Along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville, La., stands the largest southern live oak in the country. The Seven Sisters Oak is esti-mated to be 1,500 years old. As a tree endures through the hard times, it becomes a symbol of strength: something you can

lean against when you’re weary, with its deep roots anchoring it to the ground. The same thing can be said for marriage.

Before a single note of the wedding march was played and amidst all the lace and satin, Jessica Fleming and Drew Armitage had the end in mind. They planted their roots, so that over time their marriage can endure and mature as the Seven Sisters Oak has. Prior to exchanging vows on Oct. 7, in front of 150 friends and family, the couple studied the fi nancial teachings of Dave Ramsey and attended pre-marital counseling. “The wedding was beautiful and magical and the per-fect day, but when I look back at it, that’s what I value. I value the marriage counseling. I value everything that

helped prepare us for our marriage. We al-ways had that in mind; we’re not going to go into debt for a wedding, for one day. It’s really important to us that our marriage is set on the right track,” Jessica says. They received 13 weeks of pre-marital counseling as a wedding present. Licensed marriage and family counselor Nicole Martin asked the couple if they were look-ing for “fl uffy marriage” counseling or if they wanted to dig deep and possibly get their feelings hurt. “Hurt our feelings,” an emphatic Jessica told her. “We would rather you hurt our feelings now than be dysfunctional (later).” Drew, 27, agreed. “Better to pay now than pay later,” he added. During their once-a-week, three-to four-hours sessions, the couple discussed confl ict resolution, practiced active lis-tening and communication role-playing, worked through marital expectations, and delved into family and childhood experi-ences and past relationships. “It was the most valuable thing we could have ever done for our relationship,” Drew says now. The couple met in 2008 when Jessica, now 22, began a year-long youth minis-try internship at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, where Drew had previously interned and worked. Dur-ing the same year, Drew was beginning his second year at Louisiana State Uni-versity, pursuing a degree in communi-cation studies with a minor in business administration. They went on their fi rst date the day after her graduation from the internship in 2009.

For the next year and a half, Jessica and Drew main-tained a long-distance relationship. After graduating from LSU in 2010, Drew made the decision to move to Madison to help plant Highland Chapel Church with Troy Costanza, who offi ciated their wedding. In January 2011, Jessica moved to Jackson as well, taking up residence with several families from the church, while the couple continued to develop their relationship. Drew proposed to Jessica on May 18, 2011, on top of the 34-story, 450-foot Louisiana capitol build-ing. In the green lawn space below, in front of the build-ing, Drew’s friends laid out neon green signs that read, “Will you marry me, Jessica?”

“I didn’t think it was for me. I looked back to see (if there was) another Jessica. … then I looked back, and Drew was on one knee,” Jessica says. Because the couple’s family and friends don’t live in the area, they planned the wedding on their own. How-

ever, the church family at Highland Chapel came together to help make the day memorable. “Every aspect of the wedding was totally a hook-up from God. Whether it was the caterer, the photographer, the venue, the circumstances around everything, the weath-er, just one thing after another after another, it couldn’t have been more perfect,” Drew says. Drew and Jessica had a sunset ceremony in Township Park under a towering tree adorned with antiqued gold placards of their initials, D. & J. Black gothic-style lanterns hung from the branches and lined the aisles where guest were seated. The bridesmaids wore plum-colored sheath dresses with soft draping in the front, and the groomsmen wore matching dark gray suits and whimsical colorful socks. Jessica wore a strapless white trumpet-style gown with a sweetheart neckline and an embellished sash at the waist. The bride did her own make-up and wore her hair pinned back with soft fl owing curls. She completed her look with simple jewelry, white satin lace-up ankle booties with a peep toe and her “something blue,” a bracelet one of her bridesmaids gave her. The couple recited vows they wrote together. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a friend performed an acoustic version of Christian artist Phil Wickham’s song, “Divine Romance,” while they took their fi rst communion together as husband and wife. “All our family, his family and our pastors through the years (from Highland Chapel and their Bethany in-ternship) … circled us and prayed a prayer of blessing over us,” Jessica says. It was important for the couple to have a family-

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Drew and Jessica Armitage enjoyed a family-oriented sunset ceremony Oct. 7, 2011, in Madison’s Township Park.

by ShaWanda JacomeWith the End in Mind

Once two lovebirds decide to spend the rest of their lives together, lots of planning for the wedding and the reception must begin. It’s easy to run into mental and physical roadblocks as you plan for your momentous day. However, don’t fret, brides- and grooms-to-be. Read up and take notes on our helpful tips from buying rings to planning your ideal honeymoon.

