...where I go, you go also--either joined in hand or in my heart

Vincent and I had our first date at the famous Juniors on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. He came dressed to impress. Well it worked, I was impressed but he was late. After sitting down over a cup of tea and appetizer, we noticed an immediate connection. When I excused myself to go to the restroom, I gave him the opportunity to rethink his decision to see me again as well as my own. I [Vincent] believe she went to the restroom so I could appreciate her strong legs. When I returned it was confirmed that a second date was inevitable. I told him I had a meeting and our evening would have to be cut short. He understood and walked me across the street to LIU where the meeting I was attending was taking place. A gentleman from the very beginning he did not walk away until I was out of his eyesight.

Over the next several days, we frequently communicated via telephone, and shared numerous emails throughout the day. [Vincent] Playing alarm clock each morning, I looked forward to hearing her voice. Always looking forward to the day and her sunny disposition, I began to call her Sunshine. Finally, we confirmed out next meeting date would be July 4th. Before this date we began developing a clear understanding of each other through lengthy conversations. When July 4th finally arrived we were like old friends. The day was complete with Brunch at the Kitchenette, a movie in Manhattan, a walk around the Financial Center boardwalk, wine a friend’s home and last but not least a Grimaldis Pizza and fireworks by the Brooklyn Bridge. Truly a beautiful day, the night ended with us sharing our first kiss. Well I [Vincent] tricked her into our first kiss. Anyway she loved it! LOL! That kiss also sealed it in my book; she was mine forever, she just didn’t know it yet!

As the summer progressed each weekend was planned together. We danced at the Soul Summit in Fort Green Park, BBQ at Phyllis and Venice's and anything culturally related, we attended. It was clear we both enjoyed summer in NY. We held hands and shared a love for blue chips and hummus (no canola oil). I got him hooked on Trader Joes pizza and scallops in pesto sauce.

My birthday was a week away and little did I know he had many plans in the works. Every day he presented me with a gift; from poems, to a gift certificates to a nail salon, a Broadway show and more! It was awesome and I was pleasantly surprised. I think he spoiled me. I didn't want the fun to end.

As the fall season approached we held conversations about marriage and children. We both agreed that we both believed that marriage was something we both wanted in our future. Before Vincent and I met he was shopping for a home in New Jersey. Over time he began to include me in his search for a property to purchase. Early on I thought to ask him if he would consider looking in Brooklyn for a property, but I did not want to push him. However spending time in Brooklyn, he dropped NJ like a hot potato and Brooklyn became the main focus of his property search. He quickly realized Brooklyn had changed and it was not the Brooklyn he grew up in. This became something we did together every weekend. What an experience for us both! It was fun and challenging. She would suggest an area and I would immediately say No! She would suggest another area and I would say Heck No! She would suggest yet another neighborhood and I would say NOOOOOOOO. But two weeks later, I would say hun, what about that home we saw in….? I did that so many times—you can’t image.

We shared the cooking tasks for Thanksgiving dinner and invited friends over for an intimate gathering. For Christmas we went house hopping, where we both introduced our love to family and friends. The love surrounded us everywhere we went, which made it clear that he was my life long friend and she was mine.

Every Christmas he mentioned that he attended Alvin Ailey. He asked me if I would I like to go. Of course you all know what my answer was. He bought tickets for the weekend performance following Christmas and I was excited. When the day finally came he met me at my house and he wanted to go for appetizers at Juniors before the show. I thought we should eat after, but I agreed and went along. He was acting a little different but I just ignored it. Then he said he wanted to take the train. It was cold! I looked at him a little different because I thought this was strange for him. He explained that the train would let us off very near to the theater. He was the Alvin Ailey connoisseur so I kept my questions to myself and conceded. He got front row seats! WOW, what a treat, you could almost touch their feet. I was on a high after the show.

Several weeks leading up to the Alvin Ailey show, Felicia and I had some very passionate discussions. In many of our discussions we each needed to lift our voice to be heard. LOL! What Felicia did not know, I was interrogating her! I would ask her question after question, often about things we had previously discussed. I would ask her about marriage, children, work. On Tuesday and I would ask her about our relationship on Wednesday and I would ask her only about marriage and work on Thursday and so on for about two weeks. As she grew frustrated, my own insecurity grew. As it grew I sought assurances from her. So while I plotted and interrogated, I got nothing. However, when I prayed I got everything.

[Felicia] So after the show, we walked to the train and talked about the pieces we saw. On the train we read the program until we got to the City Hall stop on the R train. He said lets get off and walk across the bridge. This time I had to do a double take. But he reminded me that we should be spontaneous. I still gave him reasons that this was not the time to be spontaneous. My new boots with heals that can get caught between the boards on the Brooklyn Bridge.....! It’s cold....! I had a few other ones but you might not be interested. Well, he talked me into it. We made our way onto the bridge but it wasn’t as cold as I anticipated. We took a few pictures that you can see to your right and it ended up being a fun evening all around. [Vincent] It was a fun evening for her, but I was a nervous reck!!!!

[Felicia] By the time we made it to the other side my feet were tired from walking on my toes, as I was trying to keep my heels from falling through. I told him I needed to sit down. I had my camera with me and he asked some young ladies to take several photos of us. I realized he was up to something when he wanted me to take off my glove in the dead of winter. While the girl is taking pictures, Vincent gets down on one knee, he asks me for my hand and he asks me to marry him on the Brooklyn Bridge. As you can tell from the pictures I was at a loss, and all I could ask is are you sure? And all I Vincent could say was, “I am sure I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” After hearing those words from him, I accepted with complete happiness.

So, one year ago God blessed me with the true love of my life, in Felicia. And one year later I will honor her by making her my wife with the promise of spending the rest of my life with her. For the word of God says, blessed is a man than findth a wife. By way of this woman entering my life, God has truly blessed me. In trusting him, he divinely brought she and I together.

Well, here we are counting down the days before we become Mr. and Mrs. Miller. We wanted to share our story with you because you have all been apart of our journey in one way or another. On September 4, 2010, we would love everyone to take part in our Wedding at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 S. Oxford Street, Brooklyn, NY (Between Fulton and Lafayette) at 3PM. Although we have limited space at the dinner taking place immediately after, we decided to have a party to include everyone in our wedding day who has touched our lives. The party will begin at 8PM at Two Steps Down, 240 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY (Between Claremont and Vanderbilt). We hope you will join us in our day of celebration.

We look forward to sharing our wedding day with you.

...where I go, you go also--either joined in hand or in my heart

In One Day...

The Wedding Journey

Our Story....

Wedding Planner