Bride: Harriette K. Pierre-Louis, 31, Owner of H. Creative Group Marketing Agency
Groom: Ricardo Burrell, 38, Accountant
Married On: September 1, 2012
Wedding Location: Stratford, CT
Wedding Style: A Backyard Wedding
Beautiful Beginnings
Harriette first met Ricardo, or “Rick,” as she calls him, her freshman year of college while she was at home for winter break. Her older sister also happened to be home from college visiting with her new boyfriend, Curtis, and he brought along his best friend and line brother Rick along. Rick was immediately taken with Harriette’s family and it didn’t take long for him to get attached. Her sister’s relationship with Curtis continued to grow, which meant Harriette got to see lots more of Rick over the years. “We became like brother and sister,” she recalls. “Whenever I was home, Rick was there. He spent every holiday with us for the next 11 years and he would even take road trips with our family.” Her family loved him like a son, so she accepted and loved him the same way.
Something New
When Harriette’s sister got married in Mexico, both she and Rick were in the bridal party. “As I stood next to Curtis, I was in a daze as I watched the processional begin,” Rick recalls. “When I saw Harriette coming down the aisle, I started to get these butterflies in my stomach. It was like a light bulb went off in my heart. I leaned over to Curtis and said, ‘There’s my wife.’” (He was right!) At that very moment, Rick realized that he was madly in love with Harriette and he couldn’t wait to see if she felt the same way. After the wedding weekend ended, Rick shared his true feelings with his future bride and that’s when the real sparks between them erupted. Five months later, he was ready to ask her to be his wife.
Happy (Happy!) Thanksgiving
During the 2011 Thanksgiving weekend, Rick flew from Connecticut to Atlanta to spend the holiday with Harriette and her family. Although they’d only been dating “officially” for five months, the happy couple had already begun to discuss a future together as husband and wife. Harriette didn’t realize it at the time, but Rick was ready to spend the rest of his life with her. After their plans to get away at a nice resort for the weekend wound being a bust, Rick and Harriette decided to take a romantic stroll through Atlantic Station in midtown Atlanta instead. When Rick found the perfect spot, he got down on one knee and asked Harriette to be his wife. “I know it may be too soon, but I am sure about you,” Rick told her. “You have given me clarity and now I want to give you clarity. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?” The ring he placed on her finger was actually a design called “Clarity.” Harriette was so ecstatic she ran up and down the steps before running back into his arms. “It was a feeling of overwhelming joy I can’t even describe,” she tells us. “Rick was emotional and he just held me so tight. I was in shock but I could feel every emotion. It was unreal. A few cartwheels, leaps and tears later, we were engaged.” See their beautiful backyard wedding ad share their love!
Photos: Stuart-Pierre Louis and Susan Gleason