When Nasawn first laid eyes on Shirley while riding through college campus an unforgettable impression was left on his heart. That impression, through faith and persistence, would place him on a path to winning Shirley’s love. Their love would prove true, navigating life’s choppy waters, enduring distance and separation, and eventually leading them down the aisle to become husband and wife.
Read all about Shirley & Nasawn’s love story, surprise proposal, and wedding aspirations in their “vintage glam” engagement photoshoot.
Bride & Groom-to-be: Shirley & Nasawn
Occupations: Business Manager & Insurance Representative
Wedding location: Fayetteville, NC
Location of Engagement shoot: Fayetteville North Carolina Train Station & Fayetteville North Carolina Rose Garden
Tell us how you met and all about the proposal.
Shirley – “In 2008 I moved from the small town of Elizabeth City to attend Fayetteville State University – a place where at first I had no intention of staying because I was so homesick. I of course remained at school, obtained a routine and gained a close net of friends along the way. If I had not stayed at school to further my education, I would have never been introduced to the love of my life! I remember strolling to Bryant Hall with friends, when my roommate’s then boyfriend drove by in his car with his homeboy Nasawn…”
Nasawn – “I spotted a particular girl out of the three that I thought was very attractive, and I asked my friend if he knew the girl. Being that my homeboy was a popular guy on campus, he quickly replied, ‘Oh! That’s Shirley, all the guys want her.’ So I laughed and said, with all confidence, ‘I’m going to get her.'”
Shirley – “Confident to say the least… Nasawn asked for my number through my roommate and I agreed she could pass it along.”
Nasawn – “The first time I called, no answer. The second time I called, she picked up but to make a long story short she basically told me she was talking to someone at the time.”
Shirley – “I really wasn’t interested in starting anything serious. I had just begun to love my new environment and I was finally having the best time of my life away from home.”
Nasawn – “A couple of months later I ran into her on campus walking towards the cafe with one of her friends and let me tell you, she was something to see. Her hair was flowing in the wind and her eyes were hypnotizing… After complimenting her to make her smile, she gave me her number again.”
Shirley – “We exchanged numbers and hung out with groups of friends for awhile. Nasawn grew a bit tired of that but we continued to see each other every now and again. Since I didn’t live off campus when the semester ended I had to move back home until school started again in the Fall… I remember running into Nasawn at an event on campus and he insisted on taking me on a date. I finally evaluated the situation and thought to myself this guy has been so patient with me, something I have been working on for YEARS so what the heck, I agreed. He took me to Miyabi’s Japanese restaurant for our first date. After that first date in September 2009, the two of us were inseparable. We officially started dating and our time spent together grew us so close to one another. We were dating around two and half years when Nasawn hit a rough patch and returned to his hometown after graduation. This was the worst news possible and I was devastated.”
Nasawn – “I hated leaving my lovely girlfriend but my situation kept me from her for about 5-6 months. It was there that I realized that I couldn’t be without her. So after those months of suffering without the girl I was in love with, I decided to get my baby back. I called her up, made sure she hadn’t moved on and made sure she felt the same way. She replied with the answers I needed to hear and that day I decided to move back and be with the one I love. I haven’t looked back since.”
Shirley – “I remember this day like it happened last night, this was literally the moment that I knew this was the man of my dreams… I loved Nasawn a million times more since that day he decided to come back to me because in that moment, I knew he was just as devastated as I was when we had to part ways. Him making the decision to come back to me proved that he knew our love was true and everlasting. Nasawn and I have had a romance for 7 years and have conquered the highs and lows. We have truly been blessed throughout our entire relationship. All those years ago Nasawn was right all along. He did get this gal, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The proposal – Valentines Day 2016 was an AMAZING day as well as life changing! I was alone in our living room when Nasawn, my very best friend came out of our bedroom , got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. “Are you serious,” was my first response, but “YES” was the answer from the very beginning. I am so excited to be the future Mrs. Harvey!
Describe your engagement session. Our engagement shoot was held on Shirley’s 26th birthday. It was an amazing day and we had an absolute blast! Shirley loves all things vintage, so the idea of having a Vintage Glam themed engagement shoot was a no-brainer. She totally thinks she was born in the wrong era. We initially had the idea to only take photos at the Rose Garden with a picnic but I threw in the idea of taking some shots at the local Train Station as well. We had unique props to compliment our wardrobe and we were surrounded by beautiful landscapes and plenty of laughs and smiles. We had an awesome time with our photographer and forever grateful that she made our vision come to life.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple? We enjoy stand up comedies, the beach, the movies, dinner dates, watching drama series and rachet TV. We also love spending quality time with each other, our “fur baby” Hero and our family and friends.
How has wedding planning been so far? It has been an absolute blast and a headache at the same time! Although I get super excited about the decor and our vision for the day, there are so many other decisions that have to be made. We have learned that during this process compromise is the key and by listening to each others’ wants and ideas we both will have exactly what we want.
Tell us what you’re looking forward to most on the wedding day. We are anxiously waiting to see our vision come to life while surrounded by our closest friends and family officially as husband and wife. Walking down the aisle is a big one for us as well as expressing our vows to one another. We will be walking into a new life, that will be filled with brand new experiences & memories. We look forward to dancing the night away and the beginning of our Harvey Ever After!
Vendors:
Photography – Silvercord Event Photography
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