From messaging on Match.com to their first meeting IRL, Chanza and James made their love official with romantic “I do’s” at the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington DC.
After the couple first matched online, Chanza recalls, “I responded to his text on the evening of July 13th, 2021, a day after my birthday – one of the best birthday gifts ever.”
They messaged back and forth for about half an hour before James gave her his number, telling her to call him when she was comfortable. Tempted out of curiosity and inclined by fate, she dialed his phone number and held her breath…
That night we talked for 3 hours and then every night after that for at least two hours. After the third night, we decided to meet in person.
– Dr. Chanza Baytop-Grange
Their first date, on July 17th, lasted 9 hours! They jumped from restaurant to wine cafe, shared a moonlit walk after the train, and chatted at a bar. “We didn’t want it to end,” Chanza shares.
On their six-month anniversary dinner on January 17th, 2022, James popped the question at the restaurant where they shared their first date. Chanza said “Yes!” as their waiter secretly captured it on video for their friends and family.
Finding the love of her life at age 50, Chanza admits, “It seemed as if this day would never happen for me.” However, on May 6th, 2023, her dreams came true.
The pair tied the knot at St. Augustine Church in Washington DC, the Mother Church of Black Catholics in the Nation’s Capital, and paid tribute to their faith and Black culture by jumping the broom. The day was everything they could have wished for and more.
Keep scrolling for more details on their love story and colorful reception at the Fairmont.
- Couple: James Kevins Grange and Dr. Chanza Baytop-Grange (aka Mr. & Mrs. James Grange)
- Occupations: Special Education Teacher (James); Public Health Research Consultant (Chanza)
- Wedding date: May 6, 2023
- Wedding location: Ceremony at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Washington DC; Reception at Fairmont Washington DC Georgetown
Quick Facts:
- What gifts did you give to your bridesmaids and groomsmen: I gave each of the bridesmaids a personalized satin robe, personalized hangers, crystal drop earrings, and hairpins to wear with their dress. My husband gifted each groomsmen silver cufflinks with their initials and bowties.
- Gifts for one another: My husband gifted me a beautiful blue orchid and a card on the morning of our wedding day.
- Ceremony entrance song: My Redeemer Lives
- First dance song: “Wait for Love” by Luther Vandross
Tell us about the proposal:
James surprised me with a six-month anniversary dinner on January 17, 2022, at the same restaurant where we had our first date. When I walked into the restaurant, it seemed as if we were the only ones there. He had flowers, a personalized menu and a collage of photos of us pre-arranged on the same table where we sat on our first date. I honestly had not suspected anything since he asked me earlier that day (and another day) if I did not mind waiting to get engaged.
As we waited for our dessert, he asked the waiter to take a picture of us. As I was posing for the next shot, James said, “Excuse me”, then pulled away from me and stood up. I was looking at him like he was crazy. Then he moved his chair, got down on one knee and I lost it! Through my joyful sobbing, I heard him say my full name and pose the question. Without hesitation I said “Yes” and then I struggled to catch my breath when I saw the gorgeous ring through my tears – it was and still is the perfect ring.
After I regained some of my composure, I started making calls as I learned that my parents and close friends were all waiting by the phone since James shared his plan with them. Also, without me knowing it, the entire proposal was recorded because the waiter who was taking our picture was instructed to press record when James gave the code words “one more pic”. As I am writing now, I am smiling and tearing up again. What a beautiful night I can never forget.
Describe your wedding attire:
I wore a high-neck, sleeveless ivory lace gown with sheer details along the torso, white beading and sequence, and an open back. The dress was designed by Essence of Australia and purchased at The Bridal Room.
During the ceremony, I wore a 110-inch-long ivory veil designed by Ramia, an amazing seamstress at The Bridal Room. My shoes were the Telissa by Badgley Mischka – open-toe, mid-kitten heel sandals in soft white adorned with pearls and crystals and a delicate ankle strap. I wore my hair pulled back, slightly swooped to one side with a silver and crystal bridal hairpiece. My jewelry included a silver-tone, crystal line bracelet and silver oval crystal drop earrings, both by Eliot Danori.
I also wore a reception dress (after the first dance) that was a similar fit and flare ivory gown but it was crepe with detailed beading only at and above the waist and it had a deep plunge sweetheart neckline with spaghetti straps laced with crystals that crossed in the back, that was open and low. With my reception dress, I wore the same jewelry and hair piece but I wore sequenced soft white Keds (sneakers) with white satin laces.
My husband wore a black, double-breasted, satin lapel tuxedo by Sarno with a black u-shaped vest, a paisley jacquard oversized bowtie tie, and silver cufflinks. His shoes were black patent leather “Pharoah Oxford” tuxedo shoes by Stacy Adams.
The groomsmen…
The ceremony…
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
Our ceremony took place at St. Augustine’s Church, the Mother Church of Black Catholics in the Nation’s Capital – our church witnesses our faith while preserving our Black Catholic Heritage. I was overjoyed to have the St. Augustine Gospel Choir bring a soulful atmosphere infusing the ceremony with a powerful sense of unity that resonated deeply with us and left a lasting impression on all who witnessed the celebration.
