Inspiration

Old Hollywood Love In Downtown Atlanta

Angelina and Darius met in 2012 through their mutual friend Shanna, and were introduced at a party in Atlanta. Darius noticed Angelina wasn’t having an enjoyable time, so he started a conversation and tried to make her smile. While his charm caught Angelina’s attention more so than the loud music blaring through the speakers, she left before he could ask for her number. Months went by, and while Angelina was too busy in her own world, little did she know Darius was speaking her into his life jokingly. He’d ask Shanna how his “girlfriend” was doing. Eventually Angelina asked Shanna for Darius’ number and the pair spoke on the phone until 3:00 a.m. Finally they had their first date a year after meeting. And that first date consisted of great conversation, laughs and a football game displayed on big screens around them. It was that laid back and fun environment that made this couple inseparable. Five years later, and their ready to make their love official. Check out their romantic engagement session in Downtown Atlanta, captured by Tangie Renee Photography.

Bride: Angelina Cook, 32, Payroll Account Manager

Groom: Darius Hunter, 42, CEO and Founder of Hunter Gibbons Staffing Firm

Place of residence: Atlanta, Georgia

Engagement Shoot Location: Downtown Atlanta

Wedding date: September 2017

Engagement story:

I did not expect it! Darius told me he got tickets to an Auburn vs. LSU game in Alabama and asked if I would be interested in going. Since it’s not unusual for him to plan fun things for us to do, I agreed to go thinking it would be a cool date night. Not to mention Darius went to college at Auburn University, so I knew he would love to show me his old stomping grounds. 

It was a beautiful fall-like day in September 2016. The Auburn campus was packed with fans proudly wearing blue and orange. Darius lit up with excitement while we toured the campus. As we walked between the gorgeous trees and with the sunlight tickling my skin, Darius pointed out popular landmarks: his old fraternity house and other spots that held special memories to him. We then stopped right in front of the campus where there was a place to sit. While I was rambling away about who knows what, he slickly grabbed the ring before going down on one knee in front of me. I grew silent with shock as my mind said, “what… me? Is this really happening?” After confirming the moment was real, I heard the words… “Will you marry me?” I said yes while Darius gently grabbed my hand, leaving behind a beautiful yellow diamond that dressed up my finger like sunshine. 

For the Groom: Walk us through the behind the scenes of creating this special day 

Angelina and I had been together for quite a while and there were many discussions of us getting engaged. So due to her having a feeling that the big moment was coming soon, my thought process of the special day was to completely throw her off so she would not suspect it was coming. That day I asked Angelina if she would like to go down to Auburn to hang out and catch a football game. On the way down, we talked and I shared with her how some of the best decisions in my life came about due to me attending Auburn, such as pledging Kappa Alpha Psi, getting a bachelor’s degree in a field that I now own my own business, and meeting lifelong friends I consider brothers. I even joked with Angelina that if it were not for Auburn, I would not have met her and had that heated debate about football with her best friend that eventually hooked us up. All of this was building up to my speech before I proposed about how I wanted to make another life-changing memory in Auburn, by asking her to be my wife. Angelina was totally caught off guard so the mission was a success. She said yes, and Auburn won the game, a very close game, so it was a momentous day! 

What makes your love special?

Like all couples, we’re not perfect and have had our moments riding the emotional roller coaster. What makes our love special is our willingness to learn and grow from our experiences no matter how low or high the ride has taken us. Darius continuously shows me the true meaning of unconditional love from a partner, which in turn, motivates me to be a better women and partner for him. Although we are very different in terms of our background, age and personality, our love works because we balance each other out. It’s like he brings me calmness during the storm and I bring him the wind that causes him to lose breath.

What was the theme of your shoot?

We had so much fun during our photo shoot! Our goal for the shoot was to capture our love in an Old Hollywood type of way. However, while shooting in the middle of downtown Atlanta before the city woke up. What we got was modern, sexy, and fun engagement session all rolled into one. 

Were there any memorable moments during the shoot?

We had a few memorable moments during the shoot that made me smile. No one would have guessed it was 50 degrees out 6:30 in the morning! In between shots my lips were shaky and my hands were cold. To help warm me up Darius would kiss me and hold my hands. At one point the street was empty with no cars and the traffic lights change from red to green. We seized the moment by going in the middle of the street and dancing; I hummed a song and he twirled me around. The bottom of dress flew all the way up when he spun me which made me chuckle and forget about the cold. 

What are you most looking forward to about your wedding?

When I think about my wedding, I look forward to us saying our vows before God as we hold hands and share an energy that is so powerful it makes us forget anyone else is around.

Have you started planning your wedding?

Our wedding will be here before we know it! With that
in mind I have started the wedding planning since it will be a destination ceremony. I have my work cut out for me, but the great thing is that I’ve already had some major things taken out the way such as picking my dress, the location, colors, wedding party, date and time.

Congratulations to the happy couple! We wish you a wonderful wedding and marriage.

Sources

Tangie Renee Photography

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