Kahran Hill, 31, and Regis Bethencourt, 34, met in an online forum for graphic designers and instantly fell for each others’ wit and charm. It was love sweet love and it was at that moment that their road to the altar began. On September 3, 2011, the lovebirds were married at the Porterdale Mill in Georgia before their closest friends and family. See their fun and modern wedding photos now. (We promise, you’re gonna love ’em.)
“After searching for a few dresses online, I knew this was my dress before I even went to the store to try it on,” Kahran tells us of her fabulous wedding gown. “It was exactly my style and added a bit of glam to the day.”
Fun-loving couple Regis and Kahran made a point of planning a “morning-after” photo shoot so they would have plenty of time to goof around and take memorable photos like this one. Plus, as Kahran says, “I got one more chance to rock my dress!”
“After being a bridesmaid myself, I knew it was important to pick a dress they could reuse and I wanted something that spoke to their individual styles,” she says. It looks like she chose wisely — just look at those smiles.
“My bouquet was handmade from Japanese paper Kusudama flowers mixed with Baby’s Breath,” says Kahran, who opted to use paper flowers throughout her wedding because she’s never been a huge fan of real ones.
Kahran’s pretty blue pumps brought her luck (and extra height) on her special day. They were, of course, her something blue.
Bow ties paired with suspenders make this little ring bearer’s style adorably irresistible.
Dying to know where Kahran’s bridesmaids found these sassy, sexy dresses, aren’t you? We just had to ask too, and the answer is — drum roll please! — Anthropologie. (Hurry, they might still be there!)
“I knew that Reg was the one after going on a trip back when we first started dating and realizing that I had been thinking about him the entire time,” admits Kahran.
Kahran was no bridezilla, but her groom had a few demands he hoped would be met on their wedding day. “Reg had two requirements for his attire,” she says. “No tuxedo tail and no dress shoes. The guys were all in casual sweater vests with grey Chucks.”
Guests look on with big smiles as the little women work the aisle in style. The flower girls’ dresses were handmade by a designer in the Philippines. “They absolutely stole the show,” says Kahran.
A handmade wooden sign lets their guests know it’s time for the beautiful bride to arrive.
Exchanging vows was the highlight of their day, but Kahran tells us that she and Regis were overcome with joy when his father, whom he hadn’t seen in 22 years, showed up at their wedding to support his son.
Kahran and her new hubby jumped the broom to complete their ceremony ritual. (Reg made the broom, by the way!) Everywhere we turn, more and more couples are partaking in this timeless African American tradition.
To bring out the beauty in her natural wedding day ’do, Kahran chose a lovely mini caged veil hairpiece to complement her couture gown.
The littlest bridal party members share in Regis and Kahran’s wedding day joy. “We are very involved with our nieces and nephews and wanted to include them all,” says Kahran. What’s not to love about this picture?
“The venue was an old mill that was renovated into loft space,” says Kahran who wanted an empty space to fill with their personalities. “The outdoor area where the wedding took place faced the scenic Yellow River.”
Why pick one yummy flavor when you can have two? Kahran and Regis split up the fun and requested their wedding cake be made half red-velvet and half butter cream. Save us a piece, guys!
“We wanted lots of natural eco-friendly elements mixed in with a little bit of vintage glam,” says Kahran, who took her time and perfectly executed her unique bridal style.
“Both Reg and I are modern enthusiasts and like simplicity,” says Kahran. “We wanted every detail in our wedding to reflect our own unique styles.”
When it came to her wedding centerpieces, Kahran decided to make up her own rules and do away with tradition. Instead of using roses or seasonal blooms, she went the more unexpected route, and used Manzanita branches mixed with paper Japanese Kusadama flowers and wheat grass.
“We chose a local DJ (DJ Underground) for our wedding entertainment,” says Kahran. “Our first dance was interrupted with Sugar Hill Gang’s ‘Apache (Jump On It)’ and Reg and I broke it down on the dance floor.”
The last thing Kahran and Regis wanted on their wedding day was drama. They went out of their way to ensure the day was relaxing for all involved and had “that laid back feel.”
“One of the reasons we waited nine years to get married was because we wanted to pay for the wedding on our own,” reveals Kahran. “It wasn’t easy, but we did it.”
See more fun photos from their wedding at The Bride’s Cafe now.