Maya and Raymond both grew up in the Bahamas and had always known of each other. Then, in 2011, seemingly out of nowhere, Raymond sent Maya a message: “What’s for Sunday dinner?” That one simple question became a weekly ritual, and over time, it blossomed into a genuine friendship.
In late 2020, after spending some time apart, it was Maya who reached out with a message of her own: “You were trying to reach me.” That one line changed everything. By January 2021, they made their relationship official, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Within six months, they had moved in together. Now, after four years, six states, and countless memories, Maya and Raymond are more than ready to tie the knot!
Get inspired by their romantic Miami engagement session, captured by LaJoy Photography and also featured in the Volume 19 edition of Black Bride Magazine.
Bride: Maya Swann, Customer Success Manager
Groom: Raymond Bowe Jr, Deputy Commissioner
Photography By: LaJoy Photography
Videography By: The First Look Photography
Place of Residence: Hollywood, FL
Engagement Shoot Location: Secret Gardens, Miami, FL
Wedding Date: May 25, 2025
Engagement story
Valentine’s Day 2024 was supposed to be a dream getaway. Me being the planner that I am, I had a list of bucket-list destinations ready to go. But little did I know, Raymond had a plan of his own.
Instead of flying off somewhere new, he kept trying to convince me to go home to the Bahamas — just a month after we’d left. First it was a women’s conference, then a charity event and I was seriously confused why that was suddenly more important than Valentine’s Day. Eventually, Raymond put his foot down and said, “I’m going home that weekend. I don’t know what you’re gonna do.” Well, of course I was going where my man was going so Bahamas it was.
On the way to this mysterious “women’s event,” the evening was absolutely perfect. I even said to myself, “This would be the perfect day to get engaged.” Between all the strange plans and unexpected events, my suspicions were high.
Then came another twist: Raymond said he needed me to meet one of his clients. My antenna was definitely up now. As we pulled up, I saw “Marry Me” letters peeking out from behind the door and my heart stopped.
I walked into the most beautiful setup where Raymond got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Right after, we were surrounded by family and friends – all of them had been in on it from the start.
That night, I was whisked away to a romantic dinner on the canal. The next day, we had massages on the water, and the “charity event” turned out to be the sweetest engagement party. Raymond had planned the most thoughtful, intimate weekend – not a single detail was missed.
What started as a random, confusing trip home turned into one of the most magical weekends of my life. And honestly? I’ve already asked him to do it all over again more than once.
What are you most looking forward to about your wedding?
Initially we were planning a 250-person wedding… but in the end, we chose something more intimate — an elopement with just our immediate family. Honestly, it feels exactly right.
What I’m most looking forward to is a wedding day without the stress, where we get to slow down and be fully present. A weekend filled with the things we love, and a quiet morning spent getting ready with my best friend, the person I get to marry.
There’s something so beautiful about letting go of the pressure to create an event for everyone else. Now, it’s just about us – our love, our vows, and making this moment as special and meaningful as it can be, for the two of us.
Congratulations to the happy couple! We wish them a lifetime of wedded bliss.
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Additional Event Information
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