Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Dawn and Derrick’s love story began with an unexpected encounter at a Food Science conference in Chicago, IL during Summer 2018. Both students at Alabama A&amp;M University found themselves in the same hotel lobby one summer evening, waiting for friends who were running late. Derrick’s charm and sense of humor instantly caught Dawn’s attention, while her smile and quick wit left Derrick fascinated. Prior to the Chicago trip Dawn hadn’t seen Derrick on the Alabama A&amp;M campus before. Derrick has seen her before by passing at Food Science club meetings and at the campus gym. By the end of the conference, they had exchanged numbers, and the first sparks of something special had been lit. That summer, their connection deepened through texts and late-night phone calls. What began as casual conversations about their favorite dishes and TV shows soon evolved into intimate talks about their aspirations, fears, and dreams. By the time the fall semester began, and they both returned to Huntsville, it made sense that they would stay in touch. They found themselves enrolled in the same classes, which was an unexpected instance that became the perfect start of their relationship. Derrick and Dawn made their relationship official at the beginning of the 2019 Spring semester. Dating was effortless and natural. Dawn and Derrick quickly became each other’s safe spaces and greatest cheerleaders. Late-night study sessions transformed into impromptu cooking sessions in Dawn’s on-campus apartment. Their weekends were filled with brunch dates at Huntsville’s best restaurants and hanging out with each other's friend groups. Together, they embodied the spirit of young love—vibrant, supportive, and inspiring. As their final year at college approached, reality tested the strength of their relationship. Dawn earned a spot in the Food Science master’s program that would keep her at Alabama A&amp;M University, while Derrick was offered a promising position in Columbia, South Carolina with Ecolab. The separation was hard, but they chose to face it together. Derrick committed to making the six-hour drive every month to see Dawn, turning weekends into escapes from the rigors of their separate lives. For years, this became their new normal by them waiting to see each other in person each month. Despite the challenges, they leaned on their shared faith, late-night FaceTime calls, and thoughtful gestures. Once Dawn graduated from her master’s program, she accepted a job offer with General Mills in Murfreesboro, TN. After working there for one year Dawn was promoted to a position with General Mills in the Greater Atlanta area while Derrick was promoted as well and moved to Virginia. Throughout all these career moves Dawn &amp; Derrick managed to continue their long distance with hopes that they would eventually end up getting jobs in the same city. Their patience and perseverance were finally rewarded when Derrick accepted a position in Atlanta, allowing them to close the distance and start a new chapter together. Their reunion felt like coming home—not just to a city, but to one another. Atlanta became their playground, a place where they could dream big, build their lives, and rediscover the joy of being side by side every day. Now, their days are filled with the same magic that brought them together: experimenting in the kitchen, exploring their vibrant community, and finding solace in one another’s arms after a long day. Dawn and Derrick’s love story is more than just a romance. It is a testament to resilience, Black love, and the beauty of two people growing and thriving together. Their journey, rooted in faith, commitment, and a shared vision for the future, is a celebration of everything they’ve overcome and everything they’ve yet to achieve.

Our Love Story

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

We have been working with a Certified Destination Wedding Specialist to arrange the best travel packages for our wedding. To ensure all planning is well coordinated, we encourage everyone to make their arrangements by either:Please sign into our Wedding Website from the Attend a Wedding page on DestinationWeddings.com through the link below<a href="https://event.destinationweddings.com/dw/site/main/attend-a-wedding.asp?dw_weddingcode=22126&amp;dw_bname=Nash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://event.destinationweddings.com/dw/site/main/attend-a-wedding.asp?dw_weddingcode=22126&amp;dw_bname=Nash</a> Enter Username: Nash&nbsp;Enter Passcode: 22126Click "Request a Quote"ORContact our Certified Destination Wedding Specialist, Dan Smith, at (949) 243-9130 or dansmith@destinationweddings.com for assistance through the booking process.Please book your hotel room at Sandals Negril Resort under our room block through Dan Smith. To attend our wedding all of our remaining guests must book their hotel accommodations at Sandals (Adults Only) or Beaches (Family Friendly) Negril ResortsWe look forward to seeing you there!

Sandals Negril  

The nearest airport from the Sandals Negril Resort is in Montego Bay at the Montego Bay Sangster International Airport (MBJ). If you are staying at Sandals or Beaches Negril Resorts, transportation to and from the airport are included. Relax and enjoy a stress-free ride from the airport in a roomy, air-conditioned transfer. Negril is 90 minutes from the Montego Bay airport.

Airport

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Please use the link to below to access our honeymoon fund

<a href="https://www.honeyfund.com/site/nash-english-02-21-2026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.honeyfund.com/site/nash-english-02-21-2026</a>

Dawn & Derrick's Registry

Dawn & Derrick's Wedding

Dawn & Derrick's Wedding

Photos