Our Wedding

NUDGINE + JIMKELLYBy Whitney Summer11.11.10Floral Park, NY

Elegantly dressed in a white A-line ball gown, accented with a hand crafted crystal broach, Nudgine Louis wanted nothing more than for her husband-to-be, Jimkelly, to cry in amazement when he saw her walk down the aisle.  Although Jim didn't immediately cry, he said his heart skipped a beat as he watched his beautiful br ide gracefully walk towards him with her uncle at her side.    After months of planning and anticipation, Nudgine and Jim tied the knot at The United Methodist Church of Floral Park on Nov. 11, 2010 while friends and family celebrated with them on their special day. It was partly because of their love for the church that the couple met four years ago.  At the time, Jim, 26, was a bass player and joined his best friend, a piano player, to perform one Sunday.  Nudgine, 27, met him that day and admits that she was immediately drawn to his fun personality and unusual name. The two, however, didn't think they would cross paths again after that initial meeting. Soon, though, Jim began attending the church more regularly and would search for Nudgine in the crowd.  If she missed a Sunday service, Jim would be the first to call to see if she was okay.   Eventually, Jim asked Nudgine if he could take her out, to which she happily consented.  The couple enjoyed their first date at a diner,

where they discussed their shared Haitian background and interests late into the evening.  Nudgine said their relationship progressed from dinners and spotting each other in church, to seeing one another almost every day.  When the time came to propose, Jim decided to take Nudgine back to where they had their first date.  On that night at the diner, he asked her if she remembered how they met.  When they got back to the car, he asked her to be his wife. Their wedding day would begin bright and early at 7 am on November 11th. Nudgine went to her favorite hair salon for a classic up-do: her hair pulled into a bun with a thin braid wrapped around it.  While the bridesmaids made their way to her home to get dressed altogether, Jim's groomsmen met him at his house.  Nudgine knew there was no other place she would rather prepare than her mother's house. "I lived in that home for almost 20 years," she said.  "I wanted to feel as comfortable as possible because I knew that I was already going to be under a lot of stress."   Both homes were buzzing with excitement as the final hours before the wedding approached.  Jim and his groomsmen got dressed in their charcoal and blue double-breasted suits, paired with apricot orange ties. Afterwards, they went out to take photos and wait for the women to

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complete their final preparations.  At Nudgine's home, photographer and good fr iend Kenson Noel , came by to photograph the women as they applied their make-up and put on their dresses.  In one of the upstairs bedrooms, Nudgine carefully slipped into her wedding gown, afterward remarking that she couldn't bel ieve that the day was actual ly happening.  "It's hard to explain the feeling, I was a bit overwhelmed." While the bridal party made their way to the church, Nudgine and Jim's family and friends filed into their seats.  The sunlight streamed through the antique stained glass windows, illuminating the white flowers that adorned the pillars and pew chairs.  Filled with excitement, Nudgine was determined that no mishap on her big day would effect her mood.   She remembered that Jim was in full support and reassured her many times that everything was going to be perfect.  The ceremony commenced

with Jim making his way down the aisle eagerly awaiting his bride.  As the rear facing doors of

the old chapel slowly opened reveal ing the bride in her shimmering gown, those attending were compelled to tears. Taking her first steps toward her pat ient ly waiting husband to be, her gentle grace down the aisle seemed effortless. As if she had rehearsed this moment all her life. With Nudgine, now at the alter, Jim’s nerves subsided and he could not believe how

beautiful she looked.  The two stood hand-in-hand as the pastor read their handwritten vows.  When it was time to kiss the bride, Jim pulled Nudgine close and they embraced for the first time as husband and wife.  "I was literally in awe..." Nudgine reflected on their first kiss.   The newlyweds walked back down the aisle together, radiant and laughing, to Chris Brown's "Waited My Whole Life," as guests took pictures and cheered.  The wedding party then made their way to a nearby garden where photographers Angel and Shanti, captured the shared joy against the backdrop of a setting sun and all its dazzled hues.       The new couple later headed to the reception

held at Sandcastles Caterers in Long Island, New York, where Haitian music flowed through the halls.  The two never left each other 's s ides as J im quiet ly reminded Nudgine throughout the night that they would be together forever.  The guests crowded around Jim and Nudgine as they took their first dance to Baby Face's, "Every Time I Close My Eyes".  The newlyweds, listened to the lyrics, closed their eyes and got lost moment.  The Italian catering hall served a four-course-meal as family members wished them happiness and success in their marriage.  

Before slipping away to their honeymoon at the end of the night, Nudgine pulled Jim close and whispered, "we did it."  Jim looked lovingly at his new wife and smiled in quiet agreement.

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“We Did It”