Tamera Ashby and Andre Taliaferro-Davis are a couple from the small, quaint town of Smithfield, VA. It’s an area where everyone knows everyone, but in this case, the two had never connected. It was not until December of 2015, when Andre’ reached out to Tamera via an Instagram Direct Message that they became acquainted. It was the perfect open-ended request to date, without running the risk of sounding too “lame”. Andre’ typed “I’m gonna leave this here just in case you wanna use it,” and cleverly left his phone number. Tamera obliged, and soon after the pair started dating the next year. As if the Direct Message was not techy enough, Andre’ upped the ante by proposing via text message (from the next room). Fast forward six years, and two kids later, they finally tied the knot on a crisp, Spring day in March of 2022, with a wedding at The Signet Center.
March 26, 2022 was one of the coldest days Virginia had seen in weeks. Some may insist that this type of weather would make people run away from an outdoor ceremony, but it was quite the contrary. The Taliaferro-Davis’ had a guest count of well over 250! Guests arrived in all black attire as directed, and they did not disappoint. Mother nature provided a gentle breeze that left the bridesmaids gowns and hair flowing effortlessly.
The wedding ceremony and reception were both held at the gorgeous Signet Center in Chesapeake, VA. The Signet Center is one of Chesapeake’s newest and most modern wedding venues. This venue boasts a romantic, lush courtyard and a grand ballroom with cathedral ceilings, built-in up-lighting, and a stage fit for elegance. Our favorite feature about this venue is most definitely its Bridal and Groom’s Suites. These rooms are decorated lavishly with a very thoughtful design. The bridal suite features individual styling stations for bridal party members, a restroom, and a private room with a sliding barn door set aside just for the bride! Tamera used this as a moment to reveal her first look to her parents and bridesmaids. The groom’s suite features a Smart TV, restroom, and plenty of room for relaxing while waiting on the ladies.
The planning process lasted just about one year. Tamera and Andre’ met with us at our Newport News office, and we knew straightaway that they were ready to throw the wedding of the year! Once we found a venue large enough to accommodate their guests, all of the other details fell right into place. We selected several local vendors (some of whom were friends and family of the couple). The best description of the pair is playful, energetic and fun and that was undeniably translated right into the wedding day.
The color palette was clean and sophisticated. We opted for emerald green, black, and gold. Simple, yet striking! With friends and family dressed all in black and bridesmaids in emerald, it permitted the accent colors to shine through, allowed the couple to become the main attraction.
Tamera found us upon a Google search, and told us that she immediately reached out because of all of our five-star reviews. She let us know that she wanted a planner who could take the lead on planning, but would still allow her to be the star of the show on wedding day. Therefore, we provided our full planning services. This included everything from the creation of the budget, vetting of vendors, research of venue, site visits, consultations, creating the design aesthetic, managing RSVPs, website building, rehearsal, and more! Not to mention, we also had to wrangle their large bridal party of 12.
We arrived on site ahead of the bridal party, ensured the setup of the suites with food, drinks, and photo ops. Once hair and makeup was set up, we led everyone through the day with reminders and a timeline posted in the room. Our favorite part of the day was facilitating the Bride’s first look with her parents and Bridesmaids. We coordinated with the photographer and videographer to set up multiple angles to catch everyone’s reactions. This moment went viral on our Instagram account almost overnight! Tamera shined in her gown, and brought many to tears when they laid eyes on her.
Overall, it was an elegant and fun wedding day that was enjoyed by all! The party lasted all night, and the dance floor was never empty. Here’s what the newlyweds had to say:
“Working with Soni & Love Always Wedding Planning was one of a kind. The attention, the details, the dedication. She took a lot off of my plate and made the journey that much easier! I would recommend them over and over again!”
Photo Credits: Shantal Jones, Captured Blessings by S. MeShel