A Fun Filled Miami Wedding Inspired by Symmetry and Frequency
Jimmie and Shay met in December of 2013 on the campus of University of Miami, where they were both students at the time. Shay is originally from Winston-Salem, NC and was attaining her Masters in Counselor Education; Jimmie was studying Finance and Accounting.
“I remember noticing Jimmie’s calm demeanor initially,” Shay recalls, “then I noticed his unique features. I thought he was very handsome right away. From the first interaction, being with him felt like something I could do forever… but the timing wasn’t right. As fate would have it, I saw him two more times and eventually the stars aligned for us.”
“Our main goal was for everyone to have fun.”
“The first encounter with my Shay Shay is forever etched in my mind,” Jimmie describes. “Picture this: I'm stuck behind a desk at the University of Miami, going through the motions of a student assistant job. And then she walks in, a stunning vision with an aura of confidence. My brain goes into overdrive, completely distracted by her irresistible charm. Who is this incredible, intelligent, caramel beauty? And how do I get her number today? We chat for a bit, but my first attempt to woo her falls flat. No worries, though. I don't give up easily. Two more tries, and finally, she gives in to my laid-back charm. The rest is history.”
Jimmie proposed on Valentine’s Day while visiting Shay’s family in North Carolina. It was an intimate moment shared just between the two of them.
Wedding Planning with JG Eventi
Shay and Jimmie chose their dear friend, Jessica of JG Eventi, to plan and design all events for the wedding. Jessica was instrumental in Shay and Jimmie’s engagement party in Miami, the rehearsal dinner and all wedding day activities.
Wedding planning started about eight months prior to the big day. The first order of business was choosing the perfect wedding venue. Since the wedding would be taking place in Miami, the couple had a desire to show a side of Miami that most visitors don’t get to see – the actual city, not the beach. So they chose to have their wedding in Brickell, at the JW Marriott Marquis hotel. Time and attention was devoted to working with vendors that Shay and Jimmie connected with or had already established meaningful relationships with; like their wedding officiant, LaCriscia Fowlkes of Rooted In Love & Truth, who specializes in breathwork and is a close friend and colleague of Shay.
“Our wedding experience was magical and turned into a two-day event before we realized it. It felt great to be surrounded by all of our loved ones, who traveled near and far. Everyone was finally able to put faces with names. Thanks to our wedding planner, a lot of stressors were eliminated ahead of time, so we were able to just be in the moment with our family.”
A Wedding Inspired by Symmetry and Frequency
The wedding featured several special touches and details suggested by the wedding planner. This included Society Bridal Valet services, which proved to be a godsend and averted several crises prior to the ceremony. Additionally, Jessica’s team was literally just a step away at all times.
“Our main goal was for everyone to have fun,” says the couple.
All wedding festivities included adults only, with nuptials being followed by a cocktail hour prior to the reception. In terms of themes and design concepts, the couple and their team created a wedding inspired by symmetry and frequency. This was showcased through details like the wedding date (3.23.23), the wedding arch in the form of a pyramid (originally designed by the wedding planner), and selenite wands which were placed in all bouquets. The flower of life was also etched into the wedding aisle, reception dance floor, and the wedding cake.
The funniest and most memorable moment of the evening was the bouquet toss. Shay’s sister and ‘bridesquad member’ had made many claims to the bouquet weeks before the actual wedding; and on the day of, she made good on that claim. She confidently removed her shoes and “proceed to crush everyone else’s dreams.”
Another wedding highlight was the bride and groom’s entrance into the reception. Both came in donning their newly exchanged wedding gifts – new watches and custom iced out grills, courtesy of Stacks Customs.
For their honeymoon, Shay and Jimmie traveled to Paris and London, making sure their itinerary included the Louvre, Pantheon, and Opera House.
WEDDING TALENT
Location & Catering: JW Marriott Marquis, Miami, FL; Planner: JG Eventi, Miami, FL; Event Design & Lighting: W Event Design, Miami, FL; Floral Design: A Lavish Event Design, Miami, FL; Rentals & Linen: Contempo Linen & Event Rentals, Miami, FL; Cake: Sweet Guilt, Miami, FL; Reception Dress: Alieva Label; Bridal Salon: Elegant Forever Bridal, Urbana, MD; Custom Jewelry: Stacks Customs Jewelry, Miami, FL; Hair: Junkie Bride, Miami, FL; Makeup: Sarsha Lepeche Beauty LLC, Miami, FL; Groom’s Attire: Jason Maximus; Entertainment: Curate Entertainment, Marco Island, FL; Invitations: Invitorium, Miami, FL; Live Artist: Shani Lynn Art; Photography: Evan Rich Photography, Miami, FL