Hey Hey Hey… Happy Thursday Everyone! Today I get to share with you Caitlin + Shaquill’s love story. This couple will be getting married this Saturday at First Northeast Baptist Church with their reception at Doko Manor. If you are looking for a venue with water views, gorgeous patios and lots of dancing space, Doko Manor is the place.

As I do with all of my ADE couples… we love sharing their love story and wedding planning journey. Read below all about it.

How Did You Two Meet? We actually went to high school together, but we never crossed paths. Literally, we never even said a word to one another. We initially began conversing in 2008 via Facebook and we went on one date. Then we lost touch and ran into each other again in 2013. We’ve been inseparable ever since!

How did your fiance pop the question…. were you expecting it? For about 2 weeks, Shaquill kept talking about his grandmother’s birthday party and we adjusted our schedules so we could both make it to Columbia that weekend. I began to notice that he was up to something when he would ask me questions about what kind of food my family eats because they were invited to the party as well. A few months prior to the party we moved a few things from my parents house and he spent some time talking to my parents so I knew something was up. The dots just weren’t connecting all the way. A few phone calls and text messages from family apologizing that they couldn’t make it to the party gave it away. I was thinking “Gosh, they’re really apologetic to not be able to attend his grandma’s birthday party.” The day of the engagement party I’d spent the entire morning planning my response for the two hypothetical situations. 1: How am I going to respond to a surprise engagement party or 2: How am I going to cover up my feelings being hurt if it really is his grandma’s party? He came to pick me up and we walked into a recreational center and he guided me to a room with closed doors. I heard the song “A Couple of Forevers” by Chrisette Michelle and we were welcomed by family and friends. He then proposed at the front of the room and we celebrated the night away with family and friends!

Describe your wedding in three words: Fun, Elegant, Lit

Now the details (colors, style, theme, must-haves): Our colors are canary yellow, grey, white and silver. We don’t have a theme, we just want everyone to have a good time! We must have an amazing DJ, drinks and good food. All wonderful details to promise a good night.

What’s your favorite source of wedding inspiration? PINTEREST!

What have you loved most about planning your wedding? Honestly we have loved the time spent together and making decisions about our big day. Putting together what felt like a million save the dates and invitations was an enjoyable time because we were together. Shaquill and I (mainly Shaquill, lol) have no problem turning tedious tasks into fun so overall majority of the experience has been enjoyable.

What has been the most difficult? Keeping up with every little detail, deadline, contract, payment, RSVP, and finding adequate locations.

What are you most looking forward to on the wedding day? Walking down the aisle, saying our vows, and dancing the night away.

Do you have any advice for newly engaged couples as they go through the planning process? Enjoy being engaged! No matter how much people may get on your nerves, don’t take it out on each other. Continue to date, flirt and do all of the things that brought you together in the first place. Don’t get so caught up in planning that you forget about your future spouse.