You may remember Semiko and Kendric from their beautiful engagement session. Since then, the two who became engaged at a National Physique Committee competition, decided on a sultry Hollywood vibe for their intimate black tie wedding. Semiko took a brief break from wedding planning to serve overseas in Afghanistan. When she returned, a red wedding – not that kind of red wedding – followed.
Wedding Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015
Wedding Location: The Houston City Club in Houston, TX
First Dance Song: Alicia Keys and Maxwell’s “Fire We Make” & Usher’s “There Goes My Baby”
Favorite Item on the Menu: Our wedding cake was too die for!
Tell us about how you met and all about the proposal!
Kendric and I met at a nightclub…the place that I said I would never meet and seriously date a guy. I saw Kendric and I was immediately taken aback. There was something about him that intrigued me. Long story short, for the first time ever, I had a little too much to drink and Kendric assisted me to my car. I ran into him in a local record store when I was with a friend and I immediately noticed him and tried to avoid him because I didn’t know how much of that night he’d remember. I was very ashamed! Well, he noticed me trying to avoid him and walked up to me saying, “Hey, I know you.” I immediately replied “No you don’t.” We went back and forth and he finally stated that he knew me from that infamous night that he assisted me to the car. I denied that it was me and he insisted that it was. I finally broke down and said, “For God’s sake it was me, but I have never needed someone to help me to my car ever!” He laughed and told me that was okay and that he wasn’t worried about it so I shouldn’t be. We went on to talk to each other for a good twenty minutes in the record store before we walked our separate ways.
When my friend and I got to the car, she said, “Hey, I got his number.” She said that he volunteered to help pick up/hand out the rest of the flyers for a comedy show that she was promoting the following weekend. A few days later, my friend called me and said he asked for my number and she wouldn’t give it to him unless I said it was okay. I responded with “Hell yeah, give him my number!” He literally called me 5-10 minutes later and we talked for hours.
Kendric: Our engagement took place at a National Physique Committee competition. We have always worked out together, but training for a competition allowed us to get to know each other on another level… Believe me if you and the person you love can make it through a competition diet and training without appearing on “The First 48 or Snapped” then it is meant to be! I love her and couldn’t imagine not spending the rest of my life without her. So I got on one knee and asked if she would give me the honor of being her husband on stage in front of friends and family. It was a great!
Wedding Style
I got my dress from Weddings by Debbie in Katy,TX and I was wowed by their showroom. I definitely felt like a bride! My dress was very modest yet a reflection of me. Glamorous yet simple! It was a Sottero-Midgley Couture. I took one of my bridesmaids and my wedding planner with me. I couldn’t bear more than one or two people with me. I am very indecisive and I wouldn’t have gotten a dress before my wedding with ten different opinions during my dress shopping so I kept it simple.
Help a bride-to-be out!
Brides: It’s not just your wedding. If he has ideas, please do your best to incorporate them in the wedding. This will keep him happy. He isn’t going to want much, so just appease him when possible.
Grooms: I know you are used to being a superhero but your bride will have your head spinning with last minute “honey dos” so rely on your groomsmen to do the last minute running around. You don’t have to do it all.
Brides and Grooms: Don’t sweat the small stuff! If you do, you will not enjoy the time you have together leading up to the wedding. Focus on spending the rest of your life with your soulmate. We stressed over many things, primarily people. Do not do it! I repeat. Do not do it! Don’t worry about who can and can not come, who didn’t RSVP, who made you upset etc…. because the people who are meant to celebrate with you will be there to support you and you will have a blast! Keep the focus on you and your soulmate and not other people.
Finally, surround yourself with people who want to see you win! Get rid of people who are not making your wedding memorable in a positive way even if they are in the bridal party. They will expose themselves. There will be so many moving pieces leading up to your wedding and you will not have time to spend it arguing with someone who doesn’t like the dresses that were picked out months ago, who sits where, etc. If they aren’t adding to your happiness during this special time in your life, get rid of them.
Vendors:
Wedding Planner & Designer: Ultimate Events Unlimited, LLC
Photographer: Ken Maurice Studios
Videography: DKM Films
Linens & Decor: What’s the Occasion Linens
Flowers: The Secret Floral Garden
Wedding Cake: Supreme Kakes
DJ, Emcee, Uplighting: Signature EvenTx
Venue: Houston City Club
Beautiful couple and wedding! Great advice!
Beautiful wedding, loved the decor and color options!
Book Ultimate Events Unlimited with Caution!
My fiancé and I had the absolute worst experience with “Ultimate Events Unlimited”. Kristina, the owner is incredibly unprofessional and may be the most undesirable planner in the business.
We really tried to seek out a planner that was knowledgeable and had years of experience because we wanted our wedding to be memorable and enjoyable for us and our guests. In our search, a close friend recommended “Ultimate Events Unlimited” and after some research we chose this company to make our dreams a reality. Kristina’s resume was extensive and seemed very legit and credible.
Upon our initial consultation, we liked what we heard – signed a contract and paid a $1500 deposit on May 27, 2020.
We were excited; we were anxious; we were on our way to planning our big day.
Almost a month went by and then the venue search finally began. We were optimistic though because the company came highly recommended and had a resume to back it up!
As stated, we signed our contract and paid our deposit on May 27, 2020 and expected to begin immediately but didn’t receive a venue list until the beginning of July. After receiving the list, we narrowed down our choices and she booked us our venue tours.
This is where the ordeal went south.
The day of a showing, my fiancé and I arrived to the venue on time with great anticipation. We sat outside the venue for a few minutes and finally realized no one was there. We immediately contacted her as she was the point of contact between both parties. She stated that she couldn’t speak with us immediately but would contact the venue. We also contacted the venue as well, because we were still there waiting. They then told us that Kristina did not reply to that confirmation email and because of that blur in communication, the appointment was canceled.
Very disheartening.
There were other instances: Kristina was not truthful about the cost of Bowery House and Garden – price was very inflated, and she told a lie about not being able to contact Jennings Trace venue (but we were able to contact them without incident), as well.
At this point we were upset and ready to move on from “Ultimate Events Unlimited”. We could not continue to be in a business partnership with someone who lacks people skills, and has integrity issues. I reached out to her to inquire about a refund because “the work she had done” was unsatisfactory and very displeasing.
We worked with her for 1 month and 18 days and received nothing worth a deposit of $1500. In her response to my request to terminate services, she once again didn’t take ownership of her mistakes and offered no compensation.