VOLUME II SPRING / SUMMER 2020 Cover Photo By Jennifer G Photography PHOTOGRAPHER Dmitry Shumanev Production Editor in Chief Shareea Woods Editor Neha Kashyap © 2019 - 2020 THRIVE & STRIVE, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and A Thrive+Strive Publication certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. All images and text published in this magazine are the property of the their respected owners.For permission requests, please email the editor. PHOTOGRAPHER Kaity Brawley Photography 8 CONTENTS LOVE STORIES FEATURES22 Bluum Blvd Best of the Blog 2019 REAL WEDDINGS42 5 EDITORIALS76 FOLLOW @OURLOVEINCOLOR | www.ourloveincolor.com INTRODUCING the Loved 6 List I'm sharing the products and vendors I love throughout the mag. Use the QR Code on each page to see the full list of products and to access any discounts, or visit www.ourloveincolor.com/lovedlist Our Loved List contains sponsored products and services. OUR LOVE IN COLOR MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 2 HI THERE, FRIENDS It's finally here! I can't wait for you to dig into this beauty. I know this is only our second edition, and I will probably say this every time—but this one is my favorite. 7 When I designed our first magazine, I hunted down content on Instagram like a madwoman. This time, we had more great content than we could fit on our pages. So, I completely reimagined the magazine to take it from seven features to 36. That means more variety to inspire you, more images of beautiful black brides to elevate, and more vendors and submissions to consider. As I scrolled through our submissions, my first question was always, "Does she look happy?" As we've worked to define our vision and style, I've clung to my mission to lift up images of black women who are happy and in love. For us, it's not about the wedding. It's about what it means for a black woman to be seen as valuable, special, lovable, and worth celebrating. Above beauty, above style, above it all—her joy is our top priority. My dream for all of you who turn our pages is that you do so with a smile. I want you to remember what love feels like when it's new, what hope feels like when you're young, and what moments feel like when they are perfect. Let that spark inspire you to continue your journey as you make each day count. PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY Moss Nakoya FOLLOW @OURLOVEINCOLOR | www.ourloveincolor.com PHOTOGRAPHER Sarah Ward Weddings PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Ward Weddings OUR LOVE STORIES 8 OUR LOVE IN COLOR MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 2 PHOTOGRAPHY In His Image Photography Photography Image His In "Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can't help falling in love with you." - Kina Grannis JORDANNE & DRE P.10 ALYESE & JEREMY P.11 ADRIAN & ERIC P.12 BRIT & ZACH P.13 SHAUNA & MICHAEL P.14 ALLISON & DONTA P.15 KIARA & MICHAEL P.16 BRIA & CONAN P.17 TESLIM & CHIBUZO P.18 ALLISON & AARON P.19 FOLLOW @OURLOVEINCOLOR | www.ourloveincolor.com 9 Jordanne & Dre "Dre proposed on his birthday. I had planned a whole day for [him], and a friend of his offered to plan the dinner for me. When we walked into the restaurant, the hostess says, 'You all have a private room.' I was confused because there weren’t supposed to be that many people there for dinner. The doors slid open, and it was packed with people, friends and family that were there to witness the proposal. I immediately knew...I greeted everyone and...he started with a funny speech about how everything unfolded. Then, he got on one knee and asked me to be his wife. The rest of night was filled with laughter and celebration for the engagement and the birthday." 10 MAKEUP MAKEUP Love Your Look Makeup Artistry Artistry Makeup Look Your Love Foulds Courtney PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Ward Weddings Ward Sarah New Orleans, Louisiana OUR LOVE IN COLOR MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 2 Alyese & Jeremy "I knew he was the one that I would spend the rest of my life with after I went on vacation. He had made plans to pick me up [from the airport] and take me to a nice restaurant. Unfortunately, my flight got delayed twice and did not land until almost midnight. I was so worried that I was not going to get to see him...