Real Weddings: Nicole & Tyrae

Black African American bride Nicole groom Tyrae ceremony reception wedding marriage married tie the knot color palette emerald green cream ivory chocolate brown traditional boho earthen earthy Indianapolis Indiana college sweethearts

College sweethearts Nicole and Tyrae met while attending Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Tyrae, now a financial analyst, and Nicole, who works in higher education technology, noticed each other when Nicole was a sophomore, whilst they were volunteering in community service projects put together by Tyrae’s Greek fraternity. Through this love of serving, as well as the nudging of mutual friends, they began to interact with one another as more than friends. Their first date happened when Tyrae took Nicole bowling in his hometown of Indianapolis. A few years later, the couple found themselves living in Columbia, MD after college. Although Nicole and Tyrae discussed marriage, they had only looked at rings a couple times, so Nicole did not assume a proposal was imminent any time soon. She was in for the surprise of her life. Tyrae worked closely with Nicole’s best friend to accomplish the proposal, where her best friend (and later Maid of Honor) visited from South Carolina for a weekend. She made a big plea for going to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and that she promised to meet a mutual friend at the museum. Nicole was tired from their activities but obliged. As she ascended the stairs inside the museum, despite having sore feet and pangs of hunger, she noticed a handsome, familiar man standing at the top of the stairs in a suit. As soon as she realized it was Tyrae, she immediately knew what was really going on, and promised her hand in marriage to her college love. The couple tied the knot on the very intentional day of 11-11-22 in Indianapolis, IN before 115 guests. Nicole chose to walk herself down the aisle, a powerful symbol of her independence and strength, as she entered into a partnership with Tyrae. The reception was a lively affair, with a saxophonist playing during cocktail hour as guests enjoyed a myriad of delicious noshes. The couple’s love for hip-hop classics was evident in the music that kept everyone bumping late into the night.

Wedding Details

LOCATION: Indianapolis, IN

TIME OF YEAR: Fall

WEDDING STYLE: traditional, romantic, earthy

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Canal 337

MENU: Passed hors d’oeuvres included a bruschetta brushed with olive oil, dressed with tomatoes, basil, garlic, and shaved parmesan, a wasabi phyllo cup filled with ahi tuna and Asian slaw topped with edamame, a grilled chicken medallion filled with leeks, red peppers topped with curry mayo, a candied bacon spoon with a three cheese frittata garnished with caper mayonnaise and dill, and a mozzarella en carrozza that’s fresh mozzarella hand battered with herbed bread crumbs and topped with zesty caper mayonnaise. For the main courses, they began with either a mixed greens salad topped with blue cheese, macadamia nuts, sautéed apples and grapes and a poppy seed dressing or a traditional Caesar salad; then the entrée of a boneless chicken breast with with a cognac green peppercorn cream sauce or the vegetarian option of a bow tie pasta with smoky gouda cheese, caramelized onions and bread crumbs, and finally the vegan choice of a butternut squash soufflé garnished with micro greens.

DESSERT: Snickerdoodle flavor wedding cake

FIRST DANCE SONG: “The Point of It All” by Anthony Hamilton

INSPIRATION: boho inspiration that was heavy on the greenery, as well as chocolate for the hue of brown

SPECIAL FEATURES: both the bride and groom had a wardrobe change after the ceremony where the bride’s included second dress, heart shaped sunglasses and a gold grill; the bride escorted herself down the aisle; 360 degree photo booth; a live saxophonist played during their cocktail hour; the bride and groom did the tradition of jumping the broom; sustainable wedding favors were mini bouquets created after the ceremony by the bride’s planner, she and the bride DIY’d the “Bouquet Bar” concept by purchasing small vases in mass so guests could take pieces of the couple’s floral arrangements home to “let love grow” and this was a way for guests to help upcycle the fresh flowers used in the event, while also not costing extra money on the couple to purchase favors

HONEYMOON: Turks & Caicos

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