“I knew Thomas was the one for me from the very beginning,” says Candace of her college sweetheart Thomas. “I could never get him out of my mind since the night we met. The more I was around him, the more I liked everything about him.”
“I saw my dress in one of the first bridal magazines I bought,” says Candace of her classic Jim Hjelm gown. “I saw it and I was like, this is beautiful!”
“I always watch Say Yes to the Dress,” says Candace. “Thomas planned a surprise trip to New York City to go to Kleinfeld Bridal with my godmother and three of my bridesmaids to try on dresses there.”
“I wanted a very easy style that wasn’t too fussy and would last all day and go with our wedding style,” says Candace. “I decided on doing a somewhat fancier version of a style I had worn regularly for a few months before the wedding.” The bride’s hairstylist and bridesmaid Joy Allen did her hair and makeup.”
“To accessorize, I wore a silver bridal comb that I purchased on Etsy,” says Candace. It’s elegant, simple and a perfect fit for her bridal style.
Candace’s flower girls were adorable from head-to-toe with their matching baskets.
Candace used the lace on one of her two garter belts to count as her “something blue” for her big day. She wore a white, pearl purse that was give to her by her mother for her “something old,” her dress as her “something new” and her matron of honor’s bracelet as her “something borrowed.”
On her wedding day, Candace stepped out in style in these pretty white peep toe heels by Touch Ups.
Let’s hear it for Candace and Thomas’ adorable flower girl duo, their goddaughter and the groom’s cousin.
Candace’s lush bouquet was filled with lovely orange roses, circus roses, mango calla lilies, pin protea and green cymbidium orchids wrapped in orange ribbon. Rosita’s Flower Shop created all of the arrangements for their special day.
“Thomas is a hard-working, independent, funny and hard-working man,” says Candace. “I love his drive and his passion.”
The bridesmaids wore gowns from Alfred Angelo. “I knew I wanted them in dresses that were fun, flirty and comfortable,” she says. “The dress fit each of the girl’s personalities and the color looked radiant on all of them.”
Chic feet were everywhere on Candace and Thomas’ wedding day. This shot is so much fun!
The newlyweds’ bridal party was made up of a supportive group of college buddies, siblings, cousins and family friends. (And, don’t they look great?)
Thomas and his squad of dapper groomsman found their suits from Men’s Warehouse. “We wanted a simple, comfortable, classic look,” he says. “I helped to pick out the style.”
“Never did I think I’d find the love of my life on a random night during my freshman year of college,” says the beaming bride. “I wasn’t looking for love or a relationship at the time.”
“I knew this was the man for me, plain and simple,” says Candace. “He compliments me yet challenges me.”
The florist paired roses with orchid blossoms and hydrangea to create the look for Candace’s bridesmaids’ bouquets and the result was fabulously chic.
The couple held their ceremony at their church home, Bayview Baptist Church, because it was the church Thomas attended throughout much of his childhood. Pretty paper poms in their signature wedding colors lined the aisle to prepare for the bridal party to make their way to the altar.
Candace and Thomas didn’t need a planner to pull of their big day in style. Together they coordinated each and every personalized detail, including this heartfelt tissue display at their ceremony.
We love the way the bright blue bridesmaids gowns provide the perfect pop of color. Excellent color choice, Çandace.
Throughout their wedding ceremony, Candace and Thomas used their decor to help symbolize the very special love that brought them together.
Guests grabbed pretty, custom programs and took their seats as they prepared to watch college sweethearts Candace and Thomas say “I do.”
The flower girls wore matching ball gowns and smiles as they made their way down the aisle.
Only child Candace was escorted down the aisle by her father to the sounds of one of her favorite songs, “Orange Moon” by Erykah Badu. It was a more than appopriate pick considering the couple’s lovely wedding colors.
“The format of our wedding was a traditional Baptist ceremony with a few personalized touches,” says Candace.
“We both wrote our own vows,” says Candace. “I felt so relaxed and giddy at the same time at the altar. Looking into his eyes I felt that was exactly the place I wanted to be.”
“We used a floating candle in a beautiful vase as our unity candle,” says Candace. By lighting the candle together they symbolized the joining of their two familes as one.
The bride’s mother designed the broom they jumped in honor of their ancestors. The handmade keepsake really made their big jump special.
The newlyweds hop over their broom signaling that they are now husband and wife and that it’s time for the celebration to begin.
The new Mr. and Mrs. were all smiles in their vintage car as they rode from the churc to their reception site, the Manchester Grand Hyatt. “We chose it because of the beautiful part of downtown it’s in,” says Candace. “It’s right by the water and it has a beautiful ballroom and terrace.”
His and her shoe art helped the couple express their joy on their wedding day. We absolutely love this idea, and what a great photo opp!
“Thomas is everything I could want and so much more,” exclaims Candace, who says she couldn’t have picked a finer life partner.
“It was amazing to be a bride,” Candace tells us. “I was relaxed and felt so great.”
At their reception, the couple’s tables were decorated with glass vase centerpieces filled with blue dendrobium orchid blossoms and seashells from Candace’s childhood collection.
Candace and Thomas’ sweetheart table was fit for a king and queen.
A steel drum band played soca as the newlyweds danced their way into the reception party. Happiness sure looks good on them.
For their first dance song, Candace and Thomas swayed to the sounds of “At Last” by Beyonce.
The blissful newlyweds were joined on the dance floor by their bridal party members for a fun choreographed dance to entertain guests.
The bride and groom had two wedding cakes, one for the bride and one for the groom. Thomas chose a gold pyramid cake to represent his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Puerto Rico for two blissful weeks. If you enjoyed their tropical-inspired nuptials as much as we did, leave the happy couple a little comment love below. Want to see your big day featured in Bridal Bliss? Email us now!
