We sat down with another beautiful Wonderland bride to get her love story. Meet Lonnika & Willie, who were married September 17th, 2017.
When and how did you meet?
Willie and I met at my old job back in 2010. I worked with his sister and He came by to visit her. We were introduced and initially, I was not interested in being anything more than friends with Willie however, our natural bond and growing friendship over the years, led to us falling in love with each other.
How long did you date before he popped the question?
We officially started dating March 20, 2015 after being friends since 2010. Willie proposed to me on June 26, 2016.
How did he propose?
Willie totally caught me off guard with his proposal. Being a naturally curious person, I would have figured out his plans if, He didnt do it the way he did. He suggested that we invite our parents over for a cooked Sunday dinner (which we have done plenty times before). Being distracted with entertaining our parents in the comforts of our home, expecting a proposal was the last thing on my mind. While we were watching a movie, the TV went out, I was about to call our cable provider to complain and suddenly Stone by Alessia Cara started playing on the surround sound. Willie stepped out of our room and pulled me off the couch. He professed how much He loved me and then went down on one knee. I instantly broke down in tears, I was totally caught off guard and I can hear my Dad cheering us on. Through the tears, I said YES! It was a beautiful, intimate moment in front of our closest family members. I couldnt have asked for a better proposal.
Where were you married and how did you pick the place?
We married at The Addison in Boca Raton. As soon as we stepped foot on the grounds we just knew, it was the perfect location for us. The historical mansion was a breath taker. I literally saw a vision of us dancing in the main hall, which is exactly where we end up having our reception at.
What theme and/or colors have you chosen for your wedding and why?
Our colors were forest green and sangria purple with hints of gold and ivory, which complimented our Enchanted Forest theme.
Where did you go for your honeymoon?
We spent 5 days and 4 nights in Aruba, compliments of being the winners of David Tutera Your Wedding Experience Bridal Show.
Why did you chose Wonderland Bridal for your dream dress?
I always knew I wanted a unique dress. I remember seeing a wedding dress in a magazine and instantly fell in love with it. However, there were no details on the dress number just the brand of dress, this mystery dream dress. I happen to come across Wonderland Bridal through my Internet search. The name caught my attention as I though about my theme. I loved the décor, logo and modern boutique look. After looking through the website dress selection, I saw the. dream dress!!! I also saw that they offered a VIP experience where you literally had one on one service. I had a for sure feeling and booked the VIP appointment. I tried a few other beautiful dresses on before trying on the dream dress. Thankfully, It turned out to be the dress!
Share your experience about your time with Wonderland Bridal.
My experience was wonderful! I definitely recommend the VIP experience. I didnt have to worry about interruptions and the mimosas and tea sandwiches greatly pleased my MOH and Grandmother who attended my appointment. Picking your dress is a really a big deal, so being able to focus and have that personal attention really made things easier.
What was the best part of your wedding day?
The best part of my day was seeing Willies reaction as my Father walked me down the aisle. We did not do a first look prior to our ceremony because we wanted the full effect as I walked down the aisle. Personally it amplified that moment for us and made it the highlight of the day for me.
Any advice to future couples currently planning a wedding?
Pre-plan, stick to your vision and stay in comfortable budget. The importance of pre planning was a huge stress savor for us. It is easy to get caught up in the fun of the engagement period and then We paid for majority of our wedding out of our own pockets. We both come from huge families so we had the difficult choice of having the day of our dreams or including everyone who wanted to attend the wedding. Ultimately, we decided on keeping our guest list small so that we could have everything that we wanted on our wedding date.
Photos by Munoz Photography
Please specify any that apply
- Flowers: Provided by Boca By Design
- Cake: Publix - Green wise
- Catering: The Addison
- Invitations: Anns Bridal Bargain
- Hair: Mii Fabulousity (Styles by Moneek)
- Make Up: Le Grand Pro Experience
- Photographer: Munoz Photography (Armando)
- Decor: Boca By Design