Atlanta Wedding with Fuschia Details: Chauntina + Reginald -Munaluchi Bride

Chauntina and Reginald first locked eyes at a popular chicken wings restaurant in Atlanta, where they had both gone to watch a basketball game. He pulled up beside her at the parking lot, asked for her telephone number and gave her a call the very next day! They agreed to meet for dinner, but they actually didn’t hit it off!!! She thought he was “too into himself” and he thought she was “some bougie or stuck up girl that was boring.” They both decided that this wasn’t “it”, but Reginald’s interest would be rekindled by, of all things, Chauntina’s speed. I guess, for him, there was something amazing about watching a woman hold her own on the highway. :)

The two, aka Love & Mr. Hill, had a “marathon date” a week later in which they spent the entire day together. This former love bust soon turned into a love win. They sped down the aisle on their journey to marriage in a beautiful wedding photographed by Taun Henderson Photography.

Bride: Chauntina Smith
Groom: Reginald Hill
Occupations: Bride – Physician Assistant; Groom – Barber
Wedding Date: 08.10.2012
Location: Summerour Studio in Atlanta, Georgia

How He Proposed ….. “Mr. Hill had been telling me for about two weeks that we were going to brunch. This was weird because he never struck me as the brunch kind of person. Anyway, typical of Mr. Hill, he gave me my orders for that day: Make sure you get your hair done, don’t carry a big purse, bring your shades and don’t wear those shoes. Then, he told me that we have to be out of the house by 7:30 am. To my surprise, we pulled up to Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. I was a little excited, but played it cool. When we got to the gate, I saw that we are headed to Fort Lauderdale!

When we landed, Mr. Hill hired a driver for the day and we headed to South Beach. He had the driver play one of my favorite songs, as soon as we got into the car. As the day went on, I thought he might be proposing, but was unsure. We arrived at a restaurant and I noticed that the hostess, waiter, and even manager were so attentive that I started looking on my plate and even in my glass for a ring. We made one more stop before we got to the other end of South Beach, where the cruise ships pass. We took some pictures and took in the scenery, when Mr. Hill saw a guy taking pictures with a nice camera. He went to the guy and asked if he could take our picture – or so I thought. In fact, he had asked the guy to take our picture, while he proposed. The guy told him to come back in 5 minutes, but Mr. Hill waited only 2 before seeking the man out. Unbeknowst to us, he was recording us walking toward him. The guy captured everything on film, as we climbed on top of some rocks and Mr. Hill made his speech. “

Wedding Details ….. “The planning of our wedding took about 7 to 8 months. The biggest challenge was the budget. Originally, the event was to be something very intimate and under 15K. To my dismay, the wedding had a guest list of 150 and a price tag of 30K plus. Of course, everyone thought it was about them, including the groom. At times, I felt that my vision was lost. The theme was “SEXY”, which was inspired by my dress and love of candles. The floral arrangements were to be simple, but elegant and nothing too overpowering. The ceremony was to be short and a symbol of our love for one another. The goal of the reception was for our guests to feel as if they were able to experience my California roots and the groom’s Georgia roots with our food and music.”

Incorporating Culture ….. “As Black Americans, we celebrated our heritage by “jumping the broom”. This is a symbol in our culture to pay tribute to those slaves who sought to legitimize their nuptials. The broom was used to represent the joining of two families.”

Most Unforgettable Moment …..”Our introduction, as Mr. and Mrs Hill to our favorite song.”