Day-of coordinator: Megan Johnson (megjohnson2 @aol.com)

Offi ciant and reception location: Troy Costanza, pastor at Highland Chapel Church (201 Northlake Ave., Ridgeland, 601-707-7880)

Groom and groomsmen’s suits: Thomas Wilson, Men’s Wearhouse (1039 E. County Line Road, Suite 103, 601-977-0188)

Photography: b.mo foto/Beth Morgan Photog-raphy (bmofoto.com); J. Caraway Photography(601-405-6969, jeanelle1117@yahoo.com, jcaraway photography.com)

Photo booth: Donavan Perry, Mississippi Mojo(601-551-6656, d@rentmojobooth.com, rentmojo booth.com)

Caterer: Bob Copeland, Culinary Concepts (108 bent Oak Cove, Clinton, 601-613-2983, bobcopeland 4@gmail.com)

bridal attire alterations: Custom Tailoring by Al (111 Colony Crossing Way, Suite 280, Madison, 601-607-3443)

oriented and kid-friendly wedding. The cou-ple recalls seeing one of their guests’ children playing during the wedding. “Most people would be mortified, but this is what it’s about … everyone coming together.” The attire of the two ring bearers echoed the playfulness of the wedding. They wore black bow ties, Chuck Taylor Converses, suspenders and pageboy hats. The hats were a last minute addition when the younger of the two boys, Joshua, took a pair of scissors to his bangs a week before the wedding. The overall color scheme for the wed-ding was creams and grays, which were more masculine, with various hues of purple as an accent. Friend Melody Eubanks helped Jessica choose flowers for her bride and bridesmaid bouquets and the arrangements that deco-rated the tables at the reception. The assort-ment of flowers, including roses, ranunculus and hydrangea, were striking against the black tablecloths, white tealight candles and elegant candelabras garlanded with crystal jewels. The guests feasted on a meal of beef bris-ket, seafood pasta, grilled green beans, rolls

and an assortment of fresh fruit and cheeses. During the reception, Drew’s mother, Charmaine Russo, surprised the couple with a traditional second-line dance. When per-formed at a wedding, the New Orleans tra-dition of second line symbolizes the begin-ning of a new life for the bride and groom. It involves guests forming a line behind the couple, dancing and strutting to New Or-leans jazz music while waving handkerchiefs or parasols. Russo had white handkerchiefs made with Jessica and Drew’s printed ini-tials on them, which were given to the guests as favors to keep. For their first dance, they chose Cold-play’s “Green Eyes.” As they danced, Drew sang all the words to Jessica with reckless abandon. During their long-distance court-ship, Drew would sing “Green Eyes” to Jessica if she was feeling sad or missing him. “From the reception, that was my favorite part. … It was like no one else mattered,” Jessica says. The couple resides in Madison with their 14-week old Catahoula Leopard dog, Petey.

• V. Guardado of Solve Design Studio (195 Charmant Place, Suite 2, Ridgeland, 601-607-3292, facebook.com/ solvedesignstudio) designed their wedding invitations. As a unique twist, he scanned leaves to a photo of the tree they were married under. Above the leaves, read the words, “So they are no longer two, but one,” from Matthew 19:6. Guardado also created an elegant, scroll design of their initials. Once the couple had the invita-tions printed, Jessica hand-cut each invita-tion and added a purple ribbon accent.• The wedding cake was a three-tiered almond-flavored white cake with almond butter-cream frosting. Dawn Hyman of Creative Cakes and Other Sweet Treats (creativecakes.ms@gmail.com, creativecakesandcatering.blogspot.com), accented the cake with plum-colored satin ribbon and purple and white flow-ers. It sat on an antique silver cake stand.

As a cake-topper, the couple decided on a small picture frame with the initial “A” in it. Three fleur-de-lis groom’s cakes—red velvet, strawberry and vanilla—celebrated Drew’s Louisiana roots and love of sports. Each fleur-de-lis was different, with colors representing the New Orleans Hornets, New Orleans Saints and the Louisiana State University Tigers. • As an alternative to a guest book, friends and family hung well-wishes for the couple off the branches of a wishing tree. The tree greeted guests at the en-trance to the reception and was made from Manzanita branches and spar-kling crystals similar to the ones on the tabletop candelabras.• To cover up an unsightly “for sale” sign at the ceremony site, friends Aaron and Tiffany Messer (facebook.com/creat-egenesis) created a customized sign sten-ciled with Drew and Jessica’s initials.

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The couple exchanged vows under a towering tree adorned with antiqued gold placards of their initials, D. & J.

You decided to take the next step in your relation-ship. You are moving in together, getting married or both. That is wonderful and exciting. Maintaining the vitality of a relationship, especially when you

start to share a space, is a terrifi c opportunity to re-inforce why you want to be together. Healthy relationships contribute to the vibrancy of our lives and our happiness. They allow for individual-ity, bring out the best in each person and invite personal growth. Getting close to others, sharing our joys, sor-rows, needs, wants, affections and thrills is risky busi-ness. All healthy relationships need to be maintained and take work, especially when someone else’s shoes are in half the closet. Vital, nurturing and lasting relationships share a num-ber of common traits.

