“I knew I wanted to be in a committed relationship with someone who would honor God first and foremost, and love me the way Christ loves the church,” says the bride. “I always wanted to see Jesus in my future spouse. I think all throughout the course of our friendship Ron showed this to me through his actions. He was always there for me, and made time to truly build a solid relationship with me and my family, who are very dear to me.”
“On my third wedding dress shopping trip, I found my dress,” says Lauren. “I knew it was the one as soon as I tried it on. I had looked through so many wedding books and browsed dresses online, but seeing dresses and trying them on was a completely different experience.” This fabulous gown came from Impressions Bridal.
We’re just obsessed with Lauren’s purple Badgley Mischka bridal pumps.
Lauren opted for a half-up, half down updo for her wedding day and she looked absolutely beautiful.
“I knew Ron wanted to marry me, but I was just not expecting him to propose when and where he did,” Lauren admits. But, she couldn’t have been happier with his big reveal.
“The second dress I tried on was The One,” says Lauren. “When I walked out of the dressing room over to the mirror area where my mother was waiting, our eyes connected I could see that my mother felt the same. I loved the dress so much I didn’t want to take it off!”
What’s not to love about the back of Lauren’s gorgeous gown? #beautiful
A modern origami-inspired bow added a modern twist to Lauren’s classic trumpet gown.
Custom shoe style for the Mrs. We love it when brides make it personal in subtle, sweet ways.
Lauren’s spectacular train was a sight to see. The lovely layers made her stunning gown all the more romantic.
“I wore an elbow length two-tiered veil with diamond studs on it,” Lauren shares.
“It felt wonderful to be a bride,” says Lauren. “Everything I was so worried about throughout the planning process all came together. I felt beautiful on my special day, and was so happy to be surrounded by my and Ron’s amazing family and friends to celebrate our love.”
Lauren’s bridal smile was a beauty. For her big walk down the aisle, she chose a lovely bouquet of orchids, hydrangeas and roses — her favorites!
Lauren found dresses for her beautiful bridesmaids at Bari Jay. “It took me forever to find the right dress for the bridesmaids,” she says. “I really wanted to choose a dress for them that was affordable, yet one they could wear again because they liked it and looked and felt beautiful in it. The dress I ended up choosing was a grape-colored style with a sweetheart neckline similar to my wedding dress.”
“I decided to go with a company called, Indochino, which is an online custom designer for men’s suits,” says the groom. “The accessories I chose — cufflinks, bowties and pocket squares — came from Men’s Warehouse. I wanted the groomsman’s suits to have a classic European look and feel, yet something that could be comfortably worn at a summer wedding in August.”
“I focused a lot on the details for my wedding,” Lauren admits. “The bridesmaids all looked fabulous!”
Lauren and Ron were surrounded by loving and supportive friends and family on their special day.
The little ones in Lauren and Ron’s bridal party were too cute. (And they really knew how to pose for the cameras!)
When did Ron know Lauren was the one for him? “The moment I laid eyes on her,” he tells us.
“I knew he was the one for me because he stood the test of time and never wavered in his commitment to our friendship even after I had initially turned him down,” says Lauren. “Ron and I re-connected a few years after I moved away to Boston. After, I finally realized how much I cared for him, which went beyond friendship, and I asked him to be patient a little longer as I fasted and sought the Lord in prayer about taking the next step with him. His response was so assuring. He said he completely understood and would be praying and fasting himself. He was willing to wait until I was ready. I knew at that point that he was The One!”
“When he proposed, I said yes because, at that point, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I loved him and wanted to be with him for the rest of my life, whatever may come,” says Lauren. “As long as we were together, I knew in my heart we could get through anything.”
“I chose to make Lauren my wife because of her prayer life,” says Lauren. “The way she made just about everything in her life a matter of prayer, spoke volumes to me. I had never really experienced this in a mate before.”
“Ron is a hardworking man who always wants to put his best foot forward,” says Lauren. “He has a wonderful entrepreneurial spirit and always puts his all into the things that he believes in. He’s constantly trying to be a better man than the day before.”
Ron’s friends showed him lots of love as he prepared to walk down the aisle to meet his bride.
Here comes the groom!
The flower girl dropped pretty petals along the aisle as guests prepared to greet the bride.
“Both of my parents walked me down the aisle,” says Lauren, who chose to march to the song “I’m Sure It’s You” by Chelea Frazier. “I have a very close relationship with my parents. Without them I wouldn’t be who I am today. I knew that on my special day I wanted them to both walk me down the aisle.”
Angelo Grasso, a pastor and a dear friend of Ron’s and Lauren’s, officiated their ceremony.
This is our favorite photo, by far. Absolutely beautiful.
“It felt like we were the only ones there, it was if my peripheral vision was blurred and the only one in the room I could see, hear or be aware of, was her,” says Ron.
A sweet kiss for the bride and groom. Aww!
Say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Andrews! The happy couple were all smiles on their way back down the aisle.
“We had an indoor reception at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center in Port St. Lucie Florida,” says Lauren. “We had a cocktail hour in the art gallery room of the Civic Center right before the reception, so that the guests had time to mix and mingle and have some refreshments, while they waited for the bridal party to arrive. Once the cocktail hour ended, the guests transitioned into the reception hall.”
The happy couple chose “It had to be You” by Harry Connick Jr. for their romantic first dance song.
“I loved the fact that the look of the wedding was consistent from the wedding ceremony all the way through to the reception,” says Ron. “I think the flowers were all beautiful colors that really popped against the background of the wedding and reception.”
“We actually had two cakes, the wedding cake and a groom’s cake,” says Lauren. “My wedding cake was an absolutely delicious four-tiered Godiva Marble cake with a chocolate filling in between the layers. I absolutely love chocolate, but I wanted a cake that everyone could enjoy. The cake was decorated with two big brooches, diamond lining on the tiers and our initials in silver cursive at the top. The groom’s cake was absolutely beautiful. I thought it stole the show. In our West Indian culture, black cake is usually served to the guests, so Ron’s aunt made a lovely black cake that resembled a piano with notes all over it. He loves music and playing the piano, so it was perfect.”
Ron and Lauren’s tender reception moments just warm our hearts.
Ron got a little emotional during one of the toasts, and their fantastic photographer caught the precious moment on camera.
“I loved how our photos came out,” says Lauren. “I thought they showed that we really had fun with our friends and family standing by our side all day.”
Did you enjoy sharing in Ron and Lauren’s wedding day memories? Leave the happy couple a little comment love below! Want to see your wedding featured in Bridal Bliss? Email us now.