At the end of the ceremony, we jumped the broom, an African tradition practiced by enslaved people to symbolize their union since they did not have the legal right to marry. It was especially meaningful to incorporate this ritual in a Black Catholic Church to honor those who sacrificed so much for our love and freedom.
What was the wedding shopping experience like for you?
My wedding dress experience was full of joyful tears, smiles, and laughter. I have to admit that at first, I was a little nervous that this would be the first of many bridal shops requiring an insane number of dresses to try on. But I found my dress almost a year before the wedding at the first shop that I went to, The Bridal Room.
I took my maid of honor and another close friend who is like a big sister to me (COVID limited the number of guests I could bring to the consultation). The bridal consultant/seamstress, Ramia, was absolutely lovely, patient, and encouraging. She helped me pick out several dresses based on what I described and what she thought would be most flattering.
I said “Yes” to the second dress that I tried on. It was so different than what I thought I wanted yet I felt like royalty in the dress. The other two dresses after it just did not evoke the same confidence and giddiness and there was no need to look further. I knew this was the one. I FaceTimed my mother and my godmother with the dress on and they loved it! We all shed happy tears that this day had finally come.
At the age of 50, it seemed as if this day would never happen for me but the reality hit me all of a sudden that I was trying on wedding gowns and I was overcome with gratitude.
– Dr. Chanza Baytop-Grange
After I said “Yes to the dress” we toasted with champagne.
Truly it was one of the best experiences of my life. Then nearly 7 months later, while shopping with 2 of my 4 bridesmaids for their dresses, I had a similar experience when I found my reception dress at another bridal salon, the House of JonLei Atlier.
I also enjoyed shopping with my husband to find his tuxedo. As my husband and I walked into the shop, Tuxedo by Sarno, with our amazing wedding planner, our eyes were immediately drawn to the mannequin with what was to be his tuxedo. It just looked so debonaire on him. I think we both had the tingles when he tried it on – a perfect tux for a perfect love story and a perfect wedding to come.
The sweet details…
What is your best memory from your wedding?
There were so many great memories from our wedding. But my husband and I agree that one of our best memories was our first dance followed by the dance with my parents. We actually took dance lessons and had a choreographed routine for our first dance but we did not quite follow every step – we got the beginning and the end. We did agree in advance to let it flow, and we did just that.
As the DJ introduced us as “Mr. and Mrs. Grange”, we walked out to the upbeat tempo of “My God” by Jordan Armstrong and rocked it out, feeding off the crowd chanting “Go Chanza, Go James…”. Then as the music slowed and Luther Vandross began to sing, all of a sudden it felt like everyone disappeared and it was just the two of us. We sang to each other, twirled and spun around, adlibbed a lot, and nailed the ending, the perfect dip.
When it ended, we high-fived each other and the DJ called up my father. We started to dance to “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, with a soulful sway from side to side. My father looked so happy and proud. What a feeling.
Halfway into the song, my husband brought my mother to the dance floor to join us. The four of us were beaming with joy, between a swag-filled two-step (the men) and some version of the whop and other old-school moves (my mom and I).
When you look at pictures of our guests, every face has a smile. I believe every person felt our joy that day, and in that moment, we had our memory for a lifetime.
– Dr. Chanza Baytop-Grange
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
We advise engaged couples to make sure they PLAN to stay married forever. To help with this intentional planning, we advise doing pre-marital counseling with your pastor (thankfully it was required for us in the Catholic Church), or someone with a strong Christian-based understanding of marriage. This will help keep you focused on why you are getting married and ensure you have been honest with each other about your expectations in all facets of life – children, family, faith, finances, hobbies, chores, sex, handling disagreements, etc.
If not counseling or in addition to it, attend a pre-marital retreat that will equip you with effective communication (and listening) skills. We also recommend reading the Five Love Languages together, to help you understand how to love your partner the way he or she wants to be loved, not based on what works best for you.
A forever love is an intentional journey, and that intentionality is even more important as time grows farther away from that glorious wedding day.
– Dr. Chanza Baytop-Grange
Finally, simply ENJOY your wedding day. What happens will happen and everything need not be perfect since the most perfect part is you marrying the one person that God called you to love and them to love you.
Looking for more inspiration like this wedding at St. Augustine Catholic Church?
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Your Vendors:
- Photography: Trene’ Forbes
- Videography: Ryan Roundtree
- Wedding Planner: Shawn Somerville of Trebella Events
- Floral Designer: Shawn Somerville of Trebella Events
- African American Jazz harpist: Mariea Antoinette (played at the start of the ceremony and at cocktail hour)
- Music at church ceremony: St. Augustine Gospel, Directed by John Smith
- DJ at the reception: De Juan Nunn, aka DJ Epic Situation
- Makeup Artist: Shannon Cosby of Shannon on the Beat
- Hair Stylist: Pamela Chatman
- Bride’s Ceremony Dress: Purchased at The Bridal Room
- Bride’s Reception Dress: Purchased at House of JonLei Atelier, Oxon Hill, MD
- Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy Group, Charmeuse Caviar Gray; purchased at Bella Bridesmaids, Washington DC
- Grooms Tuxedo: Tuxedo by Sarno
- Groomsmen Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse
- Food and cake: Fairmont Washington DC Georgetown
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