“I knew Jonathan was ‘The One’ almost immediately,” Jasmine shares. “I don’t want to claim it was as cliché as love-at-first-sight, but it was just so natural for us to be together. It felt right from the very beginning. Within the first month of dating, we were seeing each other every day and within the first year, we were living together. We just go together.”
For her intimate estate wedding, Jasmine chose this stunning Reem Acra gown. “I went on three dress shopping expeditions and found this dress on my third trip,” she confesses. “Selecting a dress wasn’t too challenging. Since we were having an outdoor summer wedding, a lot of options were cut out early. I knew I wanted beaded over lace and I didn’t want a strapless gown.”
“I usually just flat iron my hair on a regular day and do not use any chemical straighteners,” explains Jasmine when asked how she decided on her stunning up ‘do. “I wanted to look the way I usually do, but also knew I had to contend with the humidity that a Florida day in July was bound to provide.”
Jasmine and her bridesmaids shared good times posing for the camera in their pretty matching bridal party robes. We love this dainty and unique pre-wedding look and it sure made for a great picture.
Jasmine and her girls paused for a moment of prayer before getting started with their pre-wedding prep routines.
Jasmine slipped into these Jimmy Choo ‘India’ sandals when it was time to walk down the aisle.
One of sentimental bride Jasmine’s favorite pre-wedding moments was when all of her bridesmaids put on their matching ruby bracelets.
Jasmine chose neutral colors for her bouquet making it all the more elegant for her bridal portraits.
“Jonathan is the first man that has ever been a true friend to me,” says Jasmine. “I am a self-proclaimed girl’s girl. Until I met Jonathan, all of my best and closest friends were women. I have always found it easy to trust and relax with other women. I said yes to Jonathan because he was both a great love and an amazing friend.”
“Jasmine is my best friend,” says Jonathan. “I do not believe in soul mates, but very early in our relationship I knew that what we had was special and that I could not imagine my life without her. As our relationship grew, it became very clear to me that I wanted to marry her.”
“Jonathan picked out his and the groomsmen’s attire,” says Jasmine. “We agreed that a three-piece suit would provide an elegant look while not being as hot as a tuxedo. We also felt that shades of gray would go really well with the strong blue the bridesmaids were wearing, and still fit the time of year and setting.”
“The bridesmaid dresses were designed by Alfred Sung,” says the bride. “I decided early on that I wanted the girls to wear a deep blue, similar to my engagement ring and I wanted the dresses to be light and short in length. Each bridesmaid got to choose her own dress style. The only stipulation was that they had to be by the same designer, same color and same material. I have to say, my girls looked so beautiful!”
On his wedding day, happy groom Jonathan was flanked by his fraternity brothers, Michael, Darnell and Jeremy, and his new brother-in-law Kyle.
Jonathan’s groomsmen were in excellent spirits as they helped him celebrate his transition from boyfriend to husband. As far as we’re concerned, when it comes to wedding photo must-have, shots like this should always make the list.
Since Jonathan was a student throughout the planning period, he was a great help to Jasmine because his schedule was more flexible. “He picked our venue and wedding planner, as well as planned our entire honeymoon,” says his loving bride.
“We decided we wanted a location that had a very natural feel to it,” says Jasmine. “Not a hall. We also knew we were going to marry in Florida, somewhere near where his grandparents live. Jonathan was a full time MBA student in between his summer internship and the start of his second year, so since he had some time off, he went on a scouting trip for us. When he found the Cypress Grove Estate House, he sent me a video of the location. I was in love. We booked it shortly after that visit.”
“Our wedding planner introduced us to our florist, Lee James, and we knew we could trust him completely with the design,” Jasmine recalls. “All I told him was that I wanted southern garden chic, and he hit a home run.”
Jasmine’s uncle Keith and aunt Hazette escorted her down the aisle while Chrisette Michele’s romantic hit “Love Is You” played for all to enjoy.
“Seeing Jonathan at the end of the aisle waiting for me was one of my favorite moments,” says Jasmine.
“Our ceremony had elements of both our Catholic and Baptist upbringings,” Jasmine tells us.
“In that moment, I felt at ease and thankful,” Jasmine gushes.
“I felt like the luckiest man in the world standing across from Jasmine at the altar,” says Jonathan.
“We didn’t write our own vows,” says the bride. “We agreed that the traditional vows say everything we wanted to say. We went through various versions and came across a selection that truly spoke to us.”
“I didn’t cry, which was a surprising, because I tend to cry,” says Jasmine. “I think by the time I walked down the aisle, I had gone through a litany of emotions. Jonathan didn’t either. I think we were both just excited and ready.”
Even the couple’s kiss was as romantic as the day’s sentiments and festivities.
Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Taylor! The smiling newlyweds prepared to make their way back down the aisle together for the first time as husband and wife.
“The more I got to know Jasmine, the more I fell in love with her,” Jonathan shares.
“Jonathan is open-minded, has a great sense of humor and he has a kind heart,” says Jasmine.
“Jasmine is loyal, loving and a joy to be around,” says Jonathan who couldn’t wait to make her his wife.
“Jonathan brings balance to my life,” Jasmine tells us. “People who know me well know I can get stressed and worried and will work myself into a frenzy. He has this ease about him, even in the most stressful situations, that centers and calms me. Most importantly, when things are tough, you can count on him to be there. Jonathan is a faithful partner and a great friend who has given me so much love and support – I am so lucky.”
After a cocktail hour, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner in an outdoor tent decorated with romantic garden-inspired decor.
“Jasmine is extremely supportive and I know that she will always be there for me,” says Jonathan. “She is always encouraging me to try new experiences, and I love that about her. She inspires me to be a better person and I am blessed to call her my wife.”
Romantic frames and flowers were used to make the elegant tables pop against nature’s background.
Jasmine and Jonathan grooved to the sounds of Prince’s “Adore” for their first dance.
The overall theme, was Southern garden chic which came through in the decor and the food. “Our florist and designer took the approach of infusing vintage pieces with lots of summer florals to bring this to life,” says Jasmine. “The food included fried chicken, ribs, smothered potatoes, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and ham and cheese biscuits.”
The couple made sure every aspect of their shared life was represented in their wedding. (Their cat was incorporated into their custom cake topper!)
“I honestly wasn’t looking for true love at the time I met him,” Jasmine reveals. “I had just moved to New York City and wanted to have fun. In fact, it had been a solid year since my last relationship and it was my first summer in the city. But after meeting Jonathan, that all changed.”
Jasmine and Jonathan left the day after their wedding to head to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos for a romantic honeymoon. If you enjoyed their wedding as much as we did, leave the happy couple comment love below and tell us your favorite details!
