STYLE & ROMANCE WITH RASHAN AND JAMAL WALLACE.

MEET THE BRIDE & GROOM:

• Bride: Rashan Wallace. 32

  Groom: Jamal Wallace 31

WEDDING DATE:

• December 19, 2015

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?

• We met at Mystical Fitness gym. I was a sales rep and he was a client. He was actually jealous that a friend of his was cordial with me and he wasn't afforded the same pleasantries and insisted that I gave him my number! 😂

TAKE US TO THE MOMENT WHEN YOU FIRST KNEW YOU WANTED TO MARRY YOUR WIFE?

• It wasn’t really a moment but more of a sequence of events! The times we spent as friends, hanging out getting to see her interact with friends and family. I knew it was rare I wanted to be apart of it!

WE COULD SEE THAT BOTH OF YOU WERE VERY INTENTIONAL WITH STYLE, INCLUSIVE OF ACCESSORIES, FIT, COLOR SCHEME FOR YOUR BRIDESMAIDS, GROOMSMEN AND INDIVIDUALLY.... WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR COUPLES TO TAKE THEIR OVERALL BRIDAL PARTY AND INDIVIDUAL STYLE SERIOUSLY ON WEDDING DAY?

• The wedding day is a MOMENT and STYLE you want to relive for a LIFETIME. Both of us, wanted us as well as our bridal party to feel good about how we looked so that the experience would be memorable. Now when anyone looks back on that day they can say that the story is truly TIMELESS!

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT MAKES A WEDDING IN THE BAHAMAS SPECIAL?

• Well one would think the climate ( but that day the weather wasn't in our favor) But we would have to say that the culture of our Bahamian people makes the moment special!

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 WEDDING PLANNING TIPS FROM A BRIDES PERSPECTIVE?

1. Do Not Stress, have the wedding you want and do not try to please everyone, the day will be as beautiful as you allow it!

2. Always have a plan B because whatever you think can go wrong will go wrong.

3. Embrace every moment of the day because through all the beautiful chaos, you will not realize when it's all done!

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 WEDDING PLANNING TIPS FROM A GROOMS PERSPECTIVE?

1. Make sure that everything that is planned is mutually agreed upon. Yes most may favor your bride but be sure it’s something you also can be in love with too.

2. Leave nothing for your bride to think about. Execute your plans with as much perfection leaving her to only thing about walking down the aisle.

3. Wedding day: be on time, don’t get wrapped up in the excitement of your groomsmen but focus on the moment itself.

WHAT IS THE #1 WEDDING SONG IN YOUR BOOKS?

• More than you’ll Ever know- Boyz 2 Men

ANY MARRIAGE ADVICE FOR AN ENGAGED COUPLE TYING THE KNOT SOON ?

• There is no rush, continues building a healthy relationship and principles. Enjoy pre-marriage counseling.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SINGLES ON THE QUEST TO FIND TRUE LOVE?

• There is no quest, what’s for you no one can take away. It just a matter of time, but in looking don’t be so specific, no one is perfect or will have everything you’re looking for. Consider what can you live with for the rest of your life or what you feel you can possibly help change!

PC: @stanlophotography | Bride: @ladipeaches | Groom: @mallyacee | Lapel Pins: @thepicobrand | Gowns: @phyliciaellis

An exclusive interview by The Pico Brand.

STYLE & ROMANCE WITH DR. JAHAN AND ETHAN MUNNINGS

MEET THE BRIDE & GROOM:

• Dr. Jahan Johnson – Munnings. 35, Dentist at Bahamas Orthodontic Center. 

  Groom: Mr. Ruiz Ethan Munnings. 37, Restaurant Manager at Seashells Café.

WEDDING DATE:

• December 21, 2019

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?

• The couple first met as teenagers as they were just finding themselves as young adults. In a bit of a twist, Ethan dated one of Hanny’s high school classmates and at that time would visit the campus of St. Augustine’s College. Without an inkling as to how life would unfold, the two would see each other only in passing.

  Long after the high school days, maturing into adults and taking on careers, the journey of life would lead Ethan and Hanny back to The Bahamas. In 2016, Hanny came down with a cold and wanted soup to feed the soul and nourish her back to health. This would take her to Seashells Café, Ethan’s family business which he manages. During this chance encounter, Ethan stopped Hanny to say hello, however, Hanny did not recognize him right away, having to be reminded of their teenage years.