[but when] I got to baggage claim, I saw his adorable face patiently waiting to take me on a date. There were not many options to choose from at 1:00 in the morning, [so] he took me on a romantic date to Waffle House. He wanted to know all about my vacation. My heart was overflowing with love, and I knew right then that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man." 11 FHOTOGRAPHY FHOTOGRAPHY The Studio At Daisy Hill Hill Daisy At Studio The Atlanta, Georgia FOLLOW @OURLOVEINCOLOR | www.ourloveincolor.com Adrian & Eric "As we have been together, we have realized that we are not perfect people, but we are perfect for each other. That might sound super corny, but there is no other person that I would rather grow old with than Eric. I have learned humility and how to be more gracious because of how Eric treats me, [and] he is quick to seek forgiveness when he believes that he has done wrong. It is so sweet how he just reflects Jesus to me in our relationship. He just always reminds me and points me back to Jesus, which is so special." 12 VENUE The Lumen Room Room Lumen The PHOTOGRAPHY Rachel Henry Photo Photo Henry Rachel Dallas, Texas OUR LOVE IN COLOR MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 2 Brit & Zach "I met this kind, patient, God-fearing, handsome man on Hinge. On our first date, I was suffering from a stress-induced illness called Ramsay Hunt Syndromeand the left side of my face was totally paralyzed. I was so insecure and nervous to meet him, but Zach accepted me...flaws and all. We were married just over a year later. Contrary to all of my beliefs, I didn't have to lose weight, look perfect, or say all the right things to be worthy of being loved." 13 PHOTOGRAPHY Heacox Creative Co Co Creative Heacox Dallas, Texas FOLLOW @OURLOVEINCOLOR | www.ourloveincolor.com Shauna & Michael “It was my best friend's birthday weekend and she planned to have a birthday photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge Park. She told everyone to come dressed up and in pink (my favorite color). So halfway into the shoot, I was told to walk into a certain part of the park for portrait photos, [and] as I walked in, I saw my close family and friends all gathered in the garden [with] my fiance standing in the middle. Then, he got down on one knee and proposed. I was in complete shock and could not believe I had walked into my own surprise proposal. It was such a beautiful and shocking day that I will never forget.” 14 PHOTOGRAPHY Never There Yet Photography Photography Yet There Never New York City, New York OUR LOVE IN COLOR MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 2 Allison & Donta "He planned a 'couple’s dinner' at Fahrenheit Clt. Prior to him getting on his knee, the waitress pulls out a tray with the words 'Will you Marry Me?' I read them to figure out what was happening. My family and friends came out after I said, 'yes.'" 15 VENUE VENUE Duke Mansion Duke PHOTOGRAPY In His Image Photography Photography Image His In Charlotte, North Carolina FOLLOW @OURLOVEINCOLOR | www.ourloveincolor.com Kiara & Michael "Michael and I met when I was starting as a personal trainer and he was assigned to overlook my group. I remember being so nervous—I've always been a social butterfly, but Mike was intimidating, to say the least. He stopped mid-sentence during our meeting, looked at me directly with his whiskey-colored eyes and called me 'sweetheart.' I instantly melted. [I've] loved my fair share of cheesy romance novels, but I never thought I would feel anything close to what I've read. I had tunnel vision; I could no longer hear the whispers of my classmates - only that of my own thumping heart." 16 PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY 222 Photography 222 Photography San Diego, California OUR LOVE IN COLOR MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | VOLUME 2 Bria & Conan “Through it all, Conan was always one of my best friends. I have always been able to talk to him about anything under the sun. There has also been so much joy and laughter between us. Conan will stop and dance with me anywhere. He’s also my biggest supporter. I know that any goal I share with him, no matter how big or challenging it may be, his response is always, ‘What’s the first step we can take to accomplish that?’. He’s even gone as far as to come out in jobs as my assistant. Everything I prayed for in a partner is what I’ve gotten from my fiancé. Wow, that word still makes me smile like crazy." 17 PHOTOGRAPHY Vanessa Martins Photography Martins Vanessa Dallas, Texas FOLLOW @OURLOVEINCOLOR | www.ourloveincolor.com Teslim & Chibuzo "Teslim proposed while we were on a mini-vacation in Maui in August 2017.