Happy new year, people! Martine 🇭🇹 and 🇬🇭 Carl proposal story, love story, and pre-wedding photos are the perfect start for the year. Bride-to-be Martine Balthazar is Haitian while Groom-to-be Carllistus Obeng is Ghanaian. Martine and Carl met at a stage when they had (almost) given up on dating. As always, love wins. The couple is very big on supporting black people and black-owned businesses. Carl tried to incorporate as many black-owned businesses into their proposal in Virginia.
The couple had a beautiful pre-wedding photoshoot captured by Lola Snaps Photography in Washington DC. We love how their shoot represented different aspects of their relationship. Their first look was in traditional print, celebrating their culture. Their second look displayed one of their favorite things to do - reading together. Their third shoot was at their wedding venue, giving off a sweet and romantic vibe.
Everything about #Itskindofanawkwardstory makes us so happy. Enjoy the photos and their love and proposal story below.
On the night of Valentine’s Day, while Martine got ready for dinner, Carl decorated the suite's living room with flowers and photos outlining the timeline of our relationship. He eventually got down on one knee and proposed with a ring made by one of the only black women jewelers in the US, Sheryl Jones (@SherylJones). All of it was captured by one of the best photographers @lolasnaps
We also loved how our looks came out. Our first look was in traditional print on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in DC. This was meant to commemorate our ancestors. Our second look and theme were dedicated to our favorite black authors that we’ve read throughout our relationship and our last look was at our venue.
To find black wedding vendors and other wedding suppliers who provide wedding services for black/multicultural couples like wedding photography, videography, wedding planning, black bridal makeup artist, and more, kindly visit our Black Wedding Vendor Directory page to contact. Just had an event or just got married? Share your beautiful love story with us for a chance to get featured. Submit your love stories and send us all your media content.
How We Met
By groom-to-be, Carl On June 1st, 2018, I was at home watching Hitch on a Friday night. My college friend, Wesley, texted me and said he had a co-worker who had given up on dating in the DC area but thought I was cute. Even though I was content with learning and dating myself at that point, I took the chance. Wesley passed Martine’s number along and we’ve been talking every day since.
Proposal Story
By the couple One of the things we connected on as a couple was our support for black people and black businesses. When it was time to propose, Carl tried to incorporate as many black-owned businesses into the day. During the 2021 Valentine’s Day weekend, he booked a surprise getaway weekend at The Salamander Resort & Spa, a black-owned resort in Virginia. The room was stocked with @mcbridesisters “Black Girl Magic” Wine and a huge charcuterie board made by Char-Koo (@charkooterie).
On the night of Valentine’s Day, while Martine got ready for dinner, Carl decorated the suite's living room with flowers and photos outlining the timeline of our relationship. He eventually got down on one knee and proposed with a ring made by one of the only black women jewelers in the US, Sheryl Jones (@SherylJones). All of it was captured by one of the best photographers @lolasnaps
Engagement Session
By groom-to-be, Carl Our wedding hashtag is #itskindofanawkwardstory, meaning that Martine and I are very awkward. We are not great at taking pictures in front of other people, so naturally, we were nervous. Lola and Wale made us extremely comfortable. From modeling each pose to hyping us up! They were cheering us throughout the entire process. Without them, we would have been completely lost.
We also loved how our looks came out. Our first look was in traditional print on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in DC. This was meant to commemorate our ancestors. Our second look and theme were dedicated to our favorite black authors that we’ve read throughout our relationship and our last look was at our venue.
Wedding Date and Location
Since most of our guests will be from out of town, we wanted our day to be during a time where they can celebrate our love and enjoy the city where we fell in love. So we will be getting married on the long 2022 Labor Day Weekend at St.Francis Hall in DC.
Love Notes
The couple wrote a note of love to each other:To Martine, “To be a drop of water in your ocean is to be living life before conception. As we walk into this next phase of our journey I pray that God grants you every wish, every thought and every prayer. If God blesses us with children I pray that they have their mother’s wisdom, grace and compassion. To the woman who officially changed my name to “cutie pie”, I’ll see you in September.” - Carl
To my Cutiepie, “I never thought I’d be lucky enough to experience a love that feels as natural as waking up in the morning and breathing throughout the day. I tell you this all the time, but I’m so excited to have the privilege to do life with you and experience all the good, bad and mundane things that will inevitably come. You are the kindest soul I’ve ever met and the world doesn’t deserve you but I will take advantage of every day that I get. Thank you for loving me so deeply and accepting me for the person I am.” - Martine
To find black wedding vendors and other wedding suppliers who provide wedding services for black/multicultural couples like wedding photography, videography, wedding planning, black bridal makeup artist, and more, kindly visit our Black Wedding Vendor Directory page to contact. Just had an event or just got married? Share your beautiful love story with us for a chance to get featured. Submit your love stories and send us all your media content.
