It was during lockdown together that Samantha and Teffa fell deeper in love with one another. They talked about getting engaged and each planned a proposal to make it happen.
THE LOVE STORY
Sam and Teffa started talking about getting engaged in the late spring of 2020 after surviving the better part of the nationwide lockdown together. Sam worked with her students from home, and Teffa was working 7-7 every day at the hospital. They believe that they fell even more in love during that extremely stressful time by supporting each other during their own stressful times and the overall state of the world. They decided that they wanted to each have their own special proposal but still have it be close together, so they gave each other a time frame to work within.
THE PROPOSALS
Teffa was adamant that she wanted a very private and intimate proposal, no big “to do.” Knowing that Sam planned a small proposal in their backyard. She called a local florist (and friend) and worked with her to decorate their whole patio with fresh flowers. She got “Bride & Bride” champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne. To top it all off, she dressed their cats in bandanas saying, “Will You Marry Me?” so that they could have the most important part of their proposal. Sam is a horrible secret keeper, so Teffa had an idea that it was coming, but she was still surprised when it happened.
Teffa had Sam’s friends invite her out to dinner in downtown Jersey City. Sam always complained that the couple didn’t have enough photos together, so Teffa arranged a photographer to capture the proposal in front of Sam’s favorite building in Jersey City (The Courthouse). Sam was so surprised, and the photos came out so beautiful. Then their friends met them at dinner to celebrate at their favorite restaurant, Luna.
Sam and Teffa designed their rings together with local jeweler Kerry Lynn, owner of Love Locked in Jersey City. Teffa initially did not like the idea of having an engagement ring, but after their first meeting with Kerry, she was sold.
Both Sam and Teffa knew that they wanted something “different” and not the typical diamond ring. Kerry was fantastic and helped them design their perfect rings that matched their personalities. Teffa has a black onyx emerald cut ring with pave diamonds on the band, and Sam has a giant champagne-colored sunstone with pave diamonds around the band.
BEING ENGAGED
Not much has changed for us, except for the added stress of wedding planning during a pandemic. But we are both grateful for each other during this time, mostly because Teffa’s family lives out of state in Florida, and we haven’t been able to see them. It has been great having our support during everything. Being in two high-stress jobs during the pandemic, having each other to come home to every night has been incomparable.
Wedding planning has been excellent. We have everything figured out and want it to be like a “winter solstice” theme!
Picking Jersey City local vendors we love and trust and have a personal relationship with was significant to us. We are using Kerry from Love Locked (who designed our rings) to make our bridesmaid’s jewelry and gifts and make our wedding bands. Grace Brown, who shot our proposal and engagement shoot, will be doing our wedding as well. Anatile and her team from “The Hair Room JC” will be doing hair and makeup, and Kristin from Karma flowers will be doing our flowers. All of these are woman-owned Jersey City, local vendors.
Photography by Grace Brown Photography
