Real Weddings: Shamirah & Fernando

At a small high school during senior year, Shamirah and Fernando’s paths crossed when both were enrolled in a business class as an elective. Although the school wasn’t large it had taken nearly all of their tenure as students there to notice one another. Fernando was immediately taken aback by Shamirah’s beauty and smarts. A mutual friend helped broker their first conversation – the same friend they later would enlist to be the officiant at their wedding ceremony. Fernando asked Shamirah to go to their final prom together, and from then on, their relationship stood strong. Through the years the couple each pursued their academic goals. Shamirah, a clinical researcher in the pharmaceutical industry, attended Rowan University just like Fernando. Shamirah went on to obtain her Master’s of Public Health from Boston University, while Fernando, a project manager in life sciences tech is currently attending New York University’s engineering graduate program. After 10 years of dating, Fernando found the ideal time to propose to the love of his life. It was on an adventurous trip the couple took to Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. On December 28 that year, while in Bali, Fernando asked Shamirah for her hand in marriage at sunrise while they were walking on the beach. The couple had a well executed and intentionally planned fall wedding with the Rocky Mountains on full display as their backdrop. Only a lucky group of 50 guests were extended an invitation to witness the couple be united atop the tree-lined crags of Vail, CO at the well-known Camp Hale. Shamirah and Fernando allowed some of their quirks to shine in the details of their wedding, for example having a vintage van turned-photo booth complete with costumes and props and a caricature artist. Their sense of humor and the idea of taking on life with a happy-go-lucky mentality made their wedding that much more memorable.

Wedding Details

LOCATION: Vail, CO

TIME OF YEAR: Fall

WEDDING STYLE: earthy, captivating, bohemian

CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Camp Hale

MENU: Plum wine sautéed shrimp on a wonton cracker with ginger soy sauce, beef empanadas with cilantro-green chile sauce, homemade roasted garlic hummus on a pita chip with feta and olive-herb bruschetta, spicy tuna poke and avocado wonton cups, and lobster bisque soup shooters were the hors d’oeuvres. The dinner course consisted of a Caesar salad with organic romaine hearts, homemade dressing, fried capers, shaved parmesan and French bread croutons then a Tenderloin grilled and served over Yukon gold potato-poblano mashies grilled peppers, roasted patty pan squash and pineapple salsa or a grilled wild salmon filet over porcini mashed potato with grilled peppers and squash glazed in balsamic. There were his and hers signature cocktails of Sweet Honey Cider or the Sparkling Apple Pie option.

DESSERT: Wedding cake, cookies, brownies and macaroons

FIRST DANCE SONG: a compilation of songs that the couple did a choreographed dance to

INSPIRATION: A travel theme

SPECIAL FEATURES: couple performed a rehearsed wedding dance; a shutter bus photo booth and a caricature artist; mountain views; unplugged ceremony; the couple did the jump the broom tradition; bride changed into a second dress for reception

COLORS: