The couple wed on Oct . 2 , 2022 , at OceanCliff Hotel in Newport , RI E . E . W . Photography the planner
The Meet Cute : I joined Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity while a student at Johnson & Wales University , stayed in touch with my undergraduate brothers and would travel to Providence to support events even though I was living in New York City . Desiree is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and became good friends with my younger fraternity brothers who would travel to Boston to attend her sorority ’ s events at Northeastern University . She was invited to a new member presentation performance and as she was home in Providence on holiday break , she decided to attend . It was there that I was enraptured and had to introduce myself .
The Proposal : Desiree gives so much to others so I thought it was important for other people to show love to her , but in the height of COVID , there were limits . I managed to find a restaurant and limited the party size , had a banner made and hired one of my best friends to do the videography . The plan was for her to enter the room , take in the scene , and for me to say a line that would cue the guests to enter ( she had figured out that I was going to propose but didn ' t know the scope and scale of it ). They missed the cue , though , and we stood there awkwardly while I had to send someone to bring out the party ! It worked out and she said yes and we had a great dinner . Our guests even signed Champagne bottles for us that we will pop on our anniversary .
Leisa & Beau
The couple wed on Aug . 18 , 2022 , in a private ceremony aboard the Aquidneck Schooner through Sightsailing of Newport Melissa Stimpson Photography
The Meet Cute : I am originally from a small town in Ohio and Beau grew up on Long Island , but we met in New York City . I had moved there to pursue my passion for dance and arts management . While working professionally in the arts , I was hostessing at a local restaurant on the Upper East Side , which was coincidentally located at the corner of Beau ' s street . He walked in one night with a friend and the rest is history !
The Proposal : In the city , with life moving so quickly , my favorite type of nights were our “ no limits cheat day ,” when we had very little to no plans , ending our days with a pizza from our favorite spot . Beau hid the engagement ring in our pizza box and asked me to be his wife . It was truly one of the most perfect nights , slow dancing with him to Frank Sinatra . I was eager to share the news with our families , but Beau said , “ Once we start calling , it ’ s everyone ’ s moment . So let ’ s just wait , one more song ? Maybe a glass of Champagne ? Let ’ s just be together to keep this moment ours .”
The Engagement Shoot : Our original wedding date was Aug . 18 , 2019 . In late July of 2019 , I was abruptly diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a craniotomy . As I started to make significant progress , Beau and I became excited for our new wedding date , May 10 , 2020 , which was halted due COVID . So , again , we waited . In December 2021 , when we discovered that the small , leftover percentage of my tumor was growing , we again postponed our wedding and scheduled radiation treatment . We asked our beloved photographer Melissa Stimpson to take engagement photos , wearing my veil for a few photos in the event that I lost my hair before our actual wedding . Beau and I finally married on Aug . 18 , 2022 . I said “ I do ” without a single breath of hesitation , knowing with certainty in my heart that I am with the man I have always dreamed of , and am living a life perhaps even more beautiful than the one I imagined .
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