Wardrobe stylist Alexandria Sanders tied the knot with FIBA Oceania basket-baller Chad Lawrence Yates in a beautiful fall wedding at the Glendalough Manor in Tyrone, Georgia on September 12, 2009.
For a lasting look, the bride had her makeup airbrushed on by artist Alicia Brown.
Celebrity hair stylist Robert “RJ” Stall flew down to Atlanta from New York to get Alexandria all dolled up for her big day.
The bride spared no expense when it came to her dress ($7,000) and her antique-inspired veil ($1,800).
’I anted to always look back at my pictures and feel happy about the way that I looked," she says.
“It’s the little things—not necessarily the things that he’s said to me, but the things that he’s shown me and the way that he’s always treated me that made me fall in love with him,” Alexandria said.
Chad’s friends take credit for getting him and Alexandria together because they forced him to go out on the night that he met his wife.
Alexandria says she’s been picking out her wedding dress since she was a little girl.
“I began collecting bridal magazines when I was in college,” she says. “It didn’t freak Chad out, which was a good sign.”
She chose a gorgeous, mermaid style dress by Lazaro, which she found at Bridals by Lori. She found her shoes at Jimmy Choo in Atlanta.
Staying in line with her fall wedding theme, Alexandria chose a deep champagne hue for her bridesmaids’ floor-length Bari Jay gowns, which she found at Etian Bridal.
When her sister forgot her heels for the big day. All the bridesmaids decided to strut down the aisle barefoot adding a little carefree spirit to the black-tie optional affair.
The couple’s junior bride and groom keep in line with the autumn theme with a basket covered in maple leaves and a broom wrapped in ribbon.
Chad shows off the wedding bling before handing it off to his best man.
Alexandria’s engagement ring: A raised, prong-set Marquis solitaire stone surrounded by two rows of Channel-set diamonds.—3.25 karats.
Alexandria’s band: A full row of Channel set diamonds-1.5 karats.
Chad’s ring: Two rows of Channel set diamonds—1.25 karats.
Alexandria’s bridesmaids wish their girlfriend well before walking down the aisle.
Chad and his boys look dashing in their tuxedos and boutineers.
“I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride,” Alexandria’s father told her as he escorted her down the aisle to her intended.
The bride and groom chose to read traditional vows during their wedding ceremony.
“They were traditional, but they weren’t what you hear everyone say,” Alexandria explains. “They were very Christian—your people will be my people and your lot will be my lot.”
Alexandria slips the wedding band onto her new husband’s ring finger.
“He likes that I am confident,” Alexandria says of why she thinks Chad fell for her. “He’s always encouraging me and pushing me. He sees more in me than I might see in myself.”
After saying their vows, Chad and Alexandria kiss to seal their pledge of undying love to each other.
The new husband and wife are all smiles after their heartfelt wedding ceremony
Chad had is tuxedo custom made by DROBE, a clothier in Los Angeles.
The reception hall at Glendalough Manor was the perfect place for the couple’s 175 guest to enjoy the classy affair.
The newlyweds embraced each other and swayed to Michael Jackson’s “The Lady In My Life,” for their first dance as husband and wife.
Alexandria learned a lot about Chad from the way he treated his mother and his grandmother.
“I really loved the bond that he had with his family,” she says. “You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats his mother.”
Alexandria and her father danced to Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.”
The new husband tosses his wife’s garter belt in the air for a lucky bachelor.
The couple’s wedding cake was made by pastry company Simply Tasteful, based in Atlanta Georgia.
Chad’s family is Caribbean, so guest of the wedding also went home with small gift boxes of traditional black cake and bags of chocolate covered almonds for good luck.
“We both knew that we always wanted a fall wedding,” the bride says.
Chad spent quality time with Alexandria’s family before popping the question to his bride. In turn her parents welcomed their new son-in-law into their family with open arms.
After the wedding, the newlyweds enjoyed a relaxing honeymoon in St. Lucia.
