Bride: Nina Shante’ Ray, DDS, 37, General Dentist
Groom: Kenneth E. Pierce Jr., 37, Veterinary Ophthalmologist
The Big Day: 0729/2016 Location: New Orleans, Louisiana Style/Theme: Timeless Romance
Planner: Elegance By Ace Weddings
“I was nervous at the beginning of the day when I woke up,” said Nina of how she felt being a bride. “I think it was the thought of wanting everything to go as planned. But as the morning progressed and I was with my bridesmaids and maid of honor getting dressed, laughing and having fun I began to relax knowing that this was the day I dreamed of and I wanted to enjoy every moment of it. It was the most exciting and memorable day of my life. It was more than what I dreamed of.”
“I knew my dress was ‘The One’ when I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” recalled the bride. “I went to another salon and saw something similar to it, but it was not the same. So, I went back to the salon again to see the dress and put the entire look together with the veil and accessories and I knew that was it. Looking at myself in the mirror made me emotional because I truly felt like a bride and the thought of Kenneth seeing me was super exciting!!”
“Nina is genuine, smart, humble, funny, thoughtful, and sassy all wrapped up in one,” said the groom of his bride. “Smart in the fact that she is an amazing doctor, friend and family member. I have witnessed her at her job and parents and children love and ask for her all the time. She can have the most intellectual conversation about medicine but then have the simplest conversation with a five-year-old about their teeth or Dora the Explorer. She is humble in that she does not boast about herself and her accomplishments, she gives others their time to shine, and just expeditiously does her part. Knowing her personality, you immediately think that this cute lady is quiet, but she will come up with the silliest, funniest, and sassiest of comments that will have you on the floor laughing. And lastly she is the most thoughtful woman I know. She puts others first and I admire her for that.”
For her shoes, Nina wore something new and we think it was a beautiful choice!
“Kenneth is what I call a “Renaissance Man;” he’s smart, hard-working, funny and just great to be around,” said Nina in describing her groom. “He takes great pride in his career and his family. He’s a genuine friend to everyone and enjoys every moment in life. He understands me and supports my dreams and goals. He’s adventurous and has opened my eyes to wonderful travel experiences. The best part is that my family truly adores him!”
“I said ‘yes’ because I can’t imagine life without Kenneth by my side,” said the bride.
We love the bling on the bride’s bouquet. It’s such a beautiful touch!
During a surprise vacation in the Turks and Caicos for Nina’s birthday, Kenneth gave his bride a card at the start of each day that said “Life is Good.” Little did she know, the entire trip was part of his grand proposal plan! On the last day of their vacation, he gifted her a card and a photo book of their life thus far together with the final page asking for her to be his forever. Of course she said “yes!” We love their sweet and creative proposal story!
Nina and her bridesmaids look absolutely beautiful as she prepares for the happiest day of her life!
“I love everything about her and knew that’s what I wanted for my future,” said Kenneth of knowing Nina was the one for him. “Everything with our relationship was comfortable. There were rare arguments, lots of love, and an exceptional amount of laughter and fun times with her. All of those factors are what helped me decide that she was the one.”
How gorgeous are these ladies!
“When I first saw her I thought that she was cute and had beautiful eyes,” recalled Kenneth. “Then as be began talking she was really cool, intelligent, easy to hold a conversation, and it just felt really comfortable to be with her. The things we talked about were the exact things and plans that I had. We basically were on the same level and at the same stage of our lives. I immediately said ‘Thank you God for bringing Nina into my life.'”
Aren’t Nina’s flower girls just the cutest?!
What a sweet photo moment of the bride and her father just moments before the ceremony was to begin!
Now this is what friends are for! Not even some raindrops could stop Nina’s bridal bliss and her friends were quick to offer a helping hand.
This little guy is so handsome!
“My father, Melvin Ray, walked me down the aisle because he is the best father I could ever ask for,” said Nina of her dad walking her down the aisle.
We can’t get enough of these two little darlings!
Each of Nina’s bridesmaids carried round bouquets with white hydrangeas, ivory roses, ivory spray roses, and touches of blush “Erica” orchids. Such a lovely choice!
“I looked at him knowing that, this was where I was supposed to be. He looked beyond cute and handsome,” said the bride of how she felt looking at her groom while they exchanged vows. “I felt extremely happy, content and confident that this was the man that I had prayed for and he was going to my husband!”
Nina and Kenneth had a wedding with full mass and said vows within a Catholic wedding ceremony.
“I cried just before walking down the aisle. Kenneth was all smiles and no tears,” said Nina but in the end, they were both the happiest newlyweds around!
“Kenneth was easy to talk to about so many things but his true understanding of me and my goals and plans in life really allowed me to know he genuinely and truly cared about me,” said Nina. “His sense of adventure in life and genuine love and care for family and friends is what I love most about him.”
The couple really stuck to their timeless romance theme. With metallic tones touches of ivory and white along with sequins textures throughout the reception venue, Nina and Kenneth gave their 250 guests a wedding to remember!
“I honestly wasn’t sure if I would find true love,” Nina shared. “Of course, I prayed that I would and at some point, I had the desire to get married to that one special person for me. When I did, it came at a time in my life when I wasn’t expecting it. Meeting Kenneth was a plan God had for me. For the both of us to meet and cross paths.”
Nina and Kenneth’s reception hall was simply beautiful!
It looks like the tiniest guests of the bride and grooms big day had a great time!
“I did not think that I was going to find true love,” Kenneth shared. “I knew at some point I would get married and find someone to spend the rest of my life with. But never really thought about who would be my true love or not. I thank God for her every day. She made me a believer in true love.”
“We had a clean ivory buttercream cake that was dressed with metallic sequins ribbon at the bottom of each tier,” shared the bride. “The cake was dressed with cascading floral.”
“Marrying Nina was the best decision of my life,” said Kenneth. “I was happy and thought that she looked amazing. I felt like I was the luckiest man in the word as I had my family and friends around me and supporting me during this sacrament of marriage. It felt good to be able to stand and commit to Nina as my wife in front of the people we love.”
As a surprise for their guests at the end of the night, the bride and groom had a second line to really kick the party off!
Because Kenneth is a member of Omega Psi Phi, his groom’s cake was a reflection of his dedication to brotherhood. What a great touch!
Congrats to the bride and groom on their journey to forever!
