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Home · Weddings

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
South of the Border

Shalon and Darwin took their love down to the Riviera Maya, Mexico to say “I do.” Share their love.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
02
Have Faith

The resort where they tied the knot — Azul Santorini — provided hair and makeup for Shalon. “I was really impressed,” the bride said. “I wasn’t sure how that would work out.”

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
03
Price of Love

Shalon was originally looking to spend around $4,000 for her wedding gown until Darwin showed her a few options from David’s Bridal. She got two gowns for $1,200 at the bridal retailer and she felt like a princess walking down the aisle.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
04
A Little Bling

Shalon’s Badgley Mischka bridal shoes add a little sparkle to her wedding day look.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
05
Pink Flowers

Bright pink was Shalon and Darwin’s primary wedding color. Shalon displayed the hue with the roses in her bridal bouquet.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
06
Royalty

“I really wanted to feel like a princess and this dress did it. I loved it,” Shalon says of the gown she wore down the aisle.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
07
You Make Me Whole

“He literally is my better half,” Shalon says of her hubby Darwin.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
08
Ready to Rock

Darwin and his guys get prepped to walk down the aisle.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
09
Colors of Love

Bright fuchsia runners made a canopy over where the bride and groom would say their vows.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
10
Wedding Chuckles

“My dad was actually telling jokes the whole time we were walking down the aisle,” Shalon laughs. “I think he was more nervous than I was so he was making jokes.”

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
11
It Doesn’t Get Better Than This

“I’m standing at the altar and the most beautiful woman on the planet is about to be my wife.” Darwin muses. “I’m thinking, ’I’m a pretty big deal, I am the man, I am the luckiest man alive.”

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
12
Come Again

Shalon and Darwin actually tied the knot in a small ceremony in Brooklyn a few months before their destination wedding. They had the officiant who married them before come down to perform the symbolic ceremony.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
13
Sand of Time

Before they are pronounced husband and wife, Shalon and Darwin pour sand into a container from large sea shells.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
14
Make Out Sesh

“Darwin warned me before we kissed. He said, ’Don’t get shy on me,’” Shalon laughs. “That’s why I was backing up, like, ‘Relax. My parents are sitting over there.’”

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
15
You Know My Heart

“I feel like I know Shalon so well and I feel like she knows me better than anyone else,” Darwin says of his new wife.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
16
This Is It!

“I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe this is really happening!’” Shalon says.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
17
Blended Family

Shalon and Darwin’s families are now one.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
18
One More Time

“Every time I look at our pictures or watch our DVD I want to do it all over again,” Shalon gushes.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
19
Hello From Mexico

Shalon and Darwin expected between 10 and 15 wedding guests. They felt blessed when nearly 70 of their closest friends and family were able to join them in Riviera Maya.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
20
Destination: Love

‘We love to travel, we love the beach and ever since we started dating we’ve traveled so much,"

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
21
Pure Love

“She has a really pure and genuine heart,” Darwin says of his bride.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
22
Equally Yoked

“We’re so much alike in the things that we want out of life,” Shalon says.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
23
Take Me

Now that they’ve bought a home together, Darwin is excited to carry his darling wife over their threshold whenever the mood strikes him.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
24
Gather Round

The reception area was set up so that all the tables surrounded the dance floor.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
25
Shake It

Guests were able to bring the party home with them with bright pink maracas.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
26
Dance With My Father

Shalon and her dad danced to “Unforgettable” by Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
27
Dance With Me

Shalon and Darwin held each other and danced to Gerald Levert’s “Made To Love You.”

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
28
Frisky Business

Darwin teased his new wife as he took off her garter.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
29
To Your Heart Be True

“[I fell in love with] her honesty,” Darwin says of Shalon. “She’s honest — brutally honest sometimes. Sadly, that’s not something you can say about everyone.”

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
30
Something New

“Darwin was very different from any guy that I’ve ever been with,” Shalon says of what attracted her to him.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
31
You Complete Me

“He takes care of me and he brings out the best in me,” she shares.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
32
Working On It

“Healthy relationships take work and compromise,” Darwin says. “I appreciate that she is so willing to put in work.”

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
33
Pretty Woman

“She is the most beautiful woman in the world,” Darwin says of Shalon.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
34
Thank God I found You

“Every morning when I wake up, I literally thank God for my wife,” he gushes.

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
35
More to Come

“We’re both irreplaceable to each other — it can’t get tighter than this,” Darwin adds. “I just wonder what the next years are going to bring.”

For more on Shalon and Darwin’s wedding visit The Bride’s Cafe

All photos by Vida Carson Photography

Bridal Bliss: Shalon and Darwin
Vida Carson Photography
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