Talmesha + Scott: Waterfront Wedding Fit for ‘Prince’

Sparks flew when Talmesha and Scott met through a mutual friend. He was the owner of his personal training business and she was a Ph.D. student and cheerleader for the Washington Redskins. The blaze that ignited back then has continued to burn over the years, even lighting up the skies over the Chesapeake Bay with a spectacular fireworks display at their waterfront wedding reception.

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The Engagement Story

Scott said had no idea how meaningful the location of the proposal would be for Talmesha when he chose the spot. In fact, even though he had the ring — which had he purchased at one of the couple’s favorite jewelry stores in the Cayman Islands four years after — he originally had not intended to propose to her on this particular weekend.

They went to New York City with Talmesha’s family members. He managed to get some time away from the rest of the group, saying they were going to meet friends on the rooftop of the Gansevoort Hotel. Talmesha said she was completely oblivious as they were overlooking the piers where her dad used to take her and her sister to watch the 4th of July fireworks. When Scott went to his knee and asked her to marry him, she said she was in such such a shock that she initially forgot to say “yes.”

Scott had no clue how special it would be for her to be in view of the spot where such vivid, precious memories endure, and then be able to share her excitement with her family in NYC.

Choosing the Venue

Talmesha said she envisioned herself getting married in the Caribbean, where her dad is from. But then, she came across Herrington on the Bay. “Once I saw palm treed and experienced the venue myself, I knew this was it. We got the ‘island feel’ without having to be in the islands. Every time we went there, it felt like home. Every member of the team would come out to visit. It felt like family.”

Wedding Planning Process

Talmesha was her own wedding planner, putting her own spin on each detail. A self proclaimed ‘Rhinestone Queen’, Talmesha embarked on a number of DIY projects. She said the Herrington staff was key in ensuring she covered all her bases and making sure things went smoothly.

The couple loves Prince. Before they even got engaged, Scott and Talmesha knew they wanted their guests to have The Purple Reign Experience. Sadly, Prince passed away a couple of weeks before their wedding. “It was very surreal, but our wedding was a way to celebrate his life and his music,” Talmesha said.

Talmesha’s Creations
Rhinestone- studded shoes with “I Do” on the soles and angel’s wings to represent her dad, and a brooch bouquet incorporating her dad’s ties as flowerets. Her wedding arts and crafts have inspired her to open her own Etsy store, The Dazzle Doctor.

The Food
Scott said, “The food was amazing from our first visit all the way through to the reception. The chefs would come out every time we visited, and it was always so good.”

The menu for the wedding reception didn’t have a special theme, but they did choose a signature cocktail: The Purple Reign. Herrington on the Bay crafted this tropical drink using vodka, pineapple juice, and blue curacao.

The Big Day Recap

Scott and Talmesha had their ceremony on the Polynesian Lawn, overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. Their reception was in the Paradise Ballroom. Scott said he was worried about the weather leading up to the event, but the day of the wedding turned out to be peaceful with clear skies.

Talmesha said, “Brittany and Lenysa were both awesome. We got a late start, but were able to fit in everything we wanted to fit in. Lenysa stayed calm throughout and made the day perfect for us. We had a big wedding party: eight bridesmaids and a bridesman, eight groomsmen and a groomsmaid, a junior groomsman, two flower girls, and two ring bearers—my godson, Gaige, and Scott’s dog Sammie, who was outfitted in a dark gray and purple tux, just like the groomsmen!”

Favorite Wedding Day Memory

“It’s really hard to choose just one favorite memory of the day, but I would have to say that surprising Scott with my Beyonce dance was the best,” said Talmesha.

“My favorite memory would have to be the fireworks,” said Scott. “It was the perfect culmination to the day. It was like we made it! It was a real celebration.“

Talmesha added, “What made it even more special was that we had originally asked the DJ to play Prince after the fireworks, but he made a mistake and started the song during the fireworks. It turned out great. We just started to dance right there.“

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