At NK Bride, you know we’re all about the badass bride, so meet our beauty in black, Brianna, and her husband, Roderick! You won’t find the word “conventional” in this couple’s dictionary unless it has an “un” in front of it. The outfits are just one thing that made this wedding unique, but we don’t want to spoil all the fun! Keep reading to learn all about the matching set Nathalie designed and the details that made the couple's day so special.
How They Met
Like more and more couples these days, Brianna and Roderick met on Tinder in 2019 (sigh, pre-pandemic). After chatting back and forth around Christmas time, they decided to get coffee in the New Year and have been “inseparable ever since!”
The Proposal
Roderick proposed on Valentine’s Day of 2021. The holiday season sure is an exciting time for these two! During their weekly Sunday gathering at Brianna’s family’s house, everyone was staring wide-eyed at Brianna after dinner when she noticed Roderick get down on one knee! Since “being around family was most important to [them],” the household was all in on the secret and stood ready to pop the champagne. Even though Covid forced a smaller-scale party, “It was still beautiful and everything I wanted,” Brianna told us. Covid can’t crush this bride’s spirit!
Okay, can we just take a moment for the ring? I mean, come on! The gorgeous alexandrite gem switches between teal, blue, and purple (much like Brianna’s hair!). Whenever Roderick saw that teal color, he thought of his bride-to-be, so why not make it the symbol of his love for her? Excellent choice if you ask us!
The NK Experience
The Inspiration
Brianna knew from the get-go that a conventional wedding dress was not for her. Pants were a must, so she looked around and found little to nothing. Anything she did find didn’t fit her stature the way she wanted, so the custom route called her name. When she searched for bridal pants, and “NK Bride came up with its beautiful, flowy pants,” she looked no further!
There was no specific inspiration for the look, just her own ideas and love for our NK slacks! Brianna’s only requests during her consultation with Nathalie were for the pants to be high-waisted to accompany the cropped, sleeveless top she wanted. Nathalie worked her magic and came up with the perfect sketches to send her client the following day. Talk about a quick turnaround! Brianna immediately fell in love with the concept, and the rest is history. Of course, she only had great things to say about Nathalie! “It felt really easy. I never had a problem with anything she showed me, and all the fittings were so comfortable and simple. She made it a great experience.” We're not surprised!
Why Black?
“I’m just not a traditional person,” Brianna stated. At first, she was planning to have her look made in white and dye it black post-wedding so she could wear it to other events. However, since white clothes aren’t her favorite, anyway, she thought why even bother? “It [the look] just symbolized what I would normally wear, and I really wanted to feel as myself as possible. I knew that if I bought a white dress because I thought it was the right thing to do, I just wouldn’t feel right on the day.” Nothing looks better than self-confidence!
The Wedding Inspo
Brianna wasn’t feeling the whole theme thing. In fact, she wasn’t really feeling the whole wedding thing at all! Since she and Roderick were the first kids in both of their families to get married, they decided to go with it to share the special occasion with family. So, in lieu of a formal theme, the couple chose a color scheme to go with the lovely nature they were inspired and surrounded by.
The First Look
As Brianna was waiting to do her first look with Roderick, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of nervous excitement. While her all-black ensemble had been seen by all of the guests, it’d be a complete surprise to Roderick! She stood in anticipation with the support of her loved ones (and the super sweet gardening staff) cheering her on. When Roderick turned around, a wave of relief washed over her, and she “immediately stopped crying when she saw him.” It was clear that he loved the look, but more importantly, the woman in it!
We hope you’re loving all of the personal touches this duo included ‘cause we sure are! During the first look, Brianna presented her soon-to-be husband with a special gift. It was a notebook that she had been keeping for a year leading up to the wedding. Each day, she wrote a sentimental note to him about the moments they shared and how he made her feel with a cute photo attached. The final entry would be written by both of them to reminisce on their wonderful wedding. Such a beautiful keepsake and token of their love. We’re not crying, you are!
The Ceremony
The couple had an outdoor ceremony at Prospect Park Picnic House on a warm August day. Brianna had always dreamed of having her pastor grandfather officiate her wedding, but sadly, he passed away a few years ago. The couple decided that it would only be right to have someone else close to them officiate in his absence. They chose their best friend, Hamed, who was instrumental in fostering their relationship and just so happens to have a way with words. Although he couldn’t physically be there, the couple made sure to reserve a special seat for Brianna’s grandfather next to his wife, marked by a painting of him holding Brianna as a baby. Roderick had the tribute commissioned by his cousin as a Christmas gift to Brianna. We’re positive his smile looking down that day beamed just as bright as it did in the painting!
As an interracial couple, Roderick and Brianna wanted to make sure to be inclusive of both of their cultures. Since neither of them is very religious, they opted for a unity ceremony to symbolize them becoming one. There were many rituals to consider, but they chose to jump the broom to honor an age-old tradition of the black community: jumping into their new life together!
The Bridal Party
Time to answer the age-old question: What came first, Roderick’s suit or the bridesmaids’ outfits? The answer is the suit! He was drawn to the bold emerald color, which Brianna also loved, so they thought, why not make it the wedding color? Brianna wanted her bridal party to feel as comfortable as she did on the day, so she told them to pick whatever style they wanted in that green hue. “I like the difference that it created in our pictures, just by allowing them to be themselves. It offers more of a personality to your wedding.” (Shoutout to the queen rocking those green locks!) We see you, ladies!
The Reception
The reception was filled with an air of simple elegance. Green napkins and glasses filled the tables to match the groom's and bridal party’s attire. Perhaps the coolest detail about the decor was the centerpieces. Brianna and her bridesmaids put the bouquets, consisting of the newlyweds’ favorite flowers, together the night before the wedding. Do they look familiar? That’s because they went straight from the bridesmaids’ hands to the middle of the tables! Such a clever idea, not to mention resourceful and cost-effective. Who knows, maybe it’ll be the next big wedding trend! All in all, guests loved the unassuming classiness of the decor, noting that “it felt very authentic to the couple.”
“That was really all I wanted it to be, and I think it felt that way because we kept it simple.”
Brianna and Roderick stepped into their reception in style…literally! Roderick is a huge sneakerhead, and Brianna just so happened to be getting into her “cute but comfy girl” era when they met. What strikes that balance better than a great pair of sneakers? So, every year for their anniversary, the couple decided to gift each other matching sneakers and continued the tradition for their wedding! We’re sure they’ll end up with quite the collection!
The Best Part
With all of the touching details this couple incorporated into their wedding, you’d think it’d be difficult to choose the best part. For Brianna, the answer was clear: celebrating with family and friends! “It really already felt like we were married. So, just the dancing and getting to enjoy that with everybody, and afterward, hearing how much fun everyone had” definitely took the cake. As they say, “a picture’s worth a thousand words,” and we can definitely see the "fun" in these photos!
Congratulations to Brianna and Roderick on starting this next chapter of their lives! We wish you a lifetime of health and happiness together.
<3 NK Bride
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Cover Photo credit: Kyla Lauren Photography
The Dream Team
Photographer: Kyla Lauren Photography | Bridal Separates: NK Bride | Venue: Prospect Park Picnic House | Planning Coordinator: Caity Day-Goldstein | Caterer: Above & Beyond Catering | DJ: Brent Fierro | Lighting: Universal Light & Sound | Couple: Brianna & Roderick