New Yorkers Tania and Ken met in tropical paradise 1,000 miles away from home, fell in love, then realized they worked just three blocks away from each other. It was love at first sight. On April 21, 2012 they were married in their Brooklyn brownstone in a lovely backyard wedding. Share their love!
On the morning of her wedding day, joyful bride-to-be Tania sits patiently waiting for their big moment at the altar.
Tania’s birdcage veil is so fierce we can’t take it.
Tania’s Grecian-inspired goddess gown was a David Tutera design by Faviana.
To complement her gorgeous goddess gown, Tania opted to add a little bling to her step.
A precious moment shared between the ladies as Tania prepares to finally marry the man of her dreams. Just look at that smile.
Didn’t Tania make a lovely bride? Notice those pretty pink nails. We love that she decided against the more common choice from brides, the French manicure.
“As soon as we met, we knew how we felt, and that we were going to be together,” admits Tania. We feel the love!
Even the little lady got a chance to feel like a queen for a day. How precious.
Tania knows a good thing when she sees it. She tells us she knew Ken was ‘The One’ on their very first official date, which was just one week after they met.
Ken did, and it’s a beauty.
The couple’s lovely brownstone wasn’t just the perfect wedding location, it was the ideal background.
Tania’s father was on hand to ensure that his baby girl’s big day went off without a hitch and she kept a smile on her face.
Ken and Tania’s afternoon ceremony began at 2 p.m. and was only for immediate family. The rest of their guests were invited to the remaining wedding celebration that began a few hours later.
When Tania and Ken decided to start a family, they went all in, with love. Together they bought a brownstone in a Brooklyn neighborhood not too far from where Ken grew up.
Tania opted not to have a traditional bridal party. Instead her best friend walked down the aisle before her and Ken’s son came before him.
The flower girls worked the “runway,” wearing princess gowns and holding pretty little baskets.
Vocalist Lucia Bradford-Wiggins sang Stevie Wonder’s “You and I” as the beaming bride and her proud papa made their way down the aisle. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. She also sung a selection during the couple’s candle lighting ceremony.
Here comes the bride!
“I’m a DIY-nista,” reveals Tania. “So, I go to the fabric store pretty frequently for home décor projects. The idea of making all my drapery was the fun part of designing the wedding décor.
“I didn’t go for a full on theme because I believe that weddings are inherently classic and sweet,” says Tania. “I believe in adding touches that enhance the style of the couple and the venue.”
“With a full time job, a 3, 4 and 14-year-old, researching and developing two business ventures and wedding planning was becoming very stressful,” admits Tania. A quick thinker, she ultimately hired an assistant to help her get the job done.
Tania and Ken exchange rings.
When Tania’s sister passed away just five weeks before her wedding day, she found that she was touched and moved by the words of Bishop Bradford, a family friend who spoke at the wake and funeral. Although Tania had already booked an officiant, at the last minute, she asked Bishop Bradford if he would do the honors. “He spoke to us like family,” says Tania. “And, he encouraged and embraced our love for one another."
Tania and Ken held a unity candle ceremony to symbolically unite their families. In a budget savvy move, the couple used candle holders they’d had in their home for years.
A picture-perfect kiss from the picture perfect-couple.
In order for Ken and Tania to have their dream wedding at their home, it took years of working together to renovate the space to their liking. “The blood, sweat and tears that we shared working side by side renovating our home are one of my favorite memories that we share together,” says Tania.
Ken escorted his new wife down the aisle in a grey Calvin Klein suit.
Tania and Ken are proud parents to their daughter Kamilah and son Kaleb and Ken’s older son, all of whom were on hand to help their parents celebrate their very special day.
Just around 6 p.m., guests were asked to turn their attention to the entrance, where Ken and Tania were introduced for the first time as husband and wife and walked out to the sounds of Beyoncé’s sweet hit “Love On Top.”
