You never know when and where you’ll find true love. This Augusta BSB bride was in the right place at the right time when she met her husband. From being trained by him at the gym to marrying him in a beautiful wedding dipped in gold, this southern love story is what dreams are made of.
“Stacey and I began dating about 5 years ago after an introduction that started with us meeting at Anytime Fitness. I had a desire to get in better shape and was seeking a gym atmosphere that was small and where I wouldn’t run the risk of trying to get picked up by random guys. Little did I know that this decision would lead to me meeting my husband.”
“When joining the gym, I asked to be assigned a personal trainer and was asked if I had a preference for a male or female trainer. Since I was not there to meet a man, I simply said that I did not have a preference for a male or female trainer and was ultimately assigned Mr. Stacey Bryant as my trainer. Stacey now recalls that he noticed the first day I walked in the gym, still dressed in a pink dress (what I wore to work that day) simply seeking my membership. Unfortunately, I do not recall seeing him that day.”
“From our first training session at the gym together, he swept me off my feet – what I mean by that is he literally almost had me passed out on the floor because his fitness training session was so intense. He is an amazing trainer and the harder he pushed, the harder I worked, too embarrassed to tell him that I was barely able to get through the workout, however, by the end of the work-out I almost passed out on the floor and had to sit down and put my head down on a table to compose myself. I recall him slyly asking during this time, “do I need to call your husband to come and get you?”
“Although, I believe it was simply his attempt to try to find out if I was married or not, he says he was simply showing his concern. We worked for several months together, 3 times a week, before I finally agreed to go out with him. Our date consisted of dinner and “Jumping the Broom” movie (how appropriate and telling for the future), although, our first unofficial date was at church, Second Baptist Church in Aiken. During the time when I was still trying to decide if I was going to go out with him, he remarked, what if I simply showed up at your church one Sunday, you wouldn’t stop me from sitting beside you in church, would you? Of course, I said I would not and that became our first unofficial date.”
“Our Christian faith has very much been the foundation for our relationship and was certainly a huge part of what drew me to him – a man of God. Our story has included me moving a couple of times from the Augusta area while he has remained in the Augusta area (currently in Mississippi), and our love for each other has continued to grow throughout these transitions. After dating for almost 4 years, Stacey came to Mississippi for Valentine’s Day weekend 2015 to propose.”
“On the Saturday he was visiting, I noticed all day that he appeared to have a lot of nervous energy and knew something was probably up and kept wondering when was this big moment going to happen. Finally, as we were almost on our way out the door for a Valentine’s Day dinner, all of a sudden he was down on one knee, requesting “will you please accept this ring” (almost like an episode of the bachelor). I gladly accepted, and we began planning the dream wedding over the next year. The wedding day finally came on April 16, 2016, and it was the most beautiful and also calmest day because I knew in my heart I was marrying the man that God placed in my life to love me forever.”
VENDORS
Bridal Dress, Veil, and Tiara
Bridal Path
Jackson, Mississippi
Groom’s Tuxedo
Simon’s Formalwear
Augusta, Georgia
Bridal Party Dresses
Azazie
Mountain View, California
Groomsmen Attire
Men’s Wearhouse
Augusta, Georgia
Wedding Cake and Groom’s Cake
Jennifer’s Cakes
North Augusta, South Carolina
Catering, Floral Design, and Overall Décor
Berry’s Catering
North Augusta, South Carolina
Wedding Party Transportation
Celebrity Limos
Evans, Georgia
DJ
Soundsations
North Augusta, SC
Photography
Picture This Photography
North Carolina
Videography
Miller Video Productions
Augusta, GA
Make-up and Hair
Latoya Thomas
North Augusta, South Carolina
Bride’s Engagement Ring
Jared
Augusta, Georgia
Bride’s Wedding Band
Windsor Jewelers
Augusta, Georgia
Groom’s Wedding Band
Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry
Ridgeland, Mississippi
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Michiel is a Black Southern Belle living a lowcountry life. I love all things fashion, home decor and southern! When I am not running around doing fun stuff for Black Southern Belle, I live in antique stores and have a minor obsession with historic homes :)