• Mutual respect and shared goals. Respect each oth-er, and remember it’s not always about you and your

needs. You came together because of a genuine interest in each other, and this enriches you both. While it is impor-tant to have your own interests, it’s just as important that you share common goals and dreams. Inherent in this is taking care of yourself and having good self-esteem independent of your rela-tionship. • Playfulness and Fondness. You laugh and play together. In the midst of diffi culties, you help each other lighten up with humor. Laughter and fun play a huge role in a healthy relationship. My great Aunt Peg and Uncle John did this every day through their 62 years of marriage, with John as the sly humor-ist and Peg as his straight woman.• Trust and Honesty. You trust in each

other and are honest with each other in all things without feeling like you have no privacy. You have the option of privacy with, for and from each other. You feel secure and happy when you’re together and when apart—not sad, suspicious, angry or deprived.• Fight nice. Confl ict is a part of all relationships. Do not leave issues unresolved. Understanding each other’s motivators and stressors is important to managing rela-tionships. Pick your fi ghts when winning is important, and then fi ght fairly.• Tea for Two. Spend some time together, just the two of you talking, on a regular basis like you did when dat-ing. One couple I know sets aside an hour each night to talk about the good and the bad over a glass of wine or tea with good music in the background. They have been happily married for 34 years.• Steadfast and Loyal. You cannot have romance if you are not a reliable partner. If you are not trustworthy and responsible, all the romantic gestures in the world won’t

matter to your partner if you don’t mow the lawn when you say you will or don’t complete a project if that’s what you agreed on. It is hard to be jazzed about someone who disappoints you repeatedly.• Separate Identities. You maintain and respect each other’s individuality and what you share in common. You have activities apart from one another and don’t depend on the other person to make you happy. You encour-age each other’s growth. Togetherness is great when it is genuine, but if it’s forced, or one of you is miserable and bored, it can be damaging.• Good Communication. You can express yourselves without fear and feel heard, understood and accepted. You respect each other’s ways of communicating and learn how to communicate so the other person hears what you are saying. Listening with an open heart and a desire to under-stand is more important than judging each other or de-fending yourself. You are respectful of your partner and don’t put him or her down. Words are powerful, especially when they are meant to hurt.• Fairness and Equality. Relationships are built on give and take. Sometimes the fl ow is heavy in a given direc-tion, but over time, the volume balances out. Allow-ing your spouse, sweetheart or friend to infl uence you is essential for a healthy relationship, as is being kind rather than controlling.• Growing Room. We all grow and change in ways that we can’t predict. People in a relationship rarely evolve in the exact same way together, but you can do your best to be responsive to your partner’s ideas and goals as if they are an extension of yourself.

These characteristics allow space in your together-ness, and because of that each of you can ask for what you want, are willing to open your heart up and be vul-nerable. The ability to do that over time is at the heart of a healthy, lasting relationship.

Choosing the setting for your honeymoon is a dreamy affair. If you want to go overseas, make sure you have your passport and bank account ready. Spend time early fantasizing about it, then pinpoint the

elements that are most important to you. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Bora Bora, French Polynesia, might be the most popu-lar destination for newlyweds right now if you examine cable TV and glossy magazines. The Travel Channel, The Knot.com, and Travel and Leisure all agree that Bora Bora is one of the top honeymoon choice. Clear water and tropi-cal beaches provide the backdrop for memory making and letting go of worries back home.• Some folks want a change of scenery to physically ac-knowledge the separation from the daily grind of everyday chores. Going to the mountains or to the beach are two examples. Having an adventure that involves desert rock climbing or Mayan pyramid climbing are two more. • U.S. News suggests Florence, Italy, as a possible trip. The Uffi zi Gallery and the Boboli Gardens are just some of the charms this Renaissance city offers. Tuscany is full of orange clay roofs that lend a glow to the region and give Florence its

distinct skyline of welcoming history. • Looking for over-the-top opulence? Book a room at the

Royal Suite at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris, France.With views of Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower, the luxu-rious room has antique furniture and elegant bathrooms. It only costs $26,000 a night. • If you don’t want to spend a year’s salary on one week

of your life, you might look into all-inclusive options. Whether you want to take a cruise or travel to a Sandals resort, you can pay one price and not worry about buying meals or fi nding your own entertainment. The deals don’t include airfare to the destination, but these all-inclusive va-cations can save you money if you want something simple and pre-planned. Also, many travel agents and online pro-viders offer registries that allow couples to ask for a honey-moon as a collective gift from loved ones. • Mississippi resorts are not a bad option. Who says you have to go to a foreign hotel to enjoy your honeymoon? Let’s be blunt: If you and your partner are taking time away from the routine to be close and intimate, you don’t have to leave the country. Behind a closed door, a suite at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi is just as luxurious as any room in Cancun. Or maybe a cozy bed-and-breakfast in Nat-chez is more of what you two need. Maybe it’s a camping trip or a canoe ride down the Pascagoula River. Save all that airfare and spend that money on the best food and music you can fi nd. Splurge on room service. Besides getting a bucket full of ice, you really don’t need to step one foot outside the room. And, if your priorities are straight, you shouldn’t want to.

by Deirdre M. DanaharKindling the Flame

Moon Made of Honey by Valerie Wells

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Spend quality time together as a couple on a regular basis.