“We had a deejay on the fire escape,” says Tania. “That’s quintessential Brooklyn. It was the perfect balance of elegance and a down to earth vibe. That’s who we are.”
For their very first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Pierre, Tania and Ken chose to sway to a classic favorite, Stevie Wonder’s “A Ribbon in the Sky.”
“Ken is from Trinidad, and my family is from Antigua,” Tania says.
As guests arrived at the cocktail hour they were greeted by the lovely sounds of a live band and handed signature cocktails. The band jammed for two hours while wait staff served yummy hors d’oeuvres, like bacon wrapped scallops, crab cakes and mini patties.
“I added little details like butterflies and paper poms to make the yard really look special,” says Tania.
“The style of our wedding was Great Gatsby meets Brooklyn brownstone,” says Tania. “We went for a chic, swanky, fun and intimate vibe.”
“I wanted to transform my backyard into a very romantic and swanky venue,” says Tania, who used Chinese paper lanterns to create a sense of all over beauty in the space. “I’ve always loved what paper lanterns and drapery did for outdoor spaces.”
“The great advantage of having our wedding at home was that we were able to take time between our nuptials and the reception to sip champagne in our bedroom and reflect on our wedding,” says Tania.
“Many people tried to talk us out of having a wedding at our house,” Tania recalls. “Mainly because it wasn’t a church and because logistically, they just couldn’t see our vision. I was determined to prove everyone wrong. I knew in my heart there was no place more blessed or filled with love than our home.”
“We wanted the wedding to be very reflective of who we are as a couple,” says Tania. “We had a top shelf bar and we hired a top of the line catering company and staff to ensure that our guest were catered to.”
When the time came for Tania to dance with her proud father, the tune they chose could not have been more fitting — another Stevie Wonder masterpiece, “Isn’t She Lovely.”
Ken and his mother were overcome with joy as they shared their mother-son dance to Boyz to Men’s ’90s jam “Mama.”
“When the deejay started playing Soca music, we started a party train, and it really got the crowd moving,” says the bride. “It was so much fun!”
As the sun set, the couple’s wedding reception transformed from a dreamy afternoon oasis to a romantic, modern affair. Just the way the bride intended.
Tania found her wedding band in a most unusual manner. "One day while waiting for the C train at Fulton Street station, I heard a band jamming to “Rock With You” down the platform," she says. “Since that’s one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs, I made my way over and asked for a card. The rest is history.”
“We gave out a typical West Indian wedding favor,” says Tania. “Black cake in favor boxes. When I was growing up, Black Cake was the favor at all weddings. I looked forward to it every time.”
Their lovely wedding cake, which was quite the scene-stealer, was designed by Genelle of Sweet Dames Bake Shop. It was a coconut cake with pineapple filing. “It tasted like pina colada on a plate,” remembers Tania. “It was so yummy.” Genelle was a life savior for the couple, whose original baker disappeared on them after they made a verbal contract.
Their lovely wedding cake, which was quite the scene-stealer, was designed by Genelle of <a href="http://www.sweetdamesbakeshop.com target=_new>Sweet Dames Bake Shop. It was a coconut cake with pineapple filing. “It tasted like pina colada on a plate,” remembers Tania. “It was so yummy.” Genelle was a life savior for the couple, whose original baker disappeared on them after they made a verbal contract.
Aside from the lovely decor in the background, it’s hard to miss all the love radiating through Tania and Ken’s wedding photos.
Wedding planning can really take a toll on a bride-to-be. Tania was lucky to have Ken, the perfect partner, there to help. “I get these great ideas, then I get overwhelmed with the details,” she admits. “Ken comes in, keeps me focused, helps me to make a decision and then together we follow through.” Now that’s teamwork.
After successful pulling off the fabulous at-home wedding of their dreams, Tania and Ken kick back in style. See more photos from their big day over at The Bride’s Cafe. Want to see your wedding featured on Bridal Bliss? Email us now for submission guidelines!
