Samantha and Harold's Timelessly Elegant Virginia Wedding -Munaluchi Bride

Having grown up in the same neighborhood, Samantha and Harold were a regular part of each other’s lives – attending the same high school, and graduating from the same college. With so many connections in life it seems almost inevitable that their paths were always meant to be one. The first chapters of their love story didn’t begin to take shape until after college graduation, but that moment in time would not mark the beginning of their path to happily ever after. Those first steps wouldn’t take hold until after a period of separation allowed their hearts to grow, only to realize in hindsight how perfectly the pieces of their lives fit together, completing each other…

Read all about Samantha & Harold’s love story, proposal, and experiences in their timelessly elegant Virginia wedding.

Full names of couple: Samantha & Harold
Occupations: Registered Nurse & Director of Learning/Development in Banking
Wedding date: 8/4/18
Wedding location: Roanoke, VA

How did you meet? We grew up in the same neighborhood but didn’t date until after college. We attended the same high school and college (JMU). After a brief romance we parted ways, remaining friends and rekindling our romance 10yrs later.

Tell us about the proposal. We made plans to do a vision board together, and after we finished Harold read a poem for me that he had written during our first relationship titled “Prototype.” He said he’d made some updates and wanted to share it with me. After he finished reading it he said he wanted to make our vision a reality and got on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I was caught so off guard I asked him to ask me again because the first time was a blur.

Describe your wedding attire. I wore a traditional wedding gown with a sweetheart neckline. It had a corset style lace bodice that was very flattering to my figure. Harold wore a tan Express suit with a blush tie and sage green loafers. We wanted to be sure our attire was appropriate for a morning ceremony, but still stylish.

Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? Our Christian Faith was an important part of our ceremony. We took communion during the ceremony along with our best man and matron of honor. It was also important to us that we had a wedding reflective of us and not just tradition. We did not have a traditional bridal party. We had young adult flower girls (18,19 and 21 yrs old) who actually threw petals, a best man, matron of honor and 2 ushers (18 and 20 yrs old). We both love brunch and did not want to wait all day to get married so a morning ceremony was perfect for us. I was raised by a single mother, so I chose to have her walk me down the aisle.

Wedding party gifts: I gave my MOH a mustard seed necklace, the best man received a pair of Jordans, a shot glass and a tie bar. The flower girls were given jewelry.
Gifts for each other: we chose not to do gifts, but the Rolls Royce was a surprise for Harold.
Ceremony entrance song: “As” by Anthony Hamilton and Marsha Ambrosius
First dance song: “Cherish the Day” by Lalah Hathaway/Robert Glasper and “Loving You” by Tony! Toni !Tone!

What is your best memory from your wedding? My best memory is a tie between the doors opening to the sanctuary and seeing Harold at the other end waiting for me; and the exchange of our vows. We exchanged traditional and personal vows.

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? My advice is to plan your wedding based on your love, and your likes. Don’t allow the opinion of others or tradition guide your planning. This day should be about you and your fiancée.