Featured in Issue 31, Wise and Courtney celebrated their love in a modern black-tie Bella Cosa Lakeside wedding.
For centuries artists have found inspiration (and love) from their muses. For photographer Wise and model Courtney, their love story began like this: Wise behind the lens and Courtney in front of it. It was only a matter of time before they too would fall in love…
Their story begins in October of 2018 when Courtney was asked to model for her friend’s clothing line. The photoshoot turned out to be a photo walk where photographers, videographers, and models came together to create content. Wise was the last photographer to approach Courtney for a video.
After the event, they started following each other on Instagram, but it wasn’t until early January 2019 that they started messaging after Courtney slid into Wise’s DMs. In May, they organized their first photoshoot together in Tampa. Their chemistry was instant. Little did they know, it would be the first of many photo shoots to come.
When it came time to propose, Wise planned the perfect surprise – a photo shoot, of course!
Disguised as a Warby Parker modeling session, Courtney had an intuitive inkling but never expected an actual proposal.
“I walked into a room filled with roses, a beautiful balloon and floral assortment, and a violinist,” Courtney gushes. “Wise was standing in the middle of a heart made of roses and behind him solid big letters that read “Marry Me”… Wise proposed and we hugged as I cried and turned around to the room filled with our family and friends.”
The couple tied the knot on August 19th, 2023, at the luxurious Bella Cosa Lakeside Wedding Venue in a beautiful, modern, Black Tie affair. They incorporated Wise’s Haitian culture into their cuisine and Kompa music during their first dance. Surrounded by loved ones all dressed in classy black attire, Courtney and Wise couldn’t imagine a more magical wedding day.
More wedding details (captured by Muna Coterie Photographer, Nativ Lens) await below.
*Purchase a copy of Issue 31 here!
- Couple: Courtney and Wise Clairvoyant
- Wedding date: August 19th, 2023
- Wedding location: Bella Cosa Lakeside Wedding Venue
Quick Facts:
- Ceremony entrance song: Groom: “Matrimony” by Wale ft Usher
- Bride: “My Song” by H.E.R.
First dance song: “For You” by Kenny Lattimore and “Let’s Get Married” Kompa custom mix
How did you meet?
In October of 2018, Courtney was asked to model for her friend’s clothing line. To her surprise, she was actually attending a photo walk. For those unfamiliar, a photowalk is a curated event put together for photographers, videographers, and models. They link up in an area and create a great amount of content. Wise would be the last person to ask Courtney for a video before they parted ways.
Although directly after the event @qourtknee and @wiseclairvoyant began following each other on Instagram, it wasn’t until early January 2019 that the back-and-forth Instagram conversations began. (With Courtney sliding first). These conversations carried on until May when they organized their very first photoshoot.
(Wise mentioned he was long overdue on visiting his sisters in Tampa and Courtney thought Wise’s photography was amazing; it was only right).
There was instant chemistry; his hand on her lower back gesture of Wise assisting her across the street, the eye contact, the fidgeting and stalling when it was time to leave from both parties, the sparks flew even though neither of them admitted it.
It wasn’t until Courtney was driving home that Wise called her, for nothing other than to see what she was up to later on. That’s when Courtney knew, she had em’… Oh and the fact that he never charged her for the photoshoot.
that was the first of many shoots they’d do together… just because. They’ve been inseparable ever since.
The proposal:
What I thought was going to be a photoshoot turned out to be one of the best days of my life. One of our good friends (who’s also a Photographer) contacted me to advise me that Warby Parker had hired him for a photo shoot, and he wanted me to be the model. He told me the pay would be $1000 for us both, and that was something I definitely wasn’t going to turn down.
Leading up to the day, I remember being so excited about everything! I would send outfits and hairstyles galore for Wise to see and help me decide. He had even created a mood board to share with me for shoot ideas. All my friends were excited for me!! They made sure to ask me if I was ready for the shoot and would pose questions like, “I wonder where your photos will end up?” And “What if they make you a regular?”
It’s crazy to think back and see that the whole time everyone was keeping a huge secret. And my mom did SO WELL! We talk hourly so I know it had to be tough.
I was running a little behind with my makeup, but keeping in contact with Patrick, our friend (the photographer), the entire time. I had an inkling. So much so that I recorded a video to myself, saying, I had a funny feeling that Wise was going to propose, and if he did I would have this video, and if he didn’t, no one would ever know.
It wasn’t because anyone slipped, just this feeling because Wise wasn’t his normal self doing his normal things. He had told me he was on a work trip which I believed but still, certain things just were off.
I psyched myself out by saying yeah, I’m probably wrong, and that thought went away until I walked into a room filled with roses, a beautiful balloon and floral assortment, and a violinist.
Wise was standing in the middle of a heart made of roses and behind him solid big letters that read “Marry Me” I forgot I could actually walk for a few seconds and immediately asked, “Is this real?”
The tears started. I felt a rush of heat over my body, and although I had an inkling, I still was completely shocked that it was happening right then! Wise proposed and we hugged as I cried and turned around to the room filled with our family and friends.
There was so much love that day that I can still feel it now. We went to a lounge afterward and celebrated. Oh, I almost forgot… after he proposed he whispered we’re going on a trip, and to pack my bags!! A few days later we flew to PR on our engagement trip.
Describe your wedding attire:
Classic/ Black Tie-All guests wore black
What was the wedding shopping experience like for you?
I initially went with my mother just to get the nerves out and if we found the one we’d get it. I had a certain look in mind for years based off of how I envisioned myself and when it was time to say yes, how I envisioned it and what I chose were completely opposite. A month later my bride squad and I booked the bridal suite at Truly Forever Bridal. We went through about 5 or 6 before I found the one. I actually cried when I saw myself in the dress. It was the one.
The ceremony…
Mr. & Mrs…
Reception space & Decor…
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
Our food was Haitian cuisine as the Wise is Haitian. We also incorporated Kompa in our first dance.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
Wise: Walking down the aisle as my loved ones cheered. And taking in all the love of being surrounded by friends and family.
Courtney: After we said I do we had about 5 minutes of time to ourselves. It’s truly what I remember the most. It went by so quickly and during those five minutes, time slowed down.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Wise: Elope lol.. no seriously try to enjoy your time. Take everything in.
Courtney: Have a private moment just you two. The time goes FAST, so hire an excellent planner to coordinate your day perfectly. It really made the day flow beautifully.
Looking for more inspiration like this Bella Cosa Lakeside Wedding?
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Vendors:
- Photographer: Nativ Lens
- Videographer: MSM Image
- Venue: Bella Cosa
- Dress: Truly Forever Bridal
- Tux: Suit Supply
- Planner: MoChar Events
- Headpiece: Ai & Eva
- Earrings: Earring Envy
- Hair and MUA: Fierce Transformations
- Florist: La Perle Designs & Events
- Cake: Publix
- Caterer: Kreyol Delight
- DJ: DJ Emcee
- Host: Pascale Belony
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