Some love stories kindle from the first meet and others take their own sweet time. When LaTerica and Taaqiya met in the fall of 2012, both had no knowledge of what the cosmos had in store for them. After the first meeting through a mutual acquaintance, the two stumbled into each other a few times before finally realizing the blissful future the Universe has been secretly writing all along. “We reunited in the summer of 2016 at Eight Row Flint for cocktails. That’s where our everlasting love flourished,” says the bride. 

“It was a tale of twists and turns that has the potential to adorn the cover of the bestseller Sista Souljah novels, but we will keep the intimate details close to our hearts,” she adds. The couple tied the knot on October 16th in a beautiful fall wedding. Read on to see all of the day’s details and more about the couple’s love equation. 

A Surprise Engagement Kicked Off Wedding Planning

Laterica describes her perfect engagement and how her other half popped the question when she wasn’t even close to expecting her big moment. “We went to Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurant for my God daughter’s accomplishment of her and her husband buying their first home. To my surprise, I was also getting engaged,” she says. Surprise engagements are always special, but difficult to execute. Therefore, planning it on a day when both are supposed to be somewhere else takes the mind off the proposal and gives you a chance to catch your partner completely off-guard. We love how Taaqiya chose a moment that accomplished the same while being mindful of choosing a celebration that didn’t interfere with anyone’s big moments. 

From the very beginning of their engagement, the couple was clear on the wedding theme and inspiration. “Our last name is Brown so we went with the Boho theme. The idea was to have a simple, elegant wedding with neutral colors,” says Laterica. To bring their dream vision into reality, the couple opted for a contemporary, elegant venue – The Bowery House & Gardens. Set in an intimate garden setting at the Seven Oaks, the venue’s brown hues served as the ideal backdrop for the wedding theme Laterica and Taaqiya wanted. They further added an ethereal and earthy touch with elements like geometrical structures, strings of lights, and a breezy reception setup. 

Unique Wedding Details 

Unique and personalized details hold a special place in our hearts, and we always encourage couples to include them on their big day. For Laterica and Taaqiya’s wedding, it was as fundamental as choosing a different seating table for the reception. “Normally the couple will sit separate from the wedding party but we wanted everyone who was a part of our special day to sit as one because without them, our day couldn’t have been special,” she says. The couple chose a head table for the reception to have everyone seated together. Isn’t it a beautiful way to honor your wedding party? This intimate arrangement also allows for heartfelt interactions, where guests can celebrate the love and bond between the newlyweds alongside their nearest and dearest. 

Besides the table, the couple also chose the colors mindfully for the occasion, and each one of the wedding colors signified something beautiful. “We wanted our melanin to pop, so we used our last name for the brown color, gold signifies royalty and ivory represents purity and elegance,” says Laterica. When it comes to personalized elements, it doesn’t have to be something creative, distinctive, or out-of-the-box. In fact, it’s about making you feel special by picking the details that make you feel more you! Choosing hues that hold significance – whether it’s personal or related to your relationship – adds a touch of care and thoughtfulness, leaving a lasting impression on all who attend and participate in the celebration. 

A Marriage Established On Similar Values

Sharing more about her relationship, Laterica says, ”It hasn’t always been easy with us. We have had health scares and moments where we were apart due to jobs. However, we have always made a conscious decision to put each other first. Some of our most memorable moments include spending time with our family, traveling together, and building our own traditions. No matter how many miles were between us or how many days we had to be apart we have chosen to be together for the rest of our lives.” 

And isn’t that what a strong marriage needs? Choosing to love each other every day even on those days when you struggle to like each other. Life’s ups and downs can put pressure on your relationship. It’s in these difficult times when you make a conscious decision to continue investing in the relationship, showing love and appreciation, and working through challenges and conflicts together. It’s about maintaining a sense of connection, intimacy, and partnership throughout the ups and downs of life. While love is an important foundation for a marriage, it’s the daily choices and actions that ultimately sustain and strengthen the bond between two people. Laterica and Taaqiya’s understanding and mutual adoration are palpable in the pictures and you can scroll to see it yourself! 

The Couple’s Advice For Those Planning Their Wedding

“Trust the process,” says Laterica. She also added how the right vendors, especially your wedding planner, can make a huge difference in how smoothly things will go on the final day, so choose wisely. It seems to go with what you usually hear, but it matters. When choosing your vendors, take all the time you need to research and enquire. Once you book them though, trust the people you have hired to assist you. It will make the process more enjoyable and stress-free. When you seem to be doubting, know that they have helped countless people create the perfect wedding day and are dedicated to making you happy. 

We can’t thank Laterica and Taaqiya enough to let us be a part of their amazing day. It was heart-warming to witness their divine love and beautiful union. We will hold these memories in our hearts forever.