South Carolina Engagement Session by Richard Bell Photography: Nakisha + Devin

There is nothing like finding your soul mate over a heart warming plate of soul food.  Nakisha and Devin met as recruiters at a college fair, and their first date was at Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons  restaurant in Savannah, GA.  Years later, their relationship came full circle, when Devin took Nakisha to a restaurant, got down on one knee and pledged to be her’s for life.  Their engagement shoot  at the Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, SC is full of southern charm and natural beauty.  The adoring couple and bright landscape was exquisitely captured by Wanda Cavazos of Richard Bell Photography. The contentedness of Nakisha and Devin shines through their smiles; they will fill your heart with joy!

• Bride: Nakisha Scott, Therapeutic Counselor at Carolina Children’s Home
• Groom: Devin Randolph, Assistant Vice President/Director of Residential Life at Claflin University
• Date of Shoot: 11/03/2012
• Location: Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens- Charleston, SC

How They Met

From the Bride: Once upon a time not long ago, when people wore pajamas and lived life slow, I met a beautiful man that captured my heart. Devin and I met in Augusta, GA, in August 2008, where we both were working as college recruiters at a college fair. I had never seen Devin during my travels and to be quite honest, I really didn’t want to say much to him, because he had arrived very late to the college fair. Late arrivals to college fairs equaled “like, are you serious?” stares, from other recruiters. That day we only said, hello, and smiled at each other. Honestly, I thought about him after I left, not much, but there was something about him and I had hoped that I would see him again. 

As God would orchestrate it, on September 19, 2008, we met again at a college fair in Atlanta. Well, let me rewind just a bit…during those few weeks since I had last laid eyes on Devin, I came in contact with a few students who I identified would have been a better fit at the university that Devin worked at (side eye) (all a part of my plan), since the students were from Orangeburg (the same area as the university) and I knew the reputation of the school. Okay, fast forward…during the fair in Atlanta, we had a little down time before the next group of students arrived. This was my opportunity to speak to Devin about the students (notice students is listed first) and then to find out a little about him. We spoke for about five minutes, exchanged business cards and immediately hit it off. The next day, Devin sent me email and the rest is history! Our first date was a few weeks later at Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons in Savannah, GA.

The Proposal

From the Groom: A couple years after Kisha and I started dating seriously, we decided to pursue graduate school in New York. I attended Cornell University and Kisha attended Syracuse University. We lived an hour apart, and every single day that we spent up there, I thought about the perfect proposal because I was ready to seal the deal on this great girl and knew she deserved something special. Since Kisha has a very calm personality I knew that she would appreciate something simple, but meaningful. I remember it like it was yesterday, it was raining the entire day and things were not looking good. I asked her if she would like to take a break from our studies and Ramen Noodles to partake in much needed “end of semester” dinner. When we arrived at Attillo’s restaurant in Syracuse, NY we were seated by a huge bay window and I started to tell her how appreciative I was of her and admired her faith and how she made me a better man. I asked her for a hug and as we met in front of the table , I knelt down and asked her to marry me. As I knelt down, I remembered seeing a rainbow through the window affirming God’s approval of our relationship. The date was June 24, 2011 in Syracuse, NY.

Engagement Shoot Inspiration

We called our engagement shoot, “Crazy in Love”. Our e-session was at the historic Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mt. Pleasant, SC. We love the outdoors and also loved the bright landscape of the venue.

Loving You is Easy Cause You’re Beautiful 

The Groom… I love that Nakisha is patient with me and that in her, I want for nothing. 

The Bride…I love that Devin is a man of faith and loves me even as Christ loves the church. He would sacrifice his life for me as if it came to it. There is a feeling of safety/protection that I cannot even explain that I feel in him.

• Photographer:  Richard Bell Photography – Wanda Cavazo
• Make-Up:  L’Tonya Scott Makeup Artistry
• Hair:  NyKeisha Footman of Divine Beauty Hair Salon