THE VERSATILE DJby Larry Posey

Phillip Rollins, aka DJ Young Ven-om, is known for his neo-soul, hip-hop events and mix shows.

He began his career around 2004 as an intern at Hot 97, where he taught himself the art of spinning records. He is a member of the worldwide DJ organization called Violator All-star DJs. Chris Lighty, former manager of rap artist Busta Rhymes and hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, and DJ Scrap Dirty formed the organization. Over the years, Rollins’ fan base grew due to his versatility, hard work and scratching ability. His early performances included the old Seven*Studios and club Dreamz JXN. DJ Young Venom also worked with DJ Finesse. Rollins plays at clubs and other events including poetry nights and weddings. He has entertained at 10 to 12 weddings. Rollins tries to set the mood with the music. “Weddings bring two families together. The moment is more per-sonal. It’s embraced with a remem-brance experience,” he says.

DJ Young Venom’s Top 10 Wedding Songs

“Cupid Shuffl e,” Cupid“Electric Boogie (Electric Slide),” Marcia Griffi ths“Brick House,” The Com-modores“Before I Let Go,” Maze featuring Frankie Beverly“Single Ladies,” Beyoncé“In a Sentimental Mood,”Duke Ellington“Some Enchanting Evening,” The Temptations“Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green“Wobble,” V.I.C.“Ribbon in the Sky,” Stevie Wonder

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by Kelly Bryan SmithRings on a Budget

Conventional wedding wisdom, dic-tated by the diamond industry no doubt, says that a man should spend one or two months’ paychecks or

more on an engagement ring to surprise his bride-to-be. In today’s economy, that kind of extravagance is just not possible for many couples, especially with a wedding to fund. It really isn’t necessary to spend that much. With the Internet, we have an excel-lent means for comparison shopping and bargain hunting right at our fi ngertips, with-out the need to even set foot into a single chain jewelry store populated with pushy salespeople. Here are easy ways to buy wed-ding jewelry on a budget.

Buy OnlineIf you purchase an engagement or wed-

ding ring from a reputable online jeweler, you may save money. Since online jewelers do not have the overhead costs necessary to run a brick-and-mortar store, they are likely to offer better deals to customers trying to save money. They also don’t have salespeople persuading you to exceed your budget.

Buy in BulkThese days, many jewelers sell coor-

dinating trio wedding-ring sets. Such a set contains an engagement ring in addition to a man’s and a woman’s wedding band.

Typically, all three rings coor-dinate with each other, saving you time and hassle in addi-tion to money. Since these rings are manufactured, packaged, marketed and shipped together, it saves the jeweler money. You benefi t from savings, too. Many companies even offer trio wedding-ring sets for less than the cost of a single diamond engagement ring.

Buy UsedMany women prefer an old-fashioned

ring, which might be found at an antique store, a consignment store or perhaps on eBay. If you have any diamond jewelry in the family, you could also ask a jeweler to resize or redesign an existing family heirloom for less than the cost of a new ring. Other women like the idea of new rings made from recycled gemstones and precious metals. Sometimes a recycled engagement ring can be less expensive than a ring straight from a traditional jewelry store, and it is bet-ter for the planet, too. You can save even more money if you are willing to forego the diamond in favor of another gemstone.

Buy in Clusters If you are willing to deviate slightly from the typical diamond solitaire ring so many

women wear these days, you can save signifi -cantly. Larger diamonds are more rare, so they are more expensive. Many jewelers today are appealing to the budget-minded consumer with diamond cluster rings, lovely rings crafted from real gold and diamonds, but with smaller diamonds clustered together for a visual impact similar to that of a ring with a single larger diamond.

Buy on Sale and Local If you prefer to purchase a typical dia-mond in person from a jewelry store, ask your favorite local jeweler when his sales typically occur or whether a certain ring style might be discontinued any time in the near future. Christmas and Valentine’s Day are both big jewelry holidays, so those are often times for good sales that will help save you some of that hard-earned cash for the wedding.

It’s the moment we’ve seen in virtually every wedding movie ever made. Some-one, usually the lead character, raises a glass, the reception hall goes silent, and

we know one of two things is about to hap-pen. The speaker delivers either a touching mono-logue that leaves every eye in the hall (and theater) glassy or a verbal fi asco on the disaster scale of Mount St. Helens. Either of these is fi ne in the movies. You leave entertained one way or the other. But now it’s your moment. You’re the one holding the glass, with every eye on you, and the next words to leave your mouth will determine how this toast, and you, will go down in history: a triumph or a fi asco. Fortunately, giving the perfect toast isn’t nearly as hard as Hollywood makes it look. So take a deep breath, stand up straight, and remember these simple rules.

It’s a Toast, Not a Roast. Remember why you’re here. You’re here to make either the

bride or the groom look good, to reassure their new spouse that they made the right decision, and to present yourself as eloquent, sensitive and available to any single members of the wedding party. So don’t rehash the

groom’s failures in high school or the embarrassing effects of the bride drinking dairy on a plane. Leave the insults for the Thanksgiving table, and keep the toast positive.

