• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Love & Sex

Bridal Bliss: High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel's Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away

Their Virginia nuptials included a steel pan player, a towering cake of multiple flavors, broom-jumping and more.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
By Victoria Uwumarogie · Updated June 30, 2021

What started as a friendship in high school for Brooklyn natives Nia and Shakeel was solidified as a union between husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Luke, on May 8, 2021. It had been a journey of more than 15 years for the couple to make it down the aisle. They met in high school and were good friends, choosing to attend Howard University together. It wasn’t until their senior year of college that their friendship organically developed into a romantic relationship and the pair moved permanently together to DC. Shakeel decided to take their relationship to the next level when he asked for Nia’s hand on New Year’s Eve 2019 in a romantic rooftop proposal (more on that in a bit!).

All that being said, it was also a journey for the couple to finally get to say “I do.” The Covid-19 pandemic turned wedding plans for most couples around the country upside down. For the Lukes, their wedding date changed, as did the number of people who could attend their nuptials.

“The pandemic was very tough planning a wedding,” Nia tells ESSENCE, lauding their planner for saving the day. “When we said ‘Yes!’ to our venue, we just knew we would be hosting 250 of our family members. The pandemic hit and everything was different.”

When the couple was finally able to jump the broom last month, doing so in a peaceful vineyard in Virginia after a year of chaos in front of 100 family and friends, it was everything they wanted and more.

“This vineyard made our dreams come true,” she says. “I relive our wedding every day.”

Check out the event images from a love more than 15 years in the making and learn more about how everything came together perfectly for Nia and Shakeel.

Article continues after video.

Photographers: Jarret Hendrix, Leta Harrison; Videographer: Claude Robinson

Vendors:
Wedding Planner: The Superior Collective
Custom Wedding Dress: Albina Dyla  
Bridesmaids Dresses: Lexi Clothing
Grooms Tux: Indochino
Groomsmen Tuxes: The Black Tux
Florals: MM Wedding Solutions
Live Band: A.D. Music Entertainment
Steel Pan Player: Leonard Jack
Photobooth: KreAdiv Collective Rentals
Venue: Morais Vineyard & Winery
Catering: Purple Onion Catering
Rentals: Select Event Group
Hair: Dominique Nicole
Makeup: Shyenne Burton
DJ: DJ Chubb E. Swagg
Cake: Le Cake Boutique
Doves: A Dove’s Love

Would you like your wedding considered for feature in ESSENCE’s Bridal Bliss column? Email us at bridalbliss@essence.com.

01
The Proposal
On New Year’s Eve going into 2019, Shakeel surprised Nia by popping the question on the rooftop of Brooklyn’s Dumbo House, with a stunning view of the Brooklyn bridge. The perfect place for the natives to take their relationship to the nex level. “I was told by a friend to check upstairs out. When I went to the rooftop on the elevator, it was quiet and no one was outside. I thought it was a mistake until I peaked out the elevator and saw candles, flowers and a photographer,” Nia says. “It was magical and unforgettable.”
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
02
The Many Faces of the Venue
The couple picked Morais Vineyards in Bealeton, Virginia for their venue. The grand ballroom can seat about 250 people and has gorgeous Palladian style windows, which showcase a view of the actual vineyard outside. There is also a pond, a gorgeous pergola, and the vineyard acquired a glass atrium purchased from Disney that the wedding party took photographs in front of. “The location was tranquil, scenic and breathtaking,” she says. “Everything I wanted for my guests on my wedding day.”
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
03
The Decor
Emerald green with black and gold accents were the colors Nia wanted to go with for her big day. Aside from the velvet and satin green fabrics, and the white flowers, the black candelabra centerpieces were the bride’s favorite. Not pictured are other fun additions to the venue, including a cigar bar, a photo booth, and the bar, which was covered in white rose petals.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
04
The Bridal Gown
The bride’s gown was beautiful, but heavy. It was an over 25-pound beaded dress with each bead applied by hand in Albania. It was designed by the bride’s mother (pictured), but made by Albina Dyla. Nia says she communicated with the company via chats, email and phone calls to get the dress perfect,” and her tailor Kieu helped to make sure it fit like a glove and that the 10-foot crystal train sparkled.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
05
The Groom in Velvet
As for the groom, Shakeel wore a custom velvet emerald green Indochino tuxedo with calf hair Salvatore Ferragamo loafers. He looked sharp alongside his groomsmen.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
06
The Untraditional Cake
It’s not very often you get to see not only a black wedding cake, but also one with a different flavor in every slice! This five-tier dream was made by Le Cake Boutique and included vanilla with buttercream, red velvet, chocolate mousse and a chocolate bottom.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
07
The First Dance
The man over the music, DJ Chubb E. Swagg, made the event a special one. He attended Howard at the same time as the couple and DJ’d many parties they attended. The first dance was done to Anthony Hamilton’s “The Point of It All,” which can be heard in the couple’s wedding video. The DJ followed it up with a medley of hits from Brooklyn artists, including Biggie, Pop Smoke and more.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
08
Advice for Brides-to-Be Looking to Jump the Broom
Nia says if she could give any advice, it would be to “Make an email account specifically for weddings. This is very important even if you have a wedding planner. This helps you keep your wedding plans organized, it prevents your workday from being distracted by wedding emails and you will never miss an email.” With the right name for it, the email account can be used for sending out Christmas cards or other events a couple might host in the future. “It shouldn’t be something you get rid of after the wedding,” she says. “Give access to your wedding planner and trust me your life will be easier.”
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
09
Steel Pan Party
To help honor Shakeel’s Trinidadian roots, the couple made sure to have a live steel pan (or steel drum) player present at the venue’s courtyard during cocktail hour. Everyone enjoyed a premium open bar alongside the music, with a “His” Moscow mule drink and a “Hers” spicy margarita for guests.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
10
The Bridal Robe
Before the nuptials began, Nia looked lovely in her bridal robe as she got done up for the big day.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
11
The Second Dress
The bride showed up and showed out at the reception after changing out of her bridal gown into this very unique and fabulous dress.
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
12
Pandemic Planning
The couple initially planned to tie the knot in New York City, where they’re from, but it ended up being the epicenter for Covid-19 early last year, so they pivoted and waited. Things started looking up in March of 2021, so Nia and her planner, Khadijah, came up with multiple plans based on the easing of public health restrictions. The plans were A for 100 people, B for 50 people, and C for 25 guests. “It was a very stressful time because more than half of our guest count had to watch virtually,” Nia says. “May came around and the gathering restrictions were increased to 100 indoors just in time. The wedding was intimate but beautiful. I loved every moment.”
High School Friends Turned Lovers, Nia And Shakeel’s Vineyard Wedding Will Blow You Away
TOPICS:  Black Love black love weddings Bridal Bliss
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now