Ronda Rawls and Edmond Peterson have known each other since college and their love blossomed when they both ended up in Atlanta together. They young couple tied the knot in an elegant affair at the Biltmore Hotel in Atlanta.
Rhonda is a freelance makeup artist. She opted to create her own beauty look for her wedding day, with smoky eyes and nude lips.
Her hairstylist Salika Bates from Salon Aniyah used rollers to create her big luscious curls.
Rhonda found her Morilee sweetheart cut ball gown at Bride Beautiful in Atlanta. “I felt like it was very elegant and nice and it wasn’t too much that it took away from me.”
Rhonda’s mother and her younger sister assist her with the gown.
The bride’s mother crowns her eldest daughter with her veil.
Continuing the trend of brightly colored shoes, Rhonda walked down the aisle in satin peep toe shoes.
Rhonda got the idea to use red and purple as her wedding colors from watching wedding shows.
“I had seen one wedding on television that I fell in love with and her colors were purple and red,” Rhonda explains. “I wanted to do something that was elegant and timeless.”
Edmond rounds up his guys for a final photo before he becomes a married man.
“I felt so free and liberated to say, ‘This is my wife and here she comes down the aisle,’” Edmond remembers. “It’s like you see your entire love life flash before your eyes. I was just thankful that I choose this person.”
“I’ve always wanted to marry someone who I felt could be a leader and who I felt was intelligent and could make decisions,” Rhonda says. She found all of those qualities in her new hubby.
Edmond admits that he and Rhonda practiced their first kiss a few times.
“It felt like, ‘Ah this is my husband. I’m ready. Let’s go!’” Rhonda exclaims.
“My father loves Edmond so I knew he was secure in giving me away,” Rhonda chimes.
The couple’s wedding rings look beautiful on these purple peonies.
Rhonda, Edmond and all of their friends had fun doing the electric slide, the hustle and other group dances during the reception.
The ballroom at the Biltmore Hotel was lined with tables set with purple table cloth to incorporate the couple’s wedding colors.
Each table featured vases with orchids in water.
Rhonda and Edmond’s first dance was to “So Amazing” by Luther Vandross.
Can’t you just feel the love between these two?
Rhonda and her father and Edmond and his mother danced to “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole.
Glorious Events catered Rhonda and Edmond’s wedding and provided the four-tiered, three-flavor cake.
“She is incredibly sweet and she has a great personality,” Edmond gushes about his bride. “Those characteristics are underrated.”
“He’s very passionate, " Rhonda muses of her new husband.
“I’m dealing with someone who can embrace me in a loving, tender way day after day,” Edmond says.
“I’m anxious to see what ten years and twenty years feel like,” Edmond says.
“Edmond’s grandparents have been married for over 50 years,” Rhonda adds. “It’s amazing to see that it’s possible. I’m looking forward to seeing how we progress over the years.”