What Happens At The Bachelor Party … This is ironclad. Don’t talk about what happened the night before. It doesn’t matter if the groom spent the entire night at Applebee’s expound-ing in verse the hundreds of reasons why he loves his bride. (Though do the guy a favor and pass that kind of

information along to the bride just before they jump in the limo). A sacred trust exists among those who attend pre-wedding par-ties, and a toast isn’t a license to break it.

Keep It Brief. We’re a TV generation. We have no attention spans. You may be spin-ning pure Shakespeare on that mini-stage,

but if you go over two minutes, you’ve lost us. Here’s a basic rule of thumb. Hold your glass high while you speak. If your arm starts to get tired, you’ve gone too long.

So How About That Airline Food? You’re a funny guy. We get it. But we aren’t here so you can practice your standup routine. Think of your jokes like peppers. A few here and there are perfect, but dump too many in, and it overpowers the dish and makes Aunt Cleo break out in hives.

Speak from the Heart. Cliché, yes, but it works. Don’t worry about getting up there to entertain. You aren’t there for the crowd, anyway. You are there to look your friend in the eye and tell him or her what a wonderful person they are. This is one of the few times in life you have the opportunity to be this open and honest without it becoming awk-ward, so take advantage of it! So there it is. Nothing to it. Just raise that glass, look the newlywed in the eye and toast your heart out. And hey, even if the toast turns out to be a spectacular failure, just think of it as providing great source ma-terial for the person who will be giving your toast one day. Now if you’ll excuse me, my arm is getting tired.

Giving a toast is simple once you know the rules.

by Bret KenyonThe Toast of the Town

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With the average wedding these days costing in excess of the average new car, it is certainly tempting to do as much of it yourself as pos-

sible. However, some things are simply best left to the professionals. The last thing you want to do is repeat my mistake of spending the short hours between my rehearsal dinner and my morning wedding (when I should have been sleeping) cursing over the stems of the organic roses I ordered online, try-ing desperately to create professional-looking bouquets in the middle of the night. If you are on a budget, the best thing to do is to prioritize your desires, and then decide where you can splurge, scale it back or use a DIY option.

What to DIY

The Planning If you are an organized bride or groom-to-be hoping for an average-sized wedding, then it is likely not necessary to hire a wedding plan-ner. Instead, you can fi nd helpful timelines online or purchase inexpensive wedding planning apps for your iPhone to help keep your plans on track. Many couples do like to hire a wedding planner for the big day, though, simply to have someone experienced on hand to direct traffi c and get the ceremony started on time.

The Non-Floral Décor Unless you are using live plants borrowed from a nursery, it is probably best to leave the fl owers to the experts, because it involves so much last-minute hands-on effort. How-ever, you could certainly prepare non-fl oral décor in advance of the busy week before the wedding. Custom candle holders, place cards, photo displays, wedding favors and the like could all be fun projects to work on in your spare time in the months leading up to the wedding to add creative touch to your special day. Some of these also could make fun projects to work on with friends as part of a bridal shower.

The Wedding Slide Show Creating your own customized wedding slide show can be a really fun collaborative DIY project. You and your spouse-to-be can spend time poring over childhood photos, scanning your favorites, organizing the snapshots and setting them to music. Five years ago, my hus-band and I had a lot of fun trying to fi nd com-plimentary pictures in our family albums. Our slide show, alternating back and forth between the two of us, featured photos of similar baby

facial expressions, both of us playing soccer, each of us making the peace sign as oh-so-cool middle-school kids and splashing at the beach before we reached photos of the two of us to-gether after we met. Guests shed more tears at our rehearsal dinner during the slide show than during the wedding itself.

What Not to DIY

The Food It is best to leave this area to the pro-fessionals. A professional caterer will have ample sanitary oven and counter space to prepare food, and they will be the ones to worry about things such as serving food at the appropriate temperature. They will know how to deal with food allergies and dietary restrictions in a delicious fashion, if alerted in advance. A professional baker can create a multi-layer cake without having it collapse and will

know how to safely transport it to your reception venue. Even if delivery costs extra, it is worth your peace of mind. If you are tempted to do any DIY food, the best thing to do would be the groom’s cake, which is a less crucial compo-nent, and it would not be a disaster if it didn’t turn out right.

The Photography Even with the best planning, most wed-dings are actually not a day to relax, enjoy and savor. Instead, they are a whirlwind of emo-tions, a blur of family and friends, and an eventful day that is diffi cult to recall in fi ne detail after the fact. One of the best wedding investments is hiring an excellent professional photographer who will help you remember your special day for years to come and who will help create a wedding album that is a family heirloom, rather than a family joke. Y’all might not look quite as cute when you’re growing old and gray together, so have a pro-fessional capture this moment in time.

