Wedding Date: April 14, 2018
Bridal Prep: Le Pavilion
Ceremony Location: Chateau Country Club
Reception Location: Chateau Country Club
Bakery: Chasing Wang
Entertainment: DJ Merl

How did you meet?
Freeman and I met in 2007 in Baton Rouge. Our first date was at a coffee shop called Coffee Call.

Include a little bit about yourselves. What do you do?
Bride: I am 31 year old born and raised in New Orleans. I am a professional licensed counselor in which I currently work as a Clinical Consultant. I enjoy shopping and traveling. In my spare time, I am a Makeup artist, making others feel as beautiful as they are inside and out.

Groom: I am 33 year old male who’s from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I moved to New Orleans in 2008. I currently work as a Juvenile Justice Specialist. I am pretty private, laidback person.

what is your favorite thing about each other?
Groom: Ziesha has a kind heart. When I decided to bring my nephews (ages 7 and 8) with me to New Orleans to raise them, Ziesha encouraged me to bring them reassuring me that she would be right there to help and by my self. And she did what she promised. She has been a Mother figure to them since then and they are now 18 and 20, my Bestmen.

Bride: My favorite thing about Freeman is his personality and sense of humor. As he showed a piece of it on our wedding day while saying his vows. He shared that we had 107 breakups…omg who was counting lol.

How did the proposal go? Who proposed to who, were you surprised?
Proposal Story:

Sometimes couples break up a few times throughout the relationship before settling down and getting married. With Ziesha and Freeman, they broke up and got engaged within two weeks. Ziesha and Freeman had been knowing each other for about 10 years yet dating nearly 7 years. His proposal was definitely unexpected.

From Ziesha: Two weeks prior the the proposal, Free and I were in a heated argument that lead to me making a decision to end the relationship for good.

I decided not to discuss my decision with anyone because no one would believe that I was actually serious this time. Two days after we split, I received a phone call from a friend to randomly to check on me in which I later discovered Free asked her to do so.

On proposal day, I had plans to have a “Girl’s Night” with my cousin, sister in Mom at Zea’s restaurant. My sister was running late so my mom and I decided to meet her at the restaurant. Upon arrival to the restaurant, we told the hostess we were awaiting 2 people from our party before being seated. She proceeded to tells us that our party was seated and she escorted us to a main room.

As I’m following the hostess, not really paying any attention to where she was bringing us, I walk into the main room. I see, my love, Freeman, on one knee, a room full of family and friends. I hear our song “Matrimony” by Wale in the background playing “If there’s a question of my heart, you got, it don’t belong to anyone but you. If there’s a question of my love, you got. Baby don’t worry, I’ve got plans for you….”

Apparently, he had been planning this for weeks and from his perspective “staged the argument to forced me to breakup with him.” And now, my sassy New Orleans flavor and his Baton Rouge preppy yet street swag has created an endless love story.

Where was your ceremony held and why did you pick this site?
The ceremony was held at Chateau Golf and Country Club. This venue was chosen for the amazing outdoor ceremony area.

Where was your Reception held and why did you pick this site?
Chateau Golf and Country Club

What unique or special things did you do at the reception?
At the end of the ceremony, we released butterflies in memory of our deceased parents. We also wrote our own wedding vows which was really special to us both.

Pick one moment in the day that was your favorite thing?
Groom response: Entry of Bride and groom to ceremony with the dance
Brides response: His wedding vows to me

Did it really go by as quickly as everyone says?
No. We really enjoyed the every moment.

What was the inspiration behind picking the color palette and decor that you picked?
We were going for a simplistic yet elegant look.

From the Bride – When you first saw the groom, what were you thinking/feeling?
He looked so handsome. And he was crying when he saw me.

From the groom – When you first saw the bride, what were you thinking/feeling?
I was emotional and nervous.

Who was your baker, what was the flavor of your cake? Was it delicious?!
Chasing Wang, w had three flavors, chocolate, almond cake with fresh strawberries filling and almond with almond filling.

Did you have a coordinator or did you plan everything yourself? If you didn’t have a coordinator any advice for brides planning their own wedding?
I planned the details myself with choosing my venues and decor.
I had a Day of Coordinator, Arrian Chapman who was absolutely amazing. She brought my vision together and worked well with me and my mom. She became more than just a Coordinator. She stepped in months prior to help with anything I needed.

What was your first dance song? Why this song?
John Legend, “You and I”
This song has been OUR song for a while now.

Band or DJ? Did they rock it?
DJ, Merl. He rocked the house.

We want to hear YOUR advice for future brides.
Future Brides, this process is one of the most stressful with the planning process to make sure everything comes out the way you’ve always dreamed. Well guess what, try not to stress, everything will come together.
On my wedding day, I have always dreamed of an outside ceremony as it was planned to happen on 4-14-2018. The week of my wedding, EVERY DAY was sunny and beautiful however 100% of rain was projected in the forecast for my special day. I kept believing that the rain would turn around. On that Friday before my wedding which was actually Friday the 13th, it felt like a day from hell. Everything I thought could go wrong, went wrong from missing package from UPS with my headpiece, to my venue calling to force me to cancel my dream outdoor ceremony. I cried from morning until that night.
Needless to say, my dream of an outdoor ceremony DID NOT come true, however I wouldn’t change anything. Everything was absolutely beautiful. I loved and enjoyed every moment.

Anything else you want to say?
Honeymooning in Paris, France!!!!