Jessica, 30, and Aaron, 35, met at a church concert in her small Georgia hometown after recognizing each other from their childhood days. It was an instant love connection, and five beautiful years later they were married in a lavish and romantic ceremony on March 31, 2012 in the town where they met. Even their guest list was to die for — Usher Raymond was in the house!
We love this picture because it’s clear that Jessica is overjoyed to have found her dream guy. “Walking down the aisle and looking into my husband’s eyes, I was so nervous,” she says. “But when we locked eyes, I felt like it was just he and I.”
Jessica’s elegant side swept updo was the perfect choice for her timeless strapless wedding gown. Isn’t she a lovely bride?
Even before proposing, Aaron made it clear to Jessica that he wasn’t going anywhere. “Around Valentine’s Day once, Aaron explained to me that he really wanted me to be his Valentine, not just in February, but for the rest of his life,” she says. “He was very honest with me and shared that he wanted to be the one to make me smile and protect my heart.”
Aaron, being the style-savvy groom he is, planned his wedding day attire to perfection; right down to the cuff-links.
The bride and groom brought their fashion A-game on their wedding day. Jessica was a vision of beauty in her Monique Lhuillier mermaid gown, and Aaron looked rather dapper in his custom tuxedo.
His and hers wedding rings represent a never-ending promise between Jessica and Aaron. This photo is a stunner.
“I privately honored my deceased grandfather and uncle,” Jessica explains. “Using heart shaped pieces of cloth from their old handkerchiefs, I had my seamstress sew the hearts to the inside of my wedding gown. It was amazing. I really felt their presence with me.”
“I knew Aaron was ‘the one’ for me early on in our relationship,” Jessica tells us. “We had grown to be very fond of each other. Conversation between us had become part of our daily routines; we couldn’t get enough of each other.”
When it came to the ceremony decor, the happy couple spared no expense. These lavish floral arrangements, draped in crystals, helped to line the aisle with style before the bride made her way to the altar. Sheta Decorations created the arrangements.
Aaron and Jessica were married in the bride’s hometown church.
Jessica and her new husband Aaron seal the deal in a passionate kiss at the altar. it’s not hard to see the love radiating between this pair. Let’s hear it for beautiful Black love!
“I was raised in a single parent home,” says Jessica. “So, my Godfather walked me down the aisle. He has always been the constant father figure in my life.”
The happy couple took wedding portraits at the ceremony and reception sites and the National Harbor.
Here come the newlyweds!
Lyle, of Scrole Vision Photography does an incredible job of capturing romance and passion on film. It’s no wonder the couple chose him to shoot their love-filled wedding day.
Jessica and Aaron went all out for their reception decor, selecting over-sized lamps, rich linens, and crystal accents to make their tables pop.
A picture perfect moment from the newlyweds’ intimate first dance.
This is more than a cake, it’s a masterpiece. We love everything about Jessica and Aaron’s 3-tier wedding cake with floral bouquets. The top tier was red velvet, the middle was chocolate, and the bottom was a lemon cake. Yum, yum, yum!
“We wanted to create a space that reflected the love and respect that we have for one another,” says Jessica, when asked about the vision behind their lovely warm red and purple color palette and rich textures. “Decor that was classy, flirty, sexy, intimate and fun.” Mission accomplished!
There was zero drama that night, they tell us. “We were very fortunate and blessed to have people surrounding us to shield us from unnecessary drama,” says Jessica.
The theme of Jessica and Aaron’s wedding was the “Love.Take.Over,” so their aim was to achieve an intimate and romantic vibe with everything from their wedding decor to their photos. It worked.
A deejay spun slow jams and party tunes all evening long as Jessica and Aaron mingled with their cherished guests.
Professional musician Aaron is Usher’s drummer and longtime friend, so there was no way the R&B star was going to be a no-show on his boy’s big day.
“Walking into the reception venue and hearing our name for the first time as husband and wife, was one of my favorite memories,” says Aaron.
Jessica and her girls bring out their pretty poses for the camera while handing out in the photo booth which was a huge hit with guests at the reception.
Mr. Raymond does his best to blend in s he mingles and makes his way through the crowd. We bet he’s headed to the photo booth.
With the help of a few fun props, the new Mr. and Mrs. Spears get silly with the groomsmen in the photo booth.
Didn’t we tell you Usher was headed to the photo booth? Even the megastar couldn’t resist crashing the fun.
Join us in congratulating Jessica and Aaron as we wish them the very best in all of their future endeavors. See even more photos from this amazing wedding over at The Bride’s Cafe now and check out the couple’s amazing video proposal here.
