Introducing the Rose Hubbies! Featured in MunaLuchi Bride magazine, Issue No. 26, Jeffrey and Corddarryl’s 2-part regal bespoke engagement session is filled with stunning suiting moments, romance, and laughter!
Corddarryl (aka Corey) and Jeffrey’s love story began one afternoon in 2015 when Jeffrey was leaving his apartment. He noticed Corey delivering mail and said hello. When he came, Corey was still delivering packages. Jeffrey took the opportunity to approach him and they exchanged social media. That night, they spoke for 3 hours! And so began their journey to forever. Fast forward to Jeffrey’s 30th birthday, Corey began thinking about what to get him.
I said to myself “what can I gift (Jeffrey) outside of just throwing him a party?” I immediately thought “what do you give a person that’s just as picky as you are, and has almost everything?” I instantly said to myself “a ring.””
– Corey (The Groom)
When October 25th arrived, Corey asked Jeffrey to be his forever and of course, he said yes! To celebrate their nuptials, the couple had 2 regal & bespoke engagement sessions in Atlanta, Georgia and in Charlotte, North Carolina. Featuring two different suiting looks, the pair sported sleek, custom-made attire and posed lovingly before crisp fall backdrops.
More sweet details on their love story and photos from their regal bespoke engagement session below!
- Couple: Corddarryl Rose and Jeffrey Williamson
- Occupations: Corddarryl works for the United States Postal Service and Jeffrey is a Photographer and Content Creator
- Wedding date: September, 4, 2022
- Wedding location: Stateview Hotel, Raleigh NC
- Engagement session #1: Atlanta, GA, at the Arthur Blank Foundation
- Engagement Session #2: Charlotte, NC
How they met…
I (Jeffrey) met Corddarryl (Corey for short) while leaving my apartment with my best friend/best man that had come into town for a visit. This was in 2015. We were heading to run a few errands and I saw him at my apartment mailboxes delivering mail. He caught my eye and I said Hello.
Once we returned from our errands, Corey was still delivering mail. We were gone for almost 2 hours so once I saw he was still there, I went to drop off items at my apartment and I told my best friend that I was gonna go back out and talk to him. We exchanged social media handles and he later DM’d me his number and we talked for about 3 hours that first night.
Their first date…
Corey cooked for me. I was hooked lol. I think it was wings and Mac and cheese. The first date we went to publicly was Sushi Blues in Downtown Raleigh, NC. This is still one of our favorite places to dine. The sushi rolls are named after Jazz Icons and songs. Our favorites are Sweet Home Alabama, the Etta James, and the Coltrane.
The proposal…
Jeffrey was approaching his 30th Birthday in 2020 and I came up with an idea to throw him a surprise birthday celebration. I began planning in January 2020 and started reaching out to his family and friends about what I wanted for him. I wanted this to be a token of my appreciation for how he completely came into my life and changed it for the better.
After figuring out the logistics and how I wanted things to be, I said to myself “what can I gift him outside of just throwing him a party?” I immediately thought “what do you give a person that’s just as picky as you are, and has almost everything?” I instantly said to myself “a ring.” So I turned this celebration into not only a birthday celebration but also a proposal. I felt after 5yrs of dating it was now time to make a true commitment to my love. So on top of planning for the party, I then had to figure out how I would propose to him as well (The Pressure).
The plan…
I came up with this amazing idea to reach out to one of Jeffrey’s industry colleagues, Jamaal Torrance (who I had never met) through social media, and I introduced myself to him. He knew exactly who I was. We then scheduled a call and I informed him about the surprise birthday celebration that I was planning, but that I was also going to propose at the event and needed his assistance in making it a proposal to remember.
He was instantly on board and went into creative mode and came up with an amazing idea for the video. After months of planning with Jamaal, I snuck and finally met him in person to shoot the proposal video, it was an amazing filming experience and it turned out exactly how I wanted it.
Day of the proposal…
His birthday, October 25th, approached and I was a nervous wreck filled with many emotions. I had been planning tirelessly for 9 months. In the midst of planning we got hit with a pandemic that required me to make several changes. I had to pick up the engagement ring that day that I had been hiding, and try to stay as normal as I possibly could while making sure I didn’t throw out any signals – it was tough!
As he and I prepared ourselves that evening, Jeffrey was under the impression we were going to this new five-star restaurant that had just opened in the area. It just so happened to be near the hotel where the party was happening. I got to the restaurant and called his sister to let her know that we were there and asked if she arrived with their mother. She said no and that we had to pick them up from their hotel (that was the queue to let them know we were close).
