Hadassah and Shaun’s enchanted engagement session features a rustic chic white barn and beautiful gardens, creating the perfect romantic atmosphere!
Although they hit it off on their first date, Hadassah and Shaun didn’t reconnect until a few months later. After their second date, they didn’t let time pass by again and have been together ever since!
Shaun surprised Hadassah by proposing at a rooftop restaurant surrounded by close family and friends.
I was so overwhelmed by the attention that I was getting…I literally ran away for a second to the other side of the room and started to ball. Shaun managed to walk me back where he had the “will you marry me” sign and got down on one knee…
Hadassah
See the gorgeous details and learn more about their love story below!
- Couple: Hadassah & Shaun
- Occupations: Fashion Stylist / Mortgage Banker
- Wedding date: October 2nd, 2020
- Wedding location: MontClair Event Venue
- Location of Engagement shoot: The White Sparrow Barn
How did you meet?
Shaun and I met online four years ago. I had just graduated from college with my BA in Psychology and Shaun had just moved to Dallas, TX from Oklahoma. We both left our first date (March 2016) wanting to see each other. However, Shaun did not reach out until July 2016! Weird, right?! He felt like I was not going to stay in Dallas. Apparently, during our first date, I kept telling him how I missed my home country (Cote d’Ivoire) and how I was excited to travel to France that summer to go see my sister. That made him think that I was not going to settle in Dallas, and he was not interested in a long-distance relationship. When I did not get any text or call from him after our first date, I thought he did not like me and so I decided to just move on with my life. Besides, he is not the only bachelor in the country. I told myself that it was his loss. Lol. However, after my summer trip to France in July 2016, guess who comments on my snap story? Shaun! I acted like I did not remember who he was because you know…I had to play hard to get since he waited an eternity to reach out to me, but he clearly could not resist any longer after stalking me on social media. Shaun reached out and asked me on a second date that weekend. I acted like I was busy and made him wait for the following weekend. I just had to make him pay! Lol. We finally made our second date happen and we never left each other since!
Tell us your proposal story
The proposal happened on August 10th, 2019. I had just graduated with my MBA the day before. Shaun told me that he was going to take me to a fancy steakhouse restaurant to celebrate my MBA. So, I get all dolled up and we get to the restaurant, but I noticed that it was not a steakhouse, so I started to question him in the elevator because I had saved my appetite for a good steak! I was getting upset – a girl was hungry lol. There was a guy with a camera in the elevator, but it never crossed my mind that he was recording me. I thought of him as some random guy who was vlogging. But as the elevator opened up, I noticed the guy with the camera following us to the restaurant’s rooftop and as I turned the corner, I saw my sisters and so many of our friends standing across the room. It was at that very moment that I realized that he was going to propose! I was so overwhelmed by the attention that I was getting from strangers, servers, friends, and family that I literally ran away for a second to the other side of the room and started to ball. Shaun managed to walk me back where he had the “will you marry me” sign and got down on one knee. He asked me to marry him and I said yes!
Describe your engagement session
The engagement session was on September 12th, 2019. We were aiming for a royal magical enchanted theme. Hence, we decided to have it done in a beautiful vintage white barn. Its dramatic stairs provided us with the royalty flare theme that we were looking for while its beautiful oak trees and flower gardens added the desired enchanting magical scenery to the photos. The selection of our wardrobe for the engagement session was also centered around the royal magical enchanted theme. The flowery details on the dress matched with the flower garden of the venue, which completed the enchanting magical scenery while the all-white suit accentuated the royalty theme.
What did you do on your first date?
I had mentioned that I loved seafood during one of our first conversations. Shaun remembered and so he asked me out on our first date at a seafood and steak house restaurant in uptown Dallas called Eddie Vs. It was on a Saturday night. Shaun got there before me. When I got there, one could tell by his body language that he was smitten, but I was wondering still why he did not give me any compliment. Apparently, I walked in so confident that he could not think that I would consider a compliment from him. While we were both waiting to be seated, the server came and asked, “Is this Mrs. Brown?” (Shaun’s last name). It was the most awkward moment of our first date and we still laugh about it today! This is our first date and we are being asked if we are married. We both did not want to respond harshly to the server, but we also did not want to not say anything and look very desperate for marriage! At last, Shaun responded, “Actually no, but she is who I was waiting on.” I liked his response! We spent the rest of the night getting to know each other and there was no other awkward moment at all – just genuine connection.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?
We love to eat good food and discover new restaurants! When we go on vacation, we make sure that we do our research for the best food in the area. Sometimes it feels like we look forward to the food more than the actual vacation destination. During our early dating stages, all of our date plans revolved around food. It’s safe to say we are huge foodies!
Another thing that we love to do is travel. Surprisingly, Orlando has been one of our favorite vacation spots thus far (we’ve been there twice!). Europe, Bali, Hawaii, and many more are on our future travel list. Vacationing together taught us a lot about each other and was a major piece in our growth together as a couple. We learned so much about each other and grew in our understanding of each other more. There’s something about adventuring in an unfamiliar environment together that has added sparks to our relationship!
How has wedding planning been so far?
Wedding planning has been a roller coaster of emotions. During the first weeks, we were so excited to brainstorm ideas, venues, bridal party, and more. A couple of months after that, the feelings of being overwhelmed with so many decisions to make kicked in. That was when we realize how much of a blessing a wedding planner can be to couples especially during a pandemic. We are definitely thankful for our wedding planner, Darrell Colone! Covid-19 has not made it any easier to plan a wedding. It has been very challenging as we had to postpone our wedding to a later date however, we are thankful to God for the support of family, friends, and our wedding planner. We know that in the end everything will work out and we are excited about that.
What are you looking forward to most on your wedding day?
We are both looking forward to officially seal our love in front of God and we look forward to a great moment of celebration. Wedding planning has been even tougher with the pandemic so, we both look forward to celebrating in the presence of God, making it about us and nothing else, and just having a good time with our family and friends. Last but not least, we look forward to my wedding dress that is being custom-made by one of the biggest wedding dress designers in the Dallas area. We are also excited to see our magical décor vision and wedding theme (royalty) come to life and us being the main characters in it. It is going to be glorious and we just can’t wait!
Vendors
- Photographer: Youngb Kim (IG: @youngbphoto)
- Wedding Planner: Darrell Colone (IG: @eventswithdarrell)
- MUA: Cymone (@cymonebeatsqueens)
- Dress: Teuta Matoshi (IG: @teutamatoshiduriqi)
- Groom Suit: The Black Tux (IG:@theblacktux)
- Venue: The White Sparrow Barn (IG: @thewhitesparrow)
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