Flashback Friday: Shelvia and JuTorrean's Timeless Louisiana Wedding

For Shelvia and JuTorrean, their love of service brought them together. They first met in 2016 at the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated’s Kappa League Scholarship Beautillion and two years later, they reconnected as volunteers and mentors for the same program.

Shelvia shares more of the beginnings of their love story: “Every Sunday, we met with the young men and young lady participants at Queensborough Elementary School in our hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. It was on that campus where he asked me on our very first date.”

The lovely couple tied the knot in beautiful wedding ceremony complete with unique, sentimental details. “One special detail we included in our wedding, was requesting with wedding photos from all our married guests. We also included photos of married couples in our families, who may have passed on. It was so much fun collecting all the photos and seeing how much the wedding styles varied throughout the years.”

Get inspired by the Davis’ stunning walk down the aisle, captured by Micahla Vaughn.

Bride: Shelvia Grant

Groom: JuTorrean Davis

Photography By: Micahla Vaughn

Wedding Planner: Lani Bailey Events

Wedding Date: December 23, 2023

Wedding Location: Shreveport, Louisiana

Wedding Theme: Timeless, elegant, detailed and provided details and entertainment that expressed our personalities. Although it was technically still fall on the calendar, it was December and we wanted to give all of the cozy, holiday vibes.

Engagement Story

Shelvia: My birthday weekend was strategically organized to perfection; beginning with the theme, “The Perfect Gift,” a nod to my love language and it being my birthday weekend. Funny thing, his intentions were to propose on his birthday weekend in June, but I threw a wrench in his plans three months prior, by surprising him on our dating anniversary with a birthday trip to Destin, FL. His idea was that I was the “perfect gift” for him, that he later amended to mean the proposal was the “perfect gift” for MY birthday.

Through intensive research, he contacted friends from coast to coast, some whom he’s never met, to extend an invitation. It felt so amazing to have family and friends from each phase of life together.

Briefly tell us about your wedding experience and how the both of you felt on your big day.

The groom– my favorite moment was exchanging our vows. Although the church was full of guests, we were focused on each other. All the planning led to this moment.

The bride– I have SO many, but two really stick with me, the moment did the doors opened and I saw my husband standing at the altar in tears, and our choreographed dances with our parents. We had been strategically secretive with our rehearsals admist all the last minute wedding chaos, so it was fun to finally perform and witness all the surprises we both had in store. Him and his mother ended their dance with a confetti blow out and my brother was a surprise guest in our father-daughter dance.

Wedding song, and the significance of the song:

My husband and I both love music, but his love goes beyond curating playlists and attending concerts. He was in the Grambling State University “World Famed” Tiger Marching Band and has an impressive ear for music.

With the exception of two songs, he selected all the music for our ceremony and our first dance song. Also, one of his “must haves,” included a live band during cocktail hour followed by a DJ. At the end of the night, we had a second line band and sidewalk show, for a total of three sources of musical entertainment for the evening.

What unique elements or DIY details did you include?

We didn’t want a traditional guestbook, so we made a chic, black linen coffee table book with our favorite engagement photos for guests to enjoy while signing.