The Music If you hire professional musicians or DJ, they will know how best to handle the acous-tics, wiring and other technical details of your chosen wedding venue. They will bring, set up and troubleshoot the sound equipment. All you will need to do is listen and enjoy. If you get a DJ, they can even help serve as an MC and keep the reception moving according to your predetermined plans, such as announcing the fi rst dance, alerting guests that it is time for the cake-cutting and preparing guests to send you off on your honeymoon.

What Not to DIY

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by Kelly Bryan Smith

When Charles Brice was overseas in 2008, he and his wife, Talamieka, joked on the phone one day. He was toying with the idea of quitting the Army after fi ve years working as a photojournalist and

starting a company to focus on photography and graphic design. He didn’t know it, but Talamieka was writing every-thing down. She had a surprise for him when he returned to Jackson in February 2009 from Afghanistan. While he was gone, she created the name Brice Media and the logo. All they had to do was make their presence known. Naturally, Charles couldn’t refuse. “It’s very rare that you get a husband and wife that are artists, have pretty much the same skills and are run-ning their own business,” he says. “It’s like everything was matched perfectly. You can’t ask for anything better.” Charles describes the beginning of Brice Media as “a big question mark.” He was still in the Army, and Talamieka was working as a graphic designer at the Methodist Reha-bilitation Center. For a while, they just did promotional gigs and not making a profi t. “This year, we’re doing it together,” Charles says. Now, instead of having jobs outside Brice Media, it’s the only thing that the couple does. Talamieka, 31, got her degree in graphic design from Jackson State University. Charles, 32, graduated with a bachelor’s in graphic design this past May. Both of them had artistic backgrounds and thus developed a strong friendship. They got married in 2006. The fi rst wedding they shot was in 2009. Talamieka

speaks enthusiastically about the weddings Brice Media has covered. “It was a blast,” she says, remembering one wed-ding in New Orleans. Another special wedding was in Ty-lertown, Miss., where the groom had just gotten back from war. While Charles and Talamieka wed in 2006, they didn’t have a real wedding until Charles came from Afghanistan. She is proud of a wedding they covered recently, where the bride’s mother was unable to attend the ceremony. “Her mom said ‘I feel like I was there’ because we captured so many different parts of the story,” Talamieka says. “Every wedding has a different feel,” she says. When approaching a wedding job, the Brices meet with the couple as soon as possible to fi nd out what exactly is important to their story so that they know what to focus on. “We try to cater it to each couple,” she says. “The thing is that none of them feel the same. Everyone has their own sense of magic about it.” “We really look at ourselves as visual storytellers,” Tala-mieka says. “… It’s kind of what life is really—it’s a story.” In the deluxe photo package, the couple hand-draws the newlyweds’ favorite photo. While this is not as popular with the wedding package, Brice Media creates many por-traits of pets and children. Brice Media specializes in an array of portrait services, both drawn and photographed. Right now, some of Brice Media’s work is on display at High Noon Café (2807 Old Canton Road, 601-366-1513). For more information, call 601-790-0259 or visit brice-media.com.

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Brice Media specializes in an array of portrait services, both drawn and photographed.

David Rahaim’s interest in southern literature led him to his position as manager of Congress Street Coffee at the Commons at Eudora Welty’s Birthplace. In this role, he also oversees the Commons’ use as a space for

weddings and receptions. Rahaim, 28, grew up in Clinton and attended Belhaven University, where he studied creative writing. As a result, he says “southern literature is an enjoyable hobby.” When he learned about the property owners’ plans to develop the Eudo-ra Welty birthplace into a creative space for artists, writers and musicians to gather, he immediately grew interested. Since he also enjoys making coffee, managing the coffee shop seemed a perfect fi t. He has worked at The Commons for about three years and enjoys seeing the space’s continued evolution and growth as well as the artistic networking that occurs there. Property owners David Morris and Joe Nassar use the Welty birthhouse as their offi ce, and created a vision to de-velop the land and surrounding properties to include an art gallery, artist- and writer-in-residence spaces, and areas for performances. Currently, the Commons includes the cof-fee shop, Tattered Pages Bookstore, Commons Gallery and Commons Hall, as well as a courtyard with a fountain and statue of Eudora Welty, which provides great photo opportunities during receptions. Initially, The Commons was primarily used for artistic gatherings and performances, such as the Jackson Collective’s annual showcase. With the addition of Commons Hall fi ve years ago, it is now perfectly suited for weddings and recep-tions. Since fi rst opening the venue to weddings two years ago, Rahaim says, the response has been steadily growing, with more than 10 weddings or receptions held there last year. “It’s been really interesting to work with couples and see what drew them to the property and how they adapt the space

to their own style,” he says. “A lot of people just happen upon the space, or attend an art or music event here and then think of it for their wedding.” For instance, a Furrows CD release party last year led one

couple to choose the venue for their wedding this year. “Many couples like the old southern feel of the space, with the court-yard, porches and fountain, which runs off an old well under-neath the property,” Rahaim says. “Others also really like the connection to Miss Welty and southern literature; not only was she born here on the property, but she was buried right across the street (in Greenwood Cemetery),” That “old southern feel” permeates the property, which offers multiple buildings available for receptions. The art

