Real Wedding: Jeressa and Darrell at The Harvey B. Gantt Center
Darrell Sullivan is a financial advisor for Vanguard. Jeressa Bryant, in charge of inventory management for L’Oréal, is studying business at Wake Forest University. The bride found her embroidered sweetheart gown by Justin Alexander on Tradesy. When Darrell unwittingly proposed on her dad’s birthday, Jeressa thought it was only appropriate to get married on her late mother’s birthday. “I was giving her a son that loves me so much.”
MARCH 14, 2015
The Harvey B. Gantt Center
Photographs by Whitney Beth, Emphasis Photography
Jeressa Bryant is a bride who can pull off bold, dramatic looks. This inventory manager for L’Oréal based her wedding theme on her favorite matte red lipstick—a dramatic splash of color to her black, white, and gold wedding palette. The wedding party wore solid black Bari Jay gowns and Vera Wang tuxedos paired with deep red calla lilies. The modern lines of The Harvey B. Gantt Center were complemented by black linens and chairs, gold candles, and gold chargers from Classic Party Rentals.
Guests eagerly waited for the next big thing, with a fresh ambience, food, and music on each floor of the center. “When people arrived for the rooftop ceremony, we had soulful old music like Nat King Cole for a smooth vibe,” Jeressa said. Groom Darrell Sullivan chose a jazz saxophonist for cocktail hour, and then DJ Dexter Dynamite had everyone dancing to R&B after the Caribbean dinner buffet. “Everyone was sore the next day,” Jeressa said. The bride and groom even closed down the reception before leaving for their honeymoon of snorkeling and massages in Cozumel, Mexico.
Cake
Maddy’s Fatty’s
Florals
Just Fake It Bouquets
Gown
Justin Alexander from Tradesy
Shoes
Dune London
Bridesmaids
Bari Jay from Jillian’s Bridal Loft
Menswear
Vera Wang from Men’s Wearhouse
Veil
Hayden Olivia Bridal
Makeup
Makeup Artistry by Alyssa
Stationery
Wedding Paper Divas
Entertainment
Thank God for DJs
Videographer
Wedding Bug Studios
Caterer
Creative Catering & Events
Rentals
Classic Party Rentals
The many looks of the bride: With a second dress for dancing, Jeressa switched her fashion forward lace jacket for a chunky pearl-and-silver necklace, custom made for her by Turkish designer, Semra Ascioglu.
Thank God for DJs had the dance floor rolling. n The gold filigree cake of vanilla and custard with alternating layers of cookies-and-cream by Maddy’s Fatty’s in Cornelius.
The bride’s gold stilettos by Dune London.
Just Fake It Bouquets made the red latex cala lily bouquets.
Creative Catering served Caribbean chicken and salmon with lemon and dill, squash casserole, Burgundy green beans, and twice-baked potatoes with bacon and spinach.
The bridesmaids wore black Bari Jay gowns from Jillian’s Bridal Loft, matching the groomsmen in Vera Wang tuxedos from Men’s Wearhouse with black shirts and ties from Belk.
