Estrella + Lionel: {Engaged}

This stylish, fun and sweet engagement session was influenced by the movie “Up in the Air”, fusing together the couple’s love for travel, music and dance. With a colorful cultural backdrop and romance, the love that Estrella and Lionel have for each other shines through. R. See Photography did an amazing job of capturing their personalities and the fun they have together. The couple was styled by Lola Wusu.

The Bride: Estrella Atkinson
The Groom: Lionel Walker
Occupations: Bride – currently working on her Master’s degree in Nutritional Science and is a Dietetic Intern; Groom – Teacher at nonproft organization and Owner of Real Estate Company
The Location: Union Station, Downtown Los Angeles, CA

The Meeting ….. “Lionel and Estrella met in 2006 at their alma mater California State University Long Beach. Her first semester of college, Estrella joined the Cal State Long Beach Gospel Choir which Lionel was the president and director of. Estrella and Lionel grew in friendship as they sang in choir together for two years. Their friendship continued to flourish after Lionel invited Estrella to his church Antioch Church of Long Beach in 2008 when he was graduating from CSULB. On June 4th, 2010, Lionel and Estrella began dating and embarked upon what would become a life long journey of love and camaraderie.

Estrella and Lionel plan to travel the world doing missionary work, serving God and furthering his kingdom. They also plan to have, adopt, and foster transgenerational children that will impact the world for Christ.”

The Proposal….. “Lionel proposed to Estrella on his parent’s wedding anniversary February 15, 2012 at Antioch Church of Long Beach. Lionel told Estrella that the young adult choir he directed would be filming an audition tape for the mayor and asked her to contact their old friends from the Cal State Long Beach Gospel Choir to sing for the audition tape. Lionel started the “audition tape” like a regular choir rehearsal by praying the choir in, and then gospel singer Keysha Renee started singing “Set Me Free” by Myron Butler, a song that Lionel and Estrella sang in gospel choir together.

Set Me Free
I don’t even know
where my life would be
if you hadn’t shown
shown your love for me
broke the chains, chains that were binding me
gave me liberty
set me free

As Keysha Renee was singing, the choir began to part off the stage leaving only Estrella and Lionel. Lionel got on one knee and asked, “Estrella Ford Atkinson will you marry me?””

Estrella and Lionel will be wed on September 8, 2012. As lovers of travel and music, they have a lifetime journey to embark on and the sweet beginnings of a love song that is all theirs.

Click here for the full gallery.