  As fate would have it, a few days later, Hanny went to a party with a friend  and Ethan coincidentally was also to the party. They socialized at the party and exchanged numbers. They found that they hit it off quite well. A friendship developed, and they would speak every day. Friendship was accented with romance which blossomed into commitment and love of a lifetime. The couple soon became inseparable

TAKE US TO THE MOMENT WHEN YOU FIRST KNEW YOU WANTED TO MARRY YOUR WIFE ?

• After spending the essential time getting to know my wife and becoming captivated by all the dynamic elements that make her special, I knew that our lives were destined to be intertwined and that this amazing woman had a vital role in my future. 

WE COULD SEE THAT BOTH OF YOU WERE VERY INTENTIONAL WITH STYLE, INCLUSIVE OF ACCESSORIES, FIT, COLOR SCHEME FOR YOUR BRIDESMAIDS, GROOMSMEN AND INDIVIDUALLY.... WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR COUPLES TO TAKE THEIR OVERALL BRIDAL PARTY AND INDIVIDUAL STYLE SERIOUSLY ON WEDDING DAY?

Selecting the attire of our wedding party and ourselves was extremely important to us, because we wanted the appearance to be a reflection of our individual styles combined.  Ethans style is traditional and classic, while Jahan's style is a bit more edgy – marrying classic with fashion forward.  We chose our base color of Navy Blue not only because it is a classic color but  it also evokes class and sophistication.  We paired the Navy Blue with Silver as a contrast to the dark color and by doing this it completed our look of elegance meets regalness….. Exactly the look we were going for!

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT MAKES A WEDDING IN THE BAHAMAS SPECIAL?

• There are so many factors that make a wedding in the Bahamas  special.  However, if I were to pinpoint one thing, it would be the inclusion of Bahamian  culture throughout the entire wedding, from ceremony all the way to the reception. Junkanoo is an integral part of Bahamian  culture. You now tend to see and hear  more Junkanoo music and groups doing rush-outs and rush-ins to entertain guests, as well as large Junkanoo pieces are being added as part of the décor for the wedding.  The Bahamian wedding has pulse and rhythm much like the sound of the Junkanoo drum.  The beat comes from the bringing together of family who share in the celebration. 

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 WEDDING PLANNING TIPS FROM A BRIDES PERSPECTIVE? 

1. Start planning early and take one step at a time. Recruit family and friends (including that future spouse of yours) to pitch in and help out in any way that they can.  

2. Set a budget and stick to it!

3. Try to have fun when planning!  This is your wedding after all! Don’t get too hung up on small details but rather focus on what’s important….. celebrating the love you share with your fiancé while surrounded by who is most important to you.

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 WEDDING PLANNING TIPS FROM A GROOMS PERSPECTIVE?

1. Financing : This $#@! is outrageously expensive. You need a realistic budget.

2. Coordination: My wife and her team hit the ground running early and meticulously strategized each integral detail of our wedding.

3. Stay involved: While a lot of the aspects of the occasion requires the female perspective, the grooms input is vital to achieving synergy and cohesiveness throughout the process.

WHAT IS THE #1 WEDDING SONG IN YOUR BOOKS?

• The song that I absolutely adore is ‘I Choose You' by Ryann Darling.  This is the song that played as I walked down the Aisle to meet Ethan.  We love the lyrics and how it not only expresses the love we have for each other, but also that our love and lives are for God.  It is through Him that we  came together in life.

ANY MARRIAGE ADVICE FOR AN ENGAGED COUPLE TYING THE KNOT SOON ?

• It is EXTREMELY important to remember that you are two unique individuals.  Don’t completely lose yourself in your marriage.  Never forget to cultivate your own interests and friendships.   Besides, you will have so much more to talk about when you come back together at the end of the day.  

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SINGLES ON THE QUEST TO FIND TRUE LOVE?

•  I know that you may feel left out because everyone around you seems to be in a serious relationship or getting married and you just cant seem to find ‘the one’.  Always be reminded that God’s timing is perfect.  He can  put someone into your life who loves you and treats you the way you deserve to be treated and this can happen in a short space of time.  Relax! Your king/queen is coming….. maybe sooner than you think.  I got married at age 35, and my husband was well worth the wait!

