When Kelley Carter and Ornette Coleman met at the age of 15 at an amusement park in Virginia, they had an inkling they could be good friends—but neither suspected they’d end up wanting to spend the rest of their lives together. After becoming pen pals in high school they maintained a close friendship throughout college. It wasn’t until years later, on Labor Day weekend in 2008, that the two finally decided to give romance a shot and went on their first official date to a museum exhibit. After five blissful years of dating, Ornette, a designer and creative technologist, proposed to Kelley, who is in e-commerce product management, one quiet morning in their home. A stunning ceremony in Mitchellville, Maryland, followed eight months later.
Details:
Photographer: Audra Wrisley Photography + Design
Venue: Newton White Mansion
Event Coordinator: Courtney Porter, Dogwood Events
Officiant: Reverend Bill Cochran, Say I Do Your Way
Bride’s Gown: Cosmobella
Hair/Makeup: Jasmine Gerald, Jasmine’s Salon
Groom’s Tux: Vera Wang, Men’s Wearhouse
Caterer: Spilled Milk Catering
Cake: Fluffy Thoughts Cakes
Cake Flavors: Almond cake filled with caramel and vanilla Italian meringue buttercream, and yellow cake filled with lemon curd and lemon American buttercream
Cocktail: St. Germain and Champagne
Florist: Twinbrook Floral Design
Flowers: White garden roses, white spray roses, white freesias, white ranunculuses, dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus, mini hydrangeas, and succulents
Videographer: Thomas Bowen Films
Music/Entertainment: DJ Premonition, Scratch Weddings
First Dance Song: “By Your Side” by Sade and “Bonita Applebum” by A Tribe Called Quest
Invitations: Minted and Paper Presentation
Quartet: Cherry Blossom String Quartet
Limos: A Touch of Class Limousines
Bride’s Favorite Detail: “My great-grandmother’s opal ring that I wore as my ‘something old.’”
Groom’s Favorite Detail: “Groomsmen’s memorial Superman cuff links.”
Biggest Surprise: “Our friend and the most amazing dancer Doug, who completely sweated through his shirt on the dance floor.”
Favors: “Succulents nested in gray pails with mini crafted thank-you hearts.”
Theme: Classic, romantic, modern
Four Words That Describe the Wedding: Beautiful, loving, family, cherished
Honeymoon Spot: Italy
Where They Currently Live: Weehawken, NJ
