Real {Georgia} Wedding: Ashley + Jikovey

For their first date, Ashley and Jikovey went to watch the Atlanta Hawks play. Though they didn’t realize the significance of that action, it is great symbolism for the relationship. You see, though hawks are often viewed as fearsome, there is much more to them than meets the eye: they often mate with the same bird for life, and they are very attached to their nesting territory. These make great relationship traits: faithfulness, loyalty and lifelong attachment are very essential ingredients for a successful marriage. It seems like Ashley and Jikovey are off to a great start.

Their beautiful wedding was impeccably photographed by Famous William Photography. Head on over!

The Bride: Ashley McCurdy (nee Johnson)
The Groom: Jikovey McCurdy
Occupations: Bride – Surgical Coordinator; Groom – Co-Manager at Walmart
Location: The Centre at Arbor Connection, Douglasville, Ga

The Meeting ….. “Jikovey and I first met at Pebblebrook High school where we both attended in Mableton, Ga. We never really spoke much but would often cross each other’s path throughout the halls of the Brook.  After Jikovey graduated from High School and moved away out of state, the contact between us was lost.  Several years later, we reconnected through Facebook where we exchanged numbers and Jikovey asked me out on a date. Jikovey took me to an  Atlanta Hawks game for our first date; that felt like the beginning of something special. “

The Proposal ….. “Jikovey had told me two weeks in advance to purchase a white dress for his sister’s all-white party at a popular lounge in the Atlanta area called Luckie Lounge.  Apparently, this was the start of his “Project Propose to Ashley” plan.  I looked everywhere for a white dress and I could not find one to my liking.  After a week of searching for the perfect outfit, I finally found the cutest skirt and shirt!  So, the day finally arrived, it was time to prepare for Jikovey’s sisters party (AKA “Project Propose to Ashley”).  Jikovey had planned for us to start the night off with dinner at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen which is my favorite restaurant and then head to Luckie Lounge to meet his sisters.  Jikovey wanted me to be ready promptly at 8:00pm, and he kept rushing me to get ready the whole evening.  We finally arrived to Pappadeaux and it was packed!  As we walked in, I realized that we bypassed the hostess stand; so, at that point, I was wondering, “Where we going? Is there someone here already that we know?”  Jikovey and I walked towards the back of the restaurant and that’s when I saw my family, Jikovey’s family, and our closest friends!!  My first response was, “What are ya’ll doing here?”  As I spoke those words, Jikovey was on one knee asking me to marry him.  I was in complete shock and I started smiling immediately!! I said yes, of course, and the whole restaurant started clapping, lol.”

The Planning Process ….. “I did not really have a theme; I just wanted my wedding to be very elegant and peaceful.  Jikovey and I planned the wedding for about a year and Jikovey was very hands-on with everything.  He had an opinion for everything which made things a lot easier.  The planning process was not as stressful as I thought it would be because we started planning immediately after getting engaged.  We really had no major challenges because Jikovey and I  both knew what kind of wedding we wanted.  Each month during that year, we focused on a task and getting it done which allowed us to stay on track.  Towards the end of our planning process we hired a wedding coordinator who helped us tie loose ends together and who made sure we did everything.  I highly recommend a wedding planner or wedding coordinator.”

Incorporating Culture ….. “We incorporated the African American culture in our wedding by jumping the broom.  Jumping the broom was basically the African American way of paying homage to the customs of American slaves.  African American slaves were prevented from legally marrying; so for the slaves, their way of showing they were married was by jumping the broom.  Jikovey and I decided to jump the broom and I’m glad we did!”

The Most Unforgettable Moment ….. “It was already such an emotional day for me because I was marrying the man of my dreams and whom I prayed for, but my most memorable part of the wedding day was right before Jikovey was about to read his vows that he personally wrote for me. He brought out a surprise music guest: he brought out Wingo, a member of the popular R&B group Jagged Edge! I was so happy and so surprised! Definitely a highlight of our wedding day.”

{You Make Loving You So Easy}

He loves ….. “What Jikovey loves most about me is how I value my relationships and friendships.  I take my friendships very seriously and I treat people how I want to be treated.  I put my  relationships first and try to make everyone happy and I try to keep a smile on everybody’s face.”

She loves ….. “There are many things that I love and adore about Jikovey, but the one thing that sticks out to me the most is his generous heart.  Jikovey is the most generous person I know: he will give you the clothes off of his back if you needed them.  Although Jikovey gives to anyone in need, he makes sure his family comes first. Jikovey is big on family and he makes sure that his family is taken care of. I love that about my husband; he makes my heart smile.”

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More images from this wedding…

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