Curtis Coates met the love of his life Ayanna Glaze online. It wasn’t long before they turned their virtual romance into real-time love. On June 5, 2010 Curtis and Ayanna got married in a sophisticated soiree at the Mansion on Peachtree in Buckhead, Georgia.
The wedding invites were designed by Sandi Spells of Sandi Spells Designs and represented their colors, truffle and gold.
Celebrity make-up artist Toni Acey of Mak’n It Up made sure Ayanna looked picture perfect. Acey also added her touch to the bridesmaids, flower girl mother and grandmother of the bride.
Hairstylist Elijah Kelly swept Ayanna’s curls into an elegant up-do for her wedding day.
“Of course the first dress I put on is the one I ended up getting,” Ayanna says of the Casablanca Couture wedding gown that she found at Sweet Elegance bridal boutique.
“By the time they did my hair and makeup, I was ready,” Ayanna says. “I never even saw a full shot of myself. I was like ’I’m ready. I want to do this right now.’”
Curtis, Ayanna and the bride’s parents all received facial treatments from Kathleen Deeny of Changes Spa so they could look their best.
On their big day, Ayanna sent Curtis a gorgeous lapel pin and a card to say how happy she was to be marrying the love of her life.
Curtis and his best man Joshua Birnbaum share some jokes before heading down the aisle.
Ayanna’s bridesmaids each wore truffle gowns designed to fit their diverse shapes and personalities.
Curtis has all the support he needs in his best man Joshua, Ayanna’s father and his groomsman Carl Haygood.
“She walks into a room and completely dominates the room,” Curtis says of his bride. “She completely dominates my heart.”
“He looked very handsome,” Ayanna said of Curtis on their wedding day. “He blew me away.”
Wedding guests write notes to show their love for Ayanna and Curtis.
Ayanna loves her niece and flower girl Olivia K. Glaze with all her heart. It was important to her to have her little princess up at the altar with her when she said “I do” to ‘Uncle Curtis.’
Ayanna takes some time out for a photo with her grandmother.
The grounds at the Mansion on Peachtree are perfect for this elegant couple’s nuptials.
Finally at the altar together Ayanna and Curtis are giddy with love for each other.
After pastor James Powers pronounced them husband and wife, Curtis and Ayanna seal their love with a kiss.
Ayanna’s parents have long loved Curtis for how much he cares for their daughter. They welcomed him into their family with open arms.
Beautiful bouquets of lilies from A & K Affairs sat as the centerpiece to every table at the Mansion on Peachtree.
Ayanna held Curtis close as she and her husband danced to “How Deep is the Ocean” by Etta James.
Saxophonist Dee Lucas provided the tunes for the wedding’s cocktail hour and ceremony.
“After trying and tasting other cakes, we found the best tasting cake at our favorite grocery store, Publix,” Curtis says. The wedding desert was a lemon cake with a top layer of strawberry cream cake that the couple will eat on their first anniversary.
“The rest of that day was the best feeling,” Curtis says. “I just kept telling Ayanna ‘thank you for picking me, thank you for blessing me and thank you for being my wife.’”
“Once we got to the reception, I was so calm,” Ayanna says or being able to let loose and have a good time.
Curtis’s godmother Gwen Ware was there to represent for him. She held Ayanna close and welcomed her into her heart.
“When they said, ‘Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Coats,’ it felt real, like, it’s here, this is my wife and this is my new life,” Curtis exclaims.
Curtis’s father Curtis Coats, Jr. and his wife Bobbie Coats welcome Ayana into the Coats family.
“I’m looking forward to being here in Atlanta with my wonderful husband and my family,” Ayanna says.
Curtis echoes her sentiments saying, “I’m just looking forward to being with this amazing woman every day.”
Photos courtesy of Tracey Brown Photography.
“They opened the doors and all the air went out of me,” Curtis says of seeing his bride walk toward him. “It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. I said, ’That’s my woman, I can’t wait for her to get down here.’”
