Real Weddings: Dominique & Brandon

Although an introvert, Dominique forced herself to go outside her comfort zone to meet and mingle with various new students at the orientation program for The University of Southern California business school she’d been accepted into. Previously, Dominique attended Washington University in St. Louis for undergrad, but was now on the West Coast to pursue a graduate degree. Brandon, a University of Maryland, College Park alum, was also to be attending the MBA program at USC. He was at this same opening event. After interacting with many new people, the two found themselves speaking to one another. Upon “meeting” Dominique, Brandon divulged that he had met her once before. Dominique was surprised, and mentally tried to place him. She retained a staunch belief that she’d never actually met him in her life. Undeterred, Brandon explained how they’d actually met in Minneapolis, where she’d given mutual friends a ride to a local party that night. Although he was floored by her beauty, Brandon was a bit nervous to speak to her at the party. He worried he’d lost his opportunity. Until the event at USC. Their paths were meant to cross again, and this time he seized the chance to make an impression. From that moment, the two began hanging out more often, studying together, and finally confessed they wanted to be more than friends. To propose, in 2020, Brandon planned a photoshoot on the beach in Aruba, knowing one of Dominique’s happy places is the beach. He clued her in on the photoshoot and she reluctantly agreed. While being posed in an individual shot, Brandon snuck behind Dominique in the picture and as soon as she turned around, she found him down on one knee. The happy couple wed in March of 2022 in Atlanta, GA where Dominique’s aunt officiated the 180-person ceremony and they jumped the broom to mark the occasion.

Wedding Details

LOCATION: Atlanta, GA

TIME OF YEAR: Spring

WEDDING STYLE: romantic, industrial, welcoming

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: The Foundry

MENU: Passed hors d’oeuvres began with a thinly sliced smoked duck breast, caramelized onions, fig preserves, Roquefort blue cheese thin crust pizza, Philadelphia cheesesteak tarts consisting of mini phyllo cups filled with melted cheese topped with sliced beef tenderloin and caramelized onion and a Belgian endive leaf stuffed with Montrachet goat cheese, sun-dried tomato, dried fruits and fresh basil. Dinner offerings started with a salad using baby curly spinach tossed and topped in a raspberry vinaigrette with sweet and spicy roasted pecans, dried cranberries, crumbled Maytag blue cheese and freshly sliced strawberries and dried strawberries, sides of petit salt roasted Yukon gold potato filled with asiago and chive soufflé, and four cheese macaroni and cheese topped with toasted breadcrumbs and aged parmesan, and the main courses of honey Dijon chicken over blistered green bean, a herb and parmesan crusted red snapper roulade over grilled asparagus; and finally beef short ribs with Coca-Cola demi-glace. Signature drinks included a “Domrita” and a “Bran-Fashioned”

DESSERT: Wedding cake of vanilla and red velvet flavors with buttercream frosting

FIRST DANCE SONG: “Spend My Life With You” by Eric Benet feat. Tamia

SPECIAL FEATURES: had a “Versus” interactive guest moment called Atlanta vs. Everybody where people could battle it out on the dance floor and guests at their tables could vote using fans; send-off car was a black Maserati; 360 degree photo booth; couple did the jump the broom tradition; customized fans as favors; bride DIY’d items like the jumping broom they used, the seating chart and the welcome sign

HONEYMOON: a mini-moon to Miami