gallery space can accommodate overfl ow and it was made with recycled and reclaimed wood, including the bead-board ceilings. It has a rustic feel. The courtyard features a fountain and outdoor seating perfect for warmer weather. Rahaim

adds that couples who have held their wedding ceremonies at The Commons often choose to do so in front of the fountain. In addition to the statue of Miss Welty, a side garden includes a sculpture called the “Writers’ Roundtable” and features wooden sculptures from Jamaica of Welty, Richard Wright, Tennessee Wil-liams, and William Faulkner. At the back of the property sits Common Hall, the area used for wedding receptions. The building features two large rooms downstairs, in-cluding a seating area with a fi replace and chande-lier that offers a cozy area for guests to lounge in a quieter space away from the main reception. With its high ceilings, wood fl oors and columned porch-es, the building seems right out of Miss Welty’s time. It complements the older structures on the rest of the property, even though it is relatively new construction. The hall can accommodate approxi-mately 200 guests for a buffet-style reception, or 50

to 60 for a seated dinner. In addition to the downstairs space, the bridal party can use upstairs rooms when getting ready for the event or to relax. A fully equipped caterer’s kitchen offers ample prep space for food service. And since The Commons has no list of preferred caterers, couples can use any food ven-dor, which Rahaim says allows them to save money. The Commons is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call David Rahaim at 601-352-3399 or visit weltycommons.com.

by Julie Skipper

Shop Keep: The Commons at Eudora Welty’s Birthplace

JULIE SK

IPPER

David Rahaim is the manager at Congress Street Coffee.

Capturing the Magic: Brice Mediaby Briana Robinson

Where2Shop:Coattails, 111 W. Jackson St., Ridgeland, 601-853-1313; Forget Me Nots, 204 E. Government St., Brandon, 601-824-9766;From Our House to Yours, 830 Wilson Drive, Suite E, Ridgeland, 601-856-1818; Montgomery Ace Hardware, 1220 E. Northside Drive, Suite 350, 601-366-9456; The Paper Place, 2941 Old Canton Road, 601-366-3675; The Rogue & Good Company, 4450 Interstate 55 N., Suite A, 601-362-6383; Fondren Cellars, 633 Duling Ave., 769-216-2323

MORELOCAL GIFTS ATFLYJFP.COM

When someone’s getting married, you can usually count on several parties and showers in addition to the wedding itself. And all require gifts, of course.

Jackson’s local stores have fantastic selections for every wed-ding-related event, whether you’re the giver or the receiver.

I Do, I Do by Meredith W. Sullivan

JACK and JILL/HONEY DO:

1. Arthur Court pewter serving utensils, From Our House to Yours, $24

2. Collegiate Spatula and Wire Grill Brush, Montgomery Ace Hardware, $24.99 each

3. Eucalyptus Stoneware basket, Montgomery Ace Hardware, $44.99

4. Creamer Cow, Montgomery Ace Hardware, $6.99

STOCK the BAR:

1. The Art of Entertaining Eat, Drink & Be Merry dish, From Our House to Yours, $6

2. Black and gold glasses, Forget Me Nots, $16 for set of 11

3. Galvanized ice pail, Montgomery Ace Hardware, $11.49

BRIDAL:

1. Crane Monogrammed Stationery, The Paper Place, $19

2. Korbel Brut Rose, Fondren Cellars, $12.993. Hanky Panky lace undies, Coattails, $18

BACHELOR:

1.

1. Whiskey Stones, The Rogue, $20

2. Cathead Vodka, Fondren Cellars, $21.99

3. Flask, Forget Me Nots, $16

Almost immediately after meeting Cari Taylor and Nickolas Fowler, I could feel the love between the two of them. The two complement each other natu-rally. Their laughter and witty banter would eventu-

ally have anyone who spoke with them for more than a mo-ment fi nding him or herself joining right in. The pair fi rst met in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina. Taylor, a Long Beach native, was running through the pour-ing rain to her dorm from a hurricane party on the Millsaps College campus when she saw a friend from the Coast. “It was pouring out, but I stopped to see how his family was doing. He introduced me to Nick, but we really didn’t have a conversation.” Taylor said. Nickolas Fowler, a Jackson native, also attended Millsaps. The two didn’t speak again until the next semester when they found themselves in the same genetics class. Because they were both in relationships, they kept their conversations short and polite, but friendly. After college graduation, they remained in contact. After both became single, they had a group date with several friends. “(It) was us, a couple, and another guy and girl. The couple left early, and since the other guy and girl knew they wouldn’t be starting a relationship, they focused on trying to hook us up,” Taylor said. A few weeks later, Taylor and Fowler got together with a group of his friends for more than eight hours of March Mad-ness basketball, which became their fi rst “real” date. Both love sports, particularly the New Orleans Saints. “That’s when I knew she was special,” Fowler said. “She fi t in so well with my friends; plus, I couldn’t see myself with anyone who didn’t love sports.” It was after that date that the two became inseparable. Fowler decided to take a creative approach to proposing,

