Patriotic Surprise South Carolina Wedding

Mario and Nakita met while she worked at the military barbershop in 2011. It was only his second day in town, but the pair hit it off and started their relationship as friends. It didn’t take long for Mario to pursue Nakita and by 2013, Mario and Nakita made it official. Four years later, and this happy couple walked down the aisle in Beaufort, South Carolina in patriotic style. Check out their surprise Fourth of July wedding, captured by Andre Brown Photography.

Bride: Nakita Brown, 30, Barber

Groom: Rymario Armstrong, 36, Retired Veteran of USMC

Photography: Andre Brown at Andre Brown Photography

Place of residence: Bluffton, S.C.

Wedding date: July 4, 2017

Wedding location: Old Point, Beaufort, S.C.

Wedding theme: Surprise Wedding for my Husband

Honeymoon Destination: I have no idea. Mario was so touched and grateful for the surprise wedding, he’s trying to surprise me with the honeymoon of my dreams.

Engagement story:

I actually had two proposals. The first one was at our home. I walked in the room and he simply asked me, “Yes or no?” So, in return I turned him down. The Second proposal was over a nice romantic dinner at a jazz club in Hilton Head, S.C. on my birthday.

From the bride:

The wedding planning as a whole was stressful in the beginning. I was trying to surprise my husband for a few months, but he kept getting sent overseas and they were delaying his return. Once the day came, everything had fallen into place. The two weeks up until the wedding there were a lot of thunderstorms and rain. However, on the day of, the skies were clear and bright. It was beautiful day. I felt great.

From the groom:

I was surprised. I had no idea any of this was going on. I was under the impression I was helping my brother-in-law with a photo and video shoot. I took off the blindfold and saw family and friends standing there. I was truly surprised, but in a good way. I couldn’t have been happier.

What makes your love special?

We believe our love is special because it’s genuine. After all these years we’re still the same. We still try to surprise and impress each other in order to keep our love fresh. We love making each other smile.

Favorite wedding detail:

The food was the best part of our day. Since it was the Fourth of July, we stuck with a traditional cookout theme. My family cooked and we had a good ol’ barbecue at home.

Your most memorable moment:

Our best moment had to be the way we looked at each other. The look in Mario’s eyes while he read his vows to me, I’ll never forget it. He also began to tear up!

Wedding song:

The song Mario walked down the aisle to was R. Kelly’s “Forever.” He’s a huge R. Kelly fan, so I felt it was the perfect song for that very moment he took his blindfold off. I, however, walked to Gerald Levert’s “Made To Love You.” I think that song is the perfect representation of us and our relationship.

What are you most looking forward to as a married couple?

The only thing I’m looking forward to is continuing to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.

Advice for a bride and groom on their wedding day:

I would tell another bride and groom to continue to communicate. A relationship can’t survive without it. Talk to each other and not your friends about what’s going on in your marriage. Don’t ever go to bed angry with each other, and put God first. Your spouse is your best friend, your safe place when the world gets ugly. Don’t allow anyone to come between that.

Congratulations to the newlyweds! We wish you many more years of wedded bliss.