It all started with “hello” for Naneka and Scott who celebrated their recent engagement with a stylish garden glamour photo shoot at the Villa Toscana Miami.
Looking back on that day, Scott recalls, “She’s beautiful, and on that day, I could not stop staring. She carried herself very gracefully; I was enamored.”
Naneka shares, “As a self-proclaimed talker, I found myself incredibly quiet meeting Scott, eager to hear everything this stranger had to say…”.
After Scott initiated their first conversation at a pizza spot in New Haven, the couple haven’t stopped talking. Their connection blossomed from friendship to romance, and when the timing was right, Scott planned a romantic surprise rooftop proposal with roses and views of the Empire State Building. Naneka happily said yes!
Keep scrolling for more details on their love story and to view their garden glamour engagement session photos by MunaCoterie member REEM Photography below.
- Couple: Scott Colas and Naneka Bakare
- Occupations: Investment Funds Attorney – Naneka and Software Engineer – Scott
- Wedding date: May 24, 2025
- Wedding location: Portland, CT
- Location of Engagement shoot: Villa Toscana Miami
How did you meet?
Scott: I was in the New Haven area getting food. We met in a restaurant, and it started with a hello.
From there, the conversation just kept going. I’m usually more reserved when meeting someone new; however, with Naneka, I was able to let my guard down immediately. She’s beautiful, and on that day, I could not stop staring. She carried herself very gracefully; I was enamored. It felt like I was talking to someone of a high standard, yet her smile was warm and inviting. I left that conversation looking forward to speaking to her again soon.
Naneka: I first met Scott at a pizza place named Bar in New Haven, CT. During our first conversation, it felt like I was speaking to my best friend who I’ve known all my life, but we had just met.
He approached me, and we sparked up a conversation. As a self-proclaimed talker, I found myself incredibly quiet meeting Scott, eager to hear everything this stranger had to say and not miss a single word. He told me about his childhood in Connecticut, the new hobby he picked up (running), and his knowledge of New Haven-style pizza. The conversation was funny and light. Meeting him felt like a true fairytale moment like we were both meant to be in that place on that day at that time. I loved every second of it. After that conversation at the Bar, we kept in contact and grew our beautiful relationship and friendship.
Tell us your proposal story:
Scott: I planned our proposal months in advance, starting by getting her a custom ring.
While her ring was in production, I began looking for the perfect place to propose. I knew I would only get to propose once, so I wanted to make it special and ensure she felt special too. So I decided to choose a location that was private, just for the two of us, so we could really connect without any interruptions. I found a private rooftop in front of the Empire State Building and had the space decorated with roses to make it even more romantic. I told her we had reservations at a restaurant, and when we got out of the elevator onto the rooftop, her jaw dropped.
When did you know they were “the one”?
Scott: Over time, as I got to know her better, it became obvious how deep our connection was, how many things we had in common, and how much she cared about me. And I cared about her just as much.
We became best friends, and she was always there for me, supporting me in everything I did. She also helped me grow in my faith. I reached a point where I started thinking about what our future would be like, and I thought to myself, I found someone I was equally yoked with. It became clear that she was the girl I wanted to spend my life with.
Naneka: Funny enough, I was never the hopeless romantic type.
On our third date, he held my hand for the first time, and I felt an immediate spark, something I honestly didn’t believe in before that day. After that moment, I knew Scott was someone that you only meet once in a lifetime.
Describe your “Garden Glamour” engagement session. Did you have a theme?
Our engagement photoshoot theme was “Garden Glamour.” We both love the outdoors and enjoy playing dress-up on date nights. Inspired by the villa’s grounds, we spent the afternoon wearing formal looks with a botanical backdrop. We wanted the photo shoot to reflect elegance and formality juxtaposed against a lush garden and natural landscape.
What did you do on your first date?
On our first date, we went to the movies and watched Tenet. After the film, we grabbed some ice cream made from scratch and discussed baby names. Even back then, somehow we must have known this relationship was endgame.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?
We love going on evening walks, traveling to the Caribbean, and trying new restaurants in Washington, DC, and New York City. Scott is a huge foodie, and I picked up hiking in 2020, so we use our hobbies to balance one another.
How has wedding planning been so far?
Wedding planning has felt like our lives most cherished labor of love thus far. On our wedding day, we hope to showcase our personalities and the essence of our relationship in every decision. We both work corporate jobs, so making mood boards and picking our charger plates has been quite a change of pace from our day-to-day. We are using our creativity skills more than ever and have completely dived into wedding design, florals, and other visual aspects of the day. Our delight in wedding design has been a pleasant surprise.
Tell us what you’re looking forward to most on the wedding day.
Naneka: I am most looking forward to our private vows in the morning.
Weddings can typically be a bit of a whirlwind, and given that we are having a large wedding, I am excited for some quality time with Scott early on in the day before catching up with all of our friends and family who traveled locally and internationally to celebrate with us.
Looking for more garden glamour engagement session inspiration?
Click here.
Vendors:
- Photographer: Kareem Virgo of REEM Photography
- Planner: Camille Plummer of JunePlumm Events
- Videographer: FlyShots by Franklin
- Hair: Hair Chemistry Miami
- Makeup: Unbeatable Faces
- Venue: Villa Toscana Miami
Leave a Reply