When Naomi walked into the room at a community event, the only person she could see was Michael. It could have been love at first sight, or it could have been because Michael is REALLY tall. Either way, Naomi was intrigued and she wanted to spark a conversation with him, but she had just gotten all four of her wisdom teeth pulled out! Months later this tall handsome man was still on Naomi’s mind. They both work for community organizations in Philadelphia, so Naomi decided to send Michael an email to talk about “work stuff,” and the rest is history. Michael decided to propose to Naomi on February 6th, the one year anniversary of when she first emailed him. He proposed to her outside of the Art Museum at which they had their first date. To celebrate their upcoming union, Naomi and Michael wanted to have an engagement shoot that truly reflected their personality, their love for Philadelphia and their love for Black History. So, they teamed up with Adachi of Adachi Photography, and decided to start their E-Session at their home to show how they are in their own element. Then they hit the streets, taking pictures in places that “screamed Philly.” The couple shares “We knew we wanted to highlight one of the many awesome murals that Philly is known for, one that celebrated Black greatness and power, thus the W.E.B DuBois mural ‘Mapping Courage’.” This couple’s love for each other and their culture radiates in every picture, and we wish them the best on their upcoming nuptials.
- Bride to be: Naomi Roberson- Programs Manager, Smith Memorial Playground
- Groom to be: Michael Reid- Program Director, Treehouse Books
- Wedding Date: 05/18/2014
How They Met
From the bride to be…I first saw Michael at a Community Event. Both of the organizations that we worked for were receiving grants from a small foundation in North Philly and when I walked through the door, the first thing I saw was him…..’cause he’s REALLY tall. I, unfortunately, couldn’t really talk because I had just gotten ALL FOUR of my wisdom teeth out! I did go up to the stage to very quickly talk about my organization, but we didn’t speak at all that day.
Fast forward many months later. This very tall, elusive guy is still on my mind, so I decided to email him to talk about “work” stuff…..ways to collaborate, development shared programming, yada yada yada. We decided to meet, but before we were to meet on work stuff, Michael told me about a Happy Hour that he would also be at. I went to that Happy Hour, we talked for a spell, I got giddy, and we parted ways. We met on “work” stuff the next week, and made plans to go out the week after…..on a personal tip. Well, I got sick, like really sick, and we couldn’t go out, but he insisted on coming over and bringing soup, so I obliged, swollen face and all. Fast forward a couple of weeks, major surgery and an emergency weekend in the hospital, we had our very first date in March 2012 at the Philadelphia Art Museum, then Northstar, a neighborhood bar. And the rest, my friends, is Black History.
He proposed on February 6th at the same place we had our first date, a year to the date of when I first emailed him.
The Proposal
From the Groom to be …I decided that I would propose to Naomi on February 6th, the one year anniversary of when she first emailed me. Earlier that evening we had a social event to go to, so Naomi and I met up after work and went to the event together. I stayed in my work clothes, which is a suit and tie. The box that the ring was in was so big that there was no way that I could keep it in my pocket without getting caught, so I decided to put it in my briefcase. When we arrived at the event I brought my briefcase inside with me, because I didn’t want the ring to be out of my sight, even for a second. Naomi noticed that I brought my briefcase with me, and thought I was behaving oddly. After we left the event we stopped somewhere and got takeout. I couldn’t eat a thing because I was so nervous. Naomi noticed this as well.
We usually pass the Art Museum on the way home, so I asked Naomi if she wanted to walk around the museum for a bit before we concluded the evening. (Our first date was at the Art Museum.) By this time I had put the ring in my pocket. Naomi ran up the Art Museum steps, but I was walking very slowly. (I was afraid of the ring falling out of my pocket.) We finally got to the top of the steps and I launched into a long soliloquy about our relationship. Naomi got this really goofy smile on her face, and took off the glove on her left hand. I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me, and she immediately started CRYING and saying (very affectionately) “Shut up! Shut up!” I was down on my knee for what seemed like two minutes and she still hadn’t said yes, and she was still crying. At this point I was getting worried and I started to think that maybe I had called her one of my ex-girlfriends names. Also there were a group of people hanging out about 100 feet or so from where we were, and I was worried that they would see a woman crying and see me hanging around her and think “What did this creep do to her?” Eventually she said yes and we went home.
Long story, but the strange facts.
Engagement Session Inspiration
We wanted to take our photos in places that screamed “Philly”. We’re both transplants, I’m from Harlem and Michigan, he’s from California and Virginia (I know, long stories), but Philly has become our home. We knew we wanted to highlight one of the many awesome murals that Philly is known for, one that celebrated Black greatness and power, thus the W.E.B DuBois mural “Mapping Courage”. I had visited a park in south Philadelphia a couple of months before the photo session, and saw this beautiful gazebo and knew I wanted to take pictures there as well! Our wonderful photographer, Adachi, picked some other spots to shoot that really fit us. We took pictures in our home, doing our normal morning routine because we wanted to show how we were in out own element.
Their Photographer
We first met Adachi before we go engaged, at a wedding expo called Lovesick in 2012. We talked to her and really loved her style and her personality, so I put her in my mental rolodex “just in case”. Well, almost a month after that, Michael proposed, and Adachi was the first person I contacted! We met face to face and just loved her vibe and her photography style, so we decided to go with her! Adachi was the first “vendor” we solidified for the wedding, and we’re so glad she’s out photographer!
Looking forward to the Wedding
We both are looking forward to seeing our family and our “adopted” family coming together and having the greatest party ever! We’re a fun, slightly silly couple, we don’t take ourselves too seriously, so when it’s all said and done, we want to have a good time!
Wedding Planning Process
Wedding planning thus far has been great! We have all of the “big” items situated, venue, caterers…..DRESS! So, the next six months is really focused on getting the decorations and “style” of the wedding situated.
Vendors
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