This Breathtaking Baltimore Wedding Was “Black Queer Joy Made Tangible”

“The goal wasn’t to check boxes or recreate something we’d seen before. It was to create a day that felt honest, liberatory, and deeply ours.”

With such a focused + authentic approach to wedding planning, it’s no surprise that Tashira + Nakish’s Maryland nuptials were the dazzlingly unique moody masterpiece they were.

“We were never interested in a wedding built around typical traditions. Instead of trying to fit ourselves into a mold, we shaped the day around who we are, our values and our joy,” the couple shares. “Every choice was intentional from the energy we wanted in the room to the way the celebration unfolded.”

Tashira + Nakish knew from the jump that their connection was “palpable and undeniable.” And that same spirit of honest intensity carried them into a wedding day design realized by event designer Kimberly Sumner at Collective Spaces in Baltimore with full of sumptuous velvet, glittering marquees, and meaningfully historic charm.  

“Inside, the candlelit venue had been transformed into a world of its own, designed around the theme Harlem Nights meets Harpo’s Juke Joint,” say the newlyweds of the vision’s anchors in Black creativity, history, and, literature with nods to The Color Purple and the magic of the Harlem Renaissance. “Guests stepped into a moody, artful lounge where jazz and R&B echoed softly from a live cellist. Emerald velvet drapes framed the vows, and the air carried the warmth of gold accents and candlelight. Every detail was curated with intention: a soulful buffet, signature cocktails crafted for each bride, and décor that married vintage glamour with personal history.”

Tashira stunned in a dramatic off the shoulder tulle-bottom mermaid gown. Nakish brought the sartorial excellence in a burgundy custom suit. Love coursed through every single detail, and Marissa Rose Photography was there capturing it all.

“This was Black queer joy made tangible, expressed through light, sound, and presence,” the brides say. “The love between us told its own story, but the setting, the music, the textures, and the energy became the language through which it was spoken.”

Absolutely obsessed with the vintage glam vibes of Tashira’s sheer white tulle getting ready robe.

Rocking a dreamy bridal getting ready outfit like this one before heading down the aisle can be such a key part of setting the tone for the entire day.

“Marrying at a BIG age (over 40 brides),” Tashira + Nakish say, “we knew what mattered to us, what didn’t, and what we weren’t willing to compromise. That clarity became the focal point of the day.”

“Finding wedding day attire was never about tradition—it was about authenticity,” Nakish says. “I knew I wanted something that reflected my personal style and gender expression: bespoke, layered, and unmistakably me.”

“I wanted to feel grounded and confident, not like I was playing dress-up for the day. I wanted to be able to get multiple looks out of the suit.”

“A custom look was always the plan. After some research, I discovered Bindle & Keep, a Brooklyn-based custom suiting company and immediately felt aligned. The experience was affirming, collaborative, and intentional from start to finish.”

“My look was completed with my signature statement pieces- a nice shoe, a hat, and a scarf, rooted in my personal style that reflects the lineage of Black dandyism.”

The First Look

Our Favorite Memory
Nakish: First look. I know it’s cliché but seeing Tashira in her dress for the first time truly took my breath away. I had never seen anyone more beautiful or a dress more perfect for them. The joy on her face, the way she looked at me, and the quiet intimacy of that moment was everything. Those moments together are so sacred and something I’ll hold on to forever.

Tashira: Giving Kish her wedding gift. She loves vintage cars, and we hoped to rent one for the day since it would perfectly align with our theme. A lightbulb went off after receiving a few quotes that it would actually be the perfect wedding gift. I worked with friends and family for months to find the perfect car, 1987 Mercedes 560SL, and hide it from Kish! I gave her the keys immediately after the ceremony when we went downstairs to take photos. She'd assumed the car was rented. The look on her face the moment she realized that it was hers was priceless.

The Ceremony

The GREEN VELVET DRAPERY! You need to see this ‘candles + calla lilies’ wedding and this beautiful burgundy wedding in Italy if this drapey vibe is speaking to you.

“I found my wedding dress five days before our wedding,” Tashira remembers. “It was a nightmare turned into a fairytale. I’d worked with a local designer to create a custom look, and it became clear as we approached the due date that he was in over his head. I knew immediately that I needed a new dress before even opening the garment bag to see the finished product. It looked like a sequin tablecloth.”

“My friends rallied around me, and we found the perfect ceremony dress at Elegance By Roya, a boutique less than five minutes away from my home. Thank God!”

Can we take a moment to marvel at Tashira’s flawless wedding makeup?!

During the ceremony the brides exchanged wedding rings from I. Gorman.

Our Musical Choices
Processional
We were escorted separately down the aisle by members of our respective family members. Nakish walked down the aisle first to “Cherish the Day,” by Sade as live cellist Benjamin Gates played along. Tashira walked down the aisle to, “When I’m in Your Arms,” by Cleo Sol as a live cellist Benjamin Gates played along. 
Recessional
Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody”
First Dance
Luther Vandross, “Never Too Much” mixed with Too Short’s, “Shake that Monkey.”

That hat! That wine red three piece wedding suit! That amazing floral pocket square! Nakish’s wedding day look really was pure style.

And we don’t think we’ll ever be over the dramatic fitted-yet-voluminous silhouette of Tashira’s mermaid wedding dresses.

The Celebration Begins!

Leave it to a thoughtful couple like Tashira + Nakish to add some meaningful words to the descriptions of the specialty wedding cocktails at the reception bar! Such a cool idea.

Our Advice
1. Ignore traditions and create moments that reflect what you love. Love doesn't have a rulebook and neither should your special day.

2. Stay flexible and let go of perfection. Something (or someone lol) will go off script. Expect it, accept it and move on. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good and rob you of the joy of the day!

3. Choose your tribe wisely.  Surround yourself with calm, capable folks who can problem-solve, and protect your peace so you can stay present. Folks who truly know you without having to ask.

4. Keep the bigger picture in mind. As important as the day is, it’s almost guaranteed that something will go differently than planned.  But the wedding is only one moment of a lifetime of moments. Let everything else go and have a good ass time!

5. It’s your day–turn up!

“The concept ‘Harlem Nights meets Harpo’s Juke Joint’ was not just our theme, but a declaration of heritage,” the couple shares. “It celebrated resilience, elegance, and the creative legacy of Black storytelling through design.”

“Our goal was to always create a space and experience that represented who we are individually, but also as a couple. An experience that evoked the five senses: taste, smell, touch, sight, and sound. We used those two concepts as the foundation for creating the vibe and wedding experience for ourselves and our guests. We worked very closely with our wedding planner and the venue stylist to realize our vision.”

We love that Tashira + Nakish got a special marquee moment outside Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theater!

Take a peek at this darkly romantic wedding in an old theater or this kooky puppet theater wedding for a few more of our fave “name in lights” wedding photos.

Late Night Looks

“My afterparty look was a playful tux from Scorcesa that I paired with a bustier,” Tashira remembers.

Congratulations Tashira + Nakish!! Your beautiful Baltimore wedding was pure meaningful elegance. You two said it best: “This was no ordinary wedding. It was an affirmation.”

All the best from GWS, you two!