PC: @braxtong_photography | Bride: @jahanjohnson | Lapel Pins: @thepicobrand | Hair: @metamorphosis_bs | Bride’s MUA: @fabfacesmua | Bridesmaids MUA: @eyecandymakeupstore

An exclusive interview by The Pico Brand.

STYLE & ROMANCE WITH GEENA AND TONY WILLIAMS

MEET THE BRIDE & GROOM:

• Geena Williams, 27, Accountant, Corporate Service Professional & Model. Tony Williams, 29, Film Maker.

WEDDING DATE:

• December 21, 2019

HOW DID YOU TWO MEET?

• We met through a mutual friend who ‘thought we would be perfect for each other’. 😊

TAKE US TO THE MOMENT WHEN YOU FIRST KNEW YOU WANTED TO MARRY YOUR WIFE ?

• I knew I wanted marry her when I got the go ahead from God around April of last year. For a long time I knew that Geena was the woman for me. She is so beautiful, confident and ambitious. I knew I couldn’t pass her up! God giving me the go ahead was just the cherry on top.

WE COULD SEE THAT BOTH OF YOU WERE VERY INTENTIONAL WITH STYLE, INCLUSIVE OF ACCESSORIES, FIT, COLOR SCHEME FOR YOUR BRIDESMAIDS, GROOMSMEN AND INDIVIDUALLY.... WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR COUPLES TO TAKE THEIR OVERALL BRIDAL PARTY AND INDIVIDUAL STYLE SERIOUSLY ON WEDDING DAY?

 It is imperative that your wedding day is a direct reflection of your style individually and collectively, as a couple. I think you want to look back at your photos 30-50 years down the road and say I loved to wear this or that. We both love very neutral tones and that’s how we decided on our wedding colors. We love the natural beauty of things so we chose very simple almost white suits for the males with grandad collar shirts that didn’t require a neck tie to fit the relaxed mood. We chose semi nude jumpsuits for the girls based on their personal style. Geena loves wide legged anything so that was the only requirement placed on them. We were at an outdoor location that added all natural elements. Geena knew for sure that she wanted a simple fabric, long train and high slit for the gown and trusted her designer to do that and she exceeded her expectations. 

WHAT’S ONE THING THAT MAKES A WEDDING IN THE BAHAMAS SPECIAL?

• Tony’s Perspective: The reception/party . Geena’s Perspective: I think because anywhere in the Bahamas is picturesque especially when doing an outside wedding, not to mention the beautiful weather. Who doesn’t want a beautiful island style romance?? 

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 WEDDING PLANNING TIPS FROM A BRIDES PERSPECTIVE? 

1. Do not select the first vendor you find. Take time to get to know these people and see if you are willing to deal with them for at least 2 months. Do they answer your calls or emails on time? Are they happy you enquired about a service? This day is suppose to be special and you want vendors who also believe that. 

2. Make sure that you and your partner go through counseling and understand the importance of the day. 

3. Plan as you must, but don’t sweat it. At the end of the day, Gods plan will prevail. We had so many things that didn’t go as planned but we decided early on we wanted to get married and have fun for sure. And that, we did. 

WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 WEDDING PLANNING TIPS FROM A GROOMS PERSPECTIVE?

1. Make sure to confirm and order the groomsmen suit months ahead. Sometimes us guys are very relaxed in our planning (pointing all fingers at me lol). Thankfully I have an always-prepared bride and a solid group of brothers/groomsmen who were on the ball.

2. Make sure to stay relaxed through it all. Marriage is a huge commitment but it is also beautiful.

3. Most importantly, continue to seek God’s counsel through it all.

WHAT IS THE #1 WEDDING SONG IN YOUR BOOKS?

• We had so many great songs at our wedding; Beauty and the beast , which the bridal party walked down to, Chariots of Fire was what Geena walked down to, Guillotiné was our recessional song. Our #1 song, though, is Through the Storm by Popcaan, we chose this for our first dance. 😁

ANY MARRIAGE ADVICE FOR AN ENGAGED COUPLE TYING THE KNOT SOON ?

