• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Weddings

Black Book of Wedding Planning

Black Book of Wedding Planning
By · June 16, 2009October 29, 2020
01
Perfect Lens

Wedding photographer Shannon Evans is one of few sisters in her field, with her company Sevan Photography

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

02
The ESSENCE.com Black Book of Wedding Planning

Welcome to the ESSENCE.com comprehensive resource guide of some of our community’s best wedding professionals. From dress designers to photographers, we’ve got you covered. Keep clicking for the 411 on Black bridal experts from around the country and beyond.

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

Jennifer Cooper
03
The Lens Man

Who: Ross Oscar Knight, Ross Oscar Knight Photography

Specialty: Knight captures love in all its innocence and magic the way very few in his field can. His clients appreciate his acute attention to detail and personalization.

Why He Should Be on Your Radar: Based in Atlanta, Knight is a renowned international photographer, yet his work has a warm, down-home feeling. His photography has been recognized by Oprah Winfrey and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

For More Information: www.rossoscarknight.com

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

www.rossoscarknight.com
04
The Stationery Star

Who: Amber Renee of Naked Eye Image

Specialty: Owner Amber Renee, who also dabbles in photography, is known for her out-of-the box usage of materials such as grosgrain ribbon and Swarovski crystals in her unique stationery styles.

Why She Should Be on Your Radar: Hailing from the ATL, Amber Renee has been crafting creative custom stationery since 2003 and has worked with clients as diverse as Usher and Burger King.

For More Information: www.nakedeyeimage.com

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

Amber Renee
05
The Gown Guru

Who: Amsale Aberra, Amsale

Specialty: The Ethopian beauty is a force in the bridal gown industry, and her collections are sold at retail giants Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.

Why She Should Be on Your Radar: Style divas like Halle Berry and Vanessa Williams have turned to Amsale for her fashion expertise. Based in NYC, the Fashion Institute of Technology grad has the unique ability to design dresses that make all silhouettes shine.

For More Information: www.amsale.com

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

www.amsale.com
06
The Pastry Pioneer

Who: Raven Patrick De’Sean Dennis, III, Cake Man Raven

Specialty: Mouthwatering red velvet cake and delectable sweet potato cheesecake.

Why He Should Be on Your Radar: Raven has baked pastry delights for a wide range of notable clients including Maya Angelou and Mary J. Blige. Although he is currently based in the heart of Brooklyn, his southern background is transferred to a wholesome goodness in his never cookie-cutter, memorable cakes.

For More Information:
www.cakemanraven.com

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

Dennis Byron Photography
07
The Atlier Man

Who: Mark Ingram, Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier

Specialty: Located on New York City’s posh Upper East Side, The Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier carries the best of the best in the bridal gown category. By appointment only, brides-to-be can try on fabulous dresses from our girl Amsale to Oscar de la Renta and Angel Sanchez.

Why He Should Be on Your Radar: With more than 20 years of experience, Ingram has paid his dues. Previously featured in The New York Times and Women’s Wear Daily, the Harlem resident has personally consulted thousands of brides-to-be at trunk shows and bridal registry events across the country.

For More Information:
www.bridalatelier.com

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

www.bridalatelier.com
08
The Planner

Who: Diann Valentine, wedding planner

Specialty: Planning the weddings of such stars as Usher, Toni Braxton, Lela Rochon and more.

Why She Should Be on Your Radar: Valentine knows her stuff. The new cohost of TNT’s “Wedding Day,” Valentine doesn’t solely work with celebrities and goes out of her way to save her client’s money when possible. The talented sister is also author of her own bridal tome, “Weddings: Valentine Style” (Atria Books).

For More Information:
www.diannvalentine.com

Check out Diann Valentine’s Celebrity Weddings »

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

Courtesy of Diann Valentine
09
The Honeymoon Hideout

Who: Stephanie Stokes Oliver, co-owner, Ultimacy Villa Retreat

Specialty: Providing a relaxing retreat in a calm tropical paradise on the quaint island of Anguilla.

Why She Should Be on Your Radar: A former writer/editor, Oliver and her husband teamed up with a local Anguillan couple to launch the ultimate home away from home in the beautiful Caribbean. Newlyweds will adore this romantic space with superb service overlooking pristine waters.

For More Information:
www.ultimacy.org

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

ultimacy.com
10
The Cultural Connector

Who: Therez Fleetwood, Therez Fleetwood Bridal

Specialty: Producing one-of-a-kind dresses, headpieces and other bridal necessities, all inspired by products of the African Diaspora.

Why She Should Be on Your Radar: Based in Dallas, Fleetwood has written the book on Afrocentric weddings, literally. She is the author of “The AfroCentric Bride: A Style Guide” (Amber Books) and women from all over the globe turn to her for gowns and headpieces with cowrie shells, beads and feathers for a true “wow” factor.

For More Information:
www.therezfleetwood.com

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

therezfleetwood.com
11
The All-Around Wedding Honcho

Who: Preston Bailey, wedding and special event planner

Specialty: Giving birth to magical spaces for a who’s who list of high profile clients in fashion, entertainment and media. Bailey has an artistic edge that is simply unsurpassed by no one. He is also known for incorporating floral arrangements in unexpected places for his events.

Why He Should Be on Your Radar: While the Panama-born wedding honcho has clients such as Bill Cosby and Laurence Fishburne on his résumé, he has found ways to cater to us working-class folk as well. In 2005, Bailey partnered with the über resort Sandals for destination wedding package collaborations, and then in 2006 he teamed up with 1-800-FLOWERS so that his floral skills could be available in a wallet-friendly way as well.

For More Information:
www.prestonbailey.com

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

prestonbailey.com
12
The Jewelry Jury

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

Courtesy of Diann Valentine
13
The Floral Fairies

The Ultimate Wedding Playlist »

The Budget Bride: Wedding Planner Donnie Brown’s Top 10 Tips »

Read More

Op-Ed
Biden Should Add 'The CAREN Act' to His List of Executive Ac...
News
An Inauguration Day of ‘History and Hope’
Ledisi And Columbus Short To Play Mahalia Jackson And Martin...
News
Rihanna, Reagan Gomez, And More React To Trump Being Out Of ...
Entertainment
Twitter Wants Janelle Monáe To Be The Next Willy Wonka, Her...
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.

©2021 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