Before Brenique proposed to Janaé, she took her beloved to dinner while their family and friends hid all around their house waiting to celebrate the newly engaged couple. The women returned home from dinner and enjoyed a private proposal before the guests revealed themselves and celebrated the couple with a surprise engagement party. “We enjoyed food, music and an engagement countdown video Brenique made of our loved ones’ well wishes for our union,” says Janaé.
The Georgia sweethearts first met during college. “We started as a campus crush at Georgia Southern University,” says Janaé. “We quickly became a couple after just a month. However, our relationship ended in less than a year.” Luckily, they reconnected years later at a friend’s baby shower and fell in love again.
Less than a year after the proposal, they tied the knot.
The two brides got ready separately and kept their looks a surprise until the big reveal at the altar. However, Janaé did a first look with her father, and it was so sweet! Janaé wore an ivory lace trumpet wedding gown with a detailed deep-V heart cutout and a long veil. Her wife-to-be wore a custom ivory jacket with a floral pattern and black tuxedo pants for the wedding ceremony. For the reception, the dapper stud changed into a black patterned jacket.
Brenique and Janaé each had their own bridal party but kept a cohesive look with all attendants wearing the same color green in myriad styles. Janaé and the bridesmaids all carried homemade bouquets of white flowers and greenery created by the bride. Brenique rocked a boutonniere with a single white rose and greenery, along with gold cufflinks with her initials.
The brides said “I do” in an outdoor wedding ceremony in Loganville, Georgia, surrounded by a wedding arch of greenery and white roses set against a backdrop of Georgia pine trees. Their wedding guests all wore black.
At their ivory and black reception decorated with an abundance of floating ivory candles and roses, the newlyweds danced to Brian McKnight’s Love of My Life. The black-and-white color palette could be seen in their newspaper announcement–style hand fans for guests. Other DIY elements included the signage, table place cards, seating chart and the invitations. Guests were gifted mini black wedding cakes and pens as favors.
For LGBTQ+ couples planning their weddings, Janaé offers this advice: “Communicate, communicate, communicate. Set realistic deadlines when planning and take your time. Collaborate together as a couple without outside opinions unless extremely necessary. Enjoy the ride.” 
Search the Equally Wed directory of LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding vendors.
FEATURED LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE WEDDING VENDORS
Photographer: Cherise Richards Photography
Tuxedo: The Bespoke Room
Gown: J. Andrews Bridal
Ceremony Location: The Vines Mansion
Videographer: 1KMoments
DJ: DJ KB
Makeup: Glam By Leanna
Catering and cake: Calypso Flava
Bridesmaid dresses: Azazie
