Distance could not sever the connection between Darius and Tia’s hearts.
They met while serving in the Navy. Tia shares, “He was stationed in Virginia while I was stationed in North Carolina, but that did not stop us from seeing each other. We would take turns driving to see each other on the weekends and any break that we were granted.”
Their consistency and determination paid off. Darius reminisces, “She showed me what a true friendship and commitment was. Driving to see each other 4 hours for a day and some change was always worth it, and we never missed a beat alternating between weekends.”
After two years of dating, they got married on July 27, 2015 in Newnan, GA, in front of their immediate family. It was an intimate and beautiful wedding, but Tia wanted to do it up for their 5th anniversary. So they are planning a luxurious vow renewal to reaffirm their love to each other. To kick off their celebration, they decided to have a glamorous anniversary shoot.
Tia and Darius exemplify the beauty of marriage. We cannot wait to see their vow renewal! For now, read more of their inspiring love story and see all of their lovely photos captured by Forever Photography below.
- Couple: TiaKieshia & Darius Coleman
- Location of Anniversary shoot: Birmingham Botanical Garden- Birmingham, AL
How did you two first meet?
Hello every one, here’s our story! Darius and I both joined the Navy in 2012. We were in basic and Corps school together. However, we never crossed paths despite hanging with the same group of people until we were sent to C-School in Yorktown, Virginia in 2013. Once there, we just moved about our day to day life until one day a group of us were taking a break. He and a few others were talking about where they were from, and I heard him say Alabama. I interjected and said, “Hey I’m from Georgia,” and that one moment changed our lives forever.
After class, he usually would go to the gym, but that day he decided to stand at my room door and talk. We haven’t stopped talking since that day! We literally became inseparable in that moment! We would later go on to graduate. He was stationed in Virginia while I was stationed in North Carolina, but that did not stop us from seeing each other. We would take turns driving to see each other on the weekends and any break that we were granted.
Then on Friday October 24, 2014 he took me to Yorktown Beach as it was “our” spot. We strolled the shoreline talking and laughing then we sat down. I actually sat on the ring when it was in his pocket. He proceeded to untie his shoe just to tie it back and then popped the question!!!!! I was a bit dramatic with my reaction, but I said yes! On July 27, 2015 we got married in Newnan, GA in front of our immediate family. Now, we feel it’s time to do all over again on our fifth year anniversary in front of our whole family.
What makes your relationship special?
Darius: We motivate each other to be the best us we can be. One day Tia had us make a vision board to set goals for the following year. This to me helped us align our visions for our marriage and brought us closer to be able to see what we can achieve as one instead of trying to do it on our own. The sense of accomplishment that came with checking off all of your goals before your set time frame was unmatched.
Tia: Patience and communication, that is what I believe makes our relationship stronger. We started out as a long-distance relationship, and Darius taught me the importance of those two things. Once I realized that they were important in building a foundation, I knew I had to work on them and it became easier for me, natural like.
How did you know your partner was the one?
Darius: I realized I was in love with Tia after we had gotten to pick orders. She was going to be stationed in North Carolina, and I was going to be in Virginia. I knew at that moment I didn’t want to lose her ever. She showed me what a true friendship and commitment was. Driving to see each other 4 hours for a day and some change was always worth it, and we never missed a beat alternating between weekends.
Tia: I knew he was the when I could not get rid of him lol. His consistency and determination was unmatched! There was no other person I was willing to drive four hours for one way every other weekend just to spend a day and a half with. He was worth all of the effort and more.
Give us all the details about the proposal.
All that day on October 24, 2014, Darius was acting really strange and I kept asking him “what’s wrong?” he would say “nothing I’m fine, just tired”, so we took a nap and when we got up, he said “let’s go the beach”, we always went to the beach so that was not an odd thing to say. When we got there we walked around and then we stopped on the edge of the water, and sat on a bench there (I sat on the ring box, lol). We get up he proceeds to bend over to untie his shoe just to tie it back, and I knew then what he was about to do lol. He gets on one knee and pops the question, and yes, I was a bit dramatic in my reaction lol. I said yes of course!
We’re all about the bling… Tell us all about that ring!
Darius: Diamond and Black Sapphire clusters set in white gold.
Tia: White gold setting with a princess cut diamond with a halo in between a white gold and diamond enhancer.
Are you excited to start planning your vow renewal?
When we first got engaged I started planning a big wedding, soon after I quickly realized how stressful that process was between me being in North Carolina, him in Virginia, my mom in Georgia. So, I halted all wedding plans for a later time. We then opted for a small intimate ceremony with just our immediate families and a family trip to Disney World. Now, five years later I have planned a huge vow renewal to reaffirm our love for one another in luxury grand style donning the colors of navy blue and gold.
Vendors
- Photography: Forever Photography
- Venue: Birmingham Botanical Garden
- Makeup Artist: Lysa J
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