• Be true to who you are. Enjoy every moment of every stage in your relationship and get to know your partner. Talk about the hard stuff now. Have fun at your wedding and don’t sweat the small stuff. 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SINGLES ON THE QUEST TO FIND TRUE LOVE?

• Stay patient and let God know the desires of your heart. Trust Him to fulfill them. Stay emotionally pure during this time of singleness.

PC: @blairjmeadows | Bride: @geenalyssa | Groom: @tonywilliamsmedia | Lapel Pins: @thepicobrand | Bride’s Gown: @phyliciaellis | Bridemaid’s Jumpsuits: @kbadstudio | Hair: @thevanitycafe | MUA: @glowandglamour | Flowers: @shopmariebuds | Coordinator: @heavensenther |

An exclusive interview by The Pico Brand.

STYLE & ROMANCE with Tia and Jonathan Hanna

Meet the Bride & Groom:

Tia and Jonathan Hanna.  Tia works as a Business Admin for a school and Jonathan is a Director at the Nassau Airport Development Company.

How did you two meet?

• We met in the airport ironically enough (no I wasn’t at work I was traveling).   She was traveling with some mutual friends so I went over and said hi, we kept talking (after our respective flights left) and well, the rest is history.

Take us to the moment when you first knew you wanted to marry your wife ?

• For me, I knew I wanted to marry her fairly early on.  She was just such a sweet and genuine person that had everything I was looking for in a soul mate.  I think for me, i can’t say that there was one particular moment where the light bulb went off but I realized that I couldn’t stand to be away from her.  So it was only right that I do the honorable thing.

We could see that both of you were very intentional with STYLE, inclusive of accessories, fit, color scheme for your bridesmaids, groomsmen and individually.... Why is it important for couples to take their overall bridal party and individual Style seriously on wedding day?

I think given the importance of the day, style is important because we feel as though the bridal party is an extension of us.  We were initially going to have the guys in a different color but changed it up last minute.  Most if not all of us are fashion forward and we all take pride in how we look.  For the groomsmen, I’ve always loved Bond movies, and appreciated the fitted looks the character wore.  It was always a classic look, not over the top and so that’s what I wanted to achieve.  Tia wanted something that would have been comfortable and not too hot (our reception was outdoors), she wanted lace and wanted something fitted to her body.

What’s one thing that makes a wedding in the Bahamas special?

• I think for us as locals, it’s home, so having family and friends was important for the both of us.  But for persons that might not be from here, I think there are so many different locations that could give any wedding its own unique vibe.

What are the top 3 Wedding Planning Tips from a brides perspective? 

• From Tia’s perspective, start the planning process early, the time literally flies by. Choose vendors that you’re familiar with, have gotten personal reviews from, you want to be assured that on the most important day of your life, you don’t get stood up.  Having a coordinator is key.  On the day of, you don’t want to have to worry about the stresses of the day.  We were so grateful to have our coordinator who put out so many little fires we weren’t even aware of until after the wedding.

What are the top 3 wedding Planning tips from a Grooms perspective? 

• From a guys perspective, I think it’s important to be realistic with your budget.  You don’t want to over exert yourself financially.  Second, once you make a decision don’t go back as you’ll always second guess yourself.  Last, compromise is key, you need to work together to ensure your day is special for both of you.

What is the #1 Wedding song in your books?

Tia loves 90s R&B and well so do I.  To choose one song is kinda hard but if we had to choose, she’d choose Kenny Latimore, I’d choose Usher Here I stand, and even that’s a toss up.

Any Marriage Advice for an engaged couple tying the knot soon ?

• I would say marriage counseling is a must.  You learn what to expect in marriage and the things we have learned there have helped our young marriage considerably.  Communication is key, I think you should always be able to talk with your significant other no matter the situation.

What advice would you give to singles on the quest to find true love?

•  Lastly, I’d tell people to be open to situations, don’t close yourself off based on past relationships (extremely difficult to do sometimes I know) and to not rush things.  Everything in Gods time.

PC: @alikfilms | Bride: @tiatonesx | Groom: @jhanna1987 | Lapel Pins: @thepicobrand | HMUA: @LucyLuBrides

An exclusive interview by The Pico Brand.