On the #ROADTOROSE…
We arrived at the hotel and Jeffrey was trying to piece things together. We entered the room and everyone was there belting out “Surprise”. After several hugs and everyone welcoming us in, it was now time to do the big proposal. The video that Jamaal filmed of me began to play and there we were upfront watching.
As he watched me in the video, I stepped behind him and prepared myself to get down on one knee. The video ended and he turned around not knowing I would be on bended knee and he immediately lost it. His mother and sister walked up with the ring box and handed it to me. At that moment, I asked if he would be willing to spend the rest of his life with me. He said “Yes!”, softly through tears, and now we’re here on the #ROADTOROSE.
When they knew they found “the one”…
Corddarryl: One of the characteristics that allowed me to know that Jeffrey was the right one for me was when I realized how his goal-oriented personality connected with mine. It connected in such a way that I had never experienced with any other man. I mean we literally had most of the same common goals that we both were seeking to achieve. From the moment we had our very first in-depth conversation, I knew that we both were truly driven by purpose. I’m a firm believer that if there’s an individual whom you’re attracted to or find interest in that can push, encourage, empower, and motivate you in ways like never before, hunny, that’s usually a good sign. So I snatched him up quickly!
Jeffrey: I knew that Corey was the one once I started to feel incomplete when we were apart. I began caring and thinking of him in small ways every day about what I could help him with. When we met, he had only been at the Post Office for about 3 months and he was working crazy long hours. I would try to prepare dinner for him (really pick up dinner for him because I would rather not cook), wash his work uniforms so he would have one less task to do once he got off work late, and take his then dog out for walks and feed him (RIP Boosie).
Another reason I know he is the one is that over the last 3 years, I have experienced so much loss and death in my family. From my grandmother, the matriarch of my family, to so many cousins, aunts and uncles. Each of whom I was very close to and he stood beside me through each tragedy. He was there to hold me up and hold my hand and pray with me and my family’s strength. He showed compassion beyond anything that I had seen by cooking meals for my family and just being there. I am the more emotional one in the relationship so him being by my side as my prayer warrior and confidant speaks volumes to his character and who he is as a person.
Regal & bespoke engagement session…
With me (Jeffrey) being a wedding and engagement photographer, I knew I wanted something regal, bespoke, classy, and something that not only represented us but something that was a tasteful tease of how glamorous the actual wedding would be. I knew that I didn’t want the setting to be at the same old photo locations in NC that I would normally take my own clients to, so we had to think outside the box. We ordered bespoke suits to make a statement and set the tone for our Save the Dates and for our big event.
Favorite thing to do as a couple…
We love to do everything together. We love eating out, watching reality TV, spending time with family, decorating, traveling, and exploring. Vacations where there is water and attending concerts are also favorite activities! We’ve seen so many of our favorites live. Beyonce, Toni Braxton, TLC, SWV, Gladys Knight, and Fantasia. Corddaryl even got a chance to perform live with the legendary Patti Labelle when she brought him on stage. He is a diehard Patti fan!
Wedding planning so far…
Wedding planning has been long, exciting, challenging, and inspirational. Not even 3 days after the engagement, we began looking at venues and dates. It will be exciting to finally see where our investments have gone too. I (Jeffrey), photograph weddings often, and it’s so weird to be on the other side of this process, selecting vendors and planning. We are both very particular about what we like and want. Corey is more so the planner than myself. He loves thinking outside of the box in ways that I would never consider. I mean the man had a giant ice sculpture carved at my 30th Bday Proposal party!
What they’re looking forward to most on their wedding…
First and foremost, we do not and have not ever referred to our upcoming event as a “Gay Wedding” but rather a celebration of love. We are aware that 95% of our guests have never witnessed two members of the same sex exchanging nuptials. So our ultimate goal is to set the standard and enlighten others on other ways that a healthy love looks like.
We are also looking forward to seeing the entire day come together with the attire, designs, decor, and having our huge families together under one roof celebrating us. We are excited to see our Groomsmaids slay in their adornment and our Groomsmen serve up the swag. In total, we have 17 in our wedding party. We are even more excited for our life together after the wedding and planning our family.
Looking for more regal bespoke engagement inspiration?
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Vendors:
- Photographers: Cxllab Productions & Eleven03 Photography
- Videographer: Howard Photo and Film
- Grooms’ Attire: Audacious By Arminius
- Makeup Artists: Bianca Willis of Bella Beauty Bar LLC & Jhalessa Cameron of Silent H Makeup
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