgundy Suit: Stanlion Clothing (Laurel, MD)
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