and it happened when Taylor least expected it. “I was scheduled to attend a former boss’ going-away party that afternoon, and Nick couldn’t go because he had to get a haircut and help his aunt move furniture,” Taylor said. Since she had a long day and didn’t have Nick by her side, Taylor decided to stay a little longer with a friend at the restaurant where the party was held. She texted Fowler to let him know. Panicked that his plans were going south, Fowler immediately texted back to tell her that he was really in the mood for sushi and asked if she would rather eat with him at home. When Taylor seemed reluctant, he name-dropped Pan-Asia, one of her favorite restau-rants, and she agreed. During dinner, Taylor was in a state over her bad day. She was oblivious to what was going on around her. In the middle of her cry-fest, Fowler pointed out that there were fortune cookies inside the takeout bag. “I thought that was strange, considering Pan-Asia doesn’t serve them,” Taylor said. However, she loves fortune cookies, and, looking for any ray of sunshine she could fi nd, she grabbed a cookie. She chose a for-tune that read, “Will you marry me?” Taylor threw it down, exclaiming “Well, that’s a sucky fortune!” To her, the universe was being extra mean on an already bad day by taunting her with a marriage proposal. When she fi nally looked up, she found Fowler beside her on one knee, declaring his love for her and urging her to open the second fortune cookie—his backup—that also read, “Will you marry me?” Taylor just repeated “Are you kidding?” and “Are

you for real?” several times. Finally, Fowler presented his future bride with a beauti-ful ring. As champagne fl owed, they made phone calls and, of course, changed their Facebook statuses. So what makes this couple special? What makes them believe their marriage will last? “We’re friends fi rst,” Taylor said. “We have fun together, and we complement each oth-er nicely.” For example, she loves to cook but hates wash-ing dishes, and Nick is, by his own admission, obsessive about cleanliness. She currently works for the Mississippi Center for Non-profi ts as the assistant director of community relations, han-dling things such as fundraising and communications. He is employed with the Veterans Business Administration as a service representative where he helps determine what sup-porter veterans will get. The pair will wed April 28, 2012, at the Holy Trinity St. John Greek Orthodox Church (5725 Pear Orchard Road, 601-355-6325) in a traditional Greek Orthodox marriage ceremony. The highlights of the ceremony are the Service of Betrothal, which is the blessing and exchanging of rings, and the Service of Crowning that includes prayers and the crowning—a ritual where the priest crowns the couple while offering a blessing. It also include scripture readings, offering of the common cup and the dance of Isaiah, where the priest leads the bride and groom around the altar three times to symbolize their fi rst steps to-gether as man and wife following in the path of the gospel. At the conclusion of the prayers, the priest joins the hands of the bride and groom. The couple holds hands un-til the end of the service to symbolize the union and the oneness of the couple. The ’50s and ’60s-inspired reception takes place at The Cedars (4145 Old Canton Road, 601-366-5552) in a beautiful outdoor setting.

If you haven’t seen the movie, you’ve probably heard of it. Tyler Perry’s comedy, “Jumping the Broom,” tells of two families of different social

and economic backgrounds united for a wedding. Among other disagreements, one of the key argu-ments is whether the couple will jump the broom, a practice where the bride and groom literally jump over a usually decorated broom while holding hands,after the ceremony. The groom’s family says it’s a tra-dition, passed down for generations, while the bride’s wealthier family says the practice is outdated and only serves as a reminder of slavery. The family of the fi lm’s bride had it about right. While jumping the broom is a well-known practice in the African American community, it does have a stigma from slavery days. There is some debate about the origin of the practice of couples jumping the broom. In Africa, Europe and the United States, couples practice the custom that dates back as far as the 1700s to the As-ante people of Ghana. In the West African Asante custom, the broom held spiritual meaning, signi-fying sweeping away past wrongs or removing evil spirits. It also served to show the bride’s willingness to clean the courtyard of the new home she joined. In Southwest England, Wales and in border areas be-tween Scotland and England, some couples verbally agreed to marry without exchanging legal contracts. Others jumped the broom at their threshold to make their union “offi cial” and create new households. In the African American community, the custom has mixed reviews. During the days of slavery, mar-riage between slaves was not legally recognized because marriage was a civil contract, and the country didn’t recognize slaves as citizens. Jumping the broom, always done before witnesses, served as an open declaration of settling down. After the Civil War, former slaves were legally recognized as citizens and were able to be married, so the practice was largely abandoned. A small number of African Americans continue to practice the custom, but the majority rejects it because it is a reminder of slavery. Ultimately, like any other wedding tradition, jumping the broom should not become a source for confl ict during the wedding-planning stage. Every couple is different. If you fi nd the practice is out-dated, do not feel forced or obligated to use it.

To Jump or Not?by Shameka Hayes-Hamilton

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Nick Fowler and Cari Taylor are set to wed April 28, 2012, in a traditional Greek Orthodox marriage ceremony.

by Shameka Hayes-Hamilton

For the Love of Greek and Sports

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Jumping the broom is an old tradition symbolizing the union between two people.