These Stylish High School Sweethearts Pulled Off a Romantic Wedding at an Industrial Venue
We also LOVE the groom's thoughtful gift for his bride.
Photographs by Hope Helmuth Photography
Because everyone loves a good high school love story, we couldn’t wait to tell you guys about the union of Chyanne Hairston and Jermaine Blake. In addition to their long-term love — and Jermaine’s super-romantic gift of a box of three dozen roses to his bride on their big day — we’re also all about the way the couple took one of Philly’s trendiest wedding venues, Front & Palmer, and turned it into something a bit more traditional. The mash-up is a prime example of modern romance, and it’s all captured beautifully in the photos below by Hope Helmuth Photography.
Chyanne and Jermaine first laid eyes upon each other in their high school stairwell in their hometown of Brooklyn, New York. Chyanne’s infectious smile first caught Jermaine’s eye — “Who’s that girl?” he asked — and they’ve been together ever since. Chyanne says it was love at first sight on her end as well.
The pair’s first date was pure high school: Jermaine took Chyanne to see 4th of July fireworks at the Brooklyn seaport, where they downed one-dollar pizza slices until curfew. They dated for seven years before getting engaged in Aruba on Chyanne’s 24th birthday. Two years later— and just over 10 years after their first date — Chyanne and Jermaine exchanged vows on a warm September day at Front & Palmer in Philadelphia.
Held in the same space, the intimate reception featured classically rustic touches. Guests were welcomed into cocktail hour by rum punch and “panty-ripper” cocktails, then invited to sign a custom guest book featuring adorable cartoon versions of the couple on the front.
Dinner included inventive twists on comfort foods — a standout dish was the lobster mac and cheese tower — as well as plated portions of Chilean sea bass and braised beef short ribs. The flower-bedecked added some serious eye candy to the room, in addition to other fun details including the couple’s projected monogram on the dance floor and the gold sequin tablecloth covering their sweetheart table.
The couple swayed to “Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition for their first dance, then honeymooned in Greece. They currently live in Brooklyn, where Chyanne is a flight attendant and Jermaine is an operations manager.
VENDORS
Photographer: Hope Helmuth Photography | Venue: Front and Palmer | Florist: Papertini | Bride’s Gown: Sottero and Midgley | Bridesmaids Dresses: Elle Zeitoune | Groom’s Tux: Custom by Indochino | Makeup Artist: Robin Lynette | Catering and Cake: Feast Your Eyes Catering | Transportation: Concorde Worldwide | Videographer: NST Pictures | Entertainment: DJ Spynfo | Invitations: Miss Design Berry | Lighting: Synergetic Sound and Lighting | Table Rentals: Barnes Farm Tables
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