Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Ocean Wedding

Spring

#OceanView

Our Wedding

Melanie's&nbsp;View The&nbsp;story&nbsp;begins&nbsp;in&nbsp;November&nbsp;2019&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;business&nbsp;networking&nbsp;sight&nbsp;LinkedIn.&nbsp;I&nbsp;connected&nbsp;with&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;belief&nbsp;that&nbsp;we&nbsp;could&nbsp;professionally&nbsp;network&nbsp;here&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Columbia&nbsp;area&nbsp;and&nbsp;because&nbsp;we&nbsp;both&nbsp;were&nbsp;Carolina&nbsp;Alum.&nbsp;Conversation&nbsp;began&nbsp;on&nbsp;my&nbsp;initiation,&nbsp;and&nbsp;there&nbsp;the&nbsp;start&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;friendship&nbsp;officially&nbsp;was&nbsp;set&nbsp;in&nbsp;motion.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;the&nbsp;weeks&nbsp;and&nbsp;well&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;early&nbsp;months&nbsp;of&nbsp;2020,&nbsp;we&nbsp;developed&nbsp;a&nbsp;very&nbsp;unique&nbsp;friendship.&nbsp;Communication&nbsp;was&nbsp;open&nbsp;and&nbsp;easy,&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;found&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;so&nbsp;many&nbsp;similarities&nbsp;which&nbsp;was&nbsp;rare. Thomas'&nbsp;View Our&nbsp;journey&nbsp;began&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Fall&nbsp;of&nbsp;2019,&nbsp;thanks&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;LinkedIn&nbsp;connection.&nbsp;What&nbsp;started&nbsp;as&nbsp;casual&nbsp;messages&nbsp;about&nbsp;life,&nbsp;music,&nbsp;sports,&nbsp;and&nbsp;childhood&nbsp;memories&nbsp;soon&nbsp;blossomed&nbsp;into&nbsp;a&nbsp;cherished&nbsp;friendship.

LINKEDIN

Melanie's&nbsp;ViewThomas&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;frequently&nbsp;began&nbsp;having&nbsp;weekly&nbsp;phone&nbsp;conversations.&nbsp;We&nbsp;could&nbsp;literally&nbsp;talk&nbsp;about&nbsp;any&nbsp;and&nbsp;everything.&nbsp;From&nbsp;our&nbsp;college&nbsp;days&nbsp;at&nbsp;Carolina,&nbsp;football,&nbsp;women's&nbsp;basketball,&nbsp;music,&nbsp;God,&nbsp;relationships,&nbsp;marriage,&nbsp;books,&nbsp;podcast,&nbsp;children,&nbsp;our&nbsp;days&nbsp;playing&nbsp;high&nbsp;school&nbsp;basketball&nbsp;(we&nbsp;both&nbsp;wore&nbsp;#4),&nbsp;childhood,&nbsp;and&nbsp;family.Though&nbsp;we&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;pursue&nbsp;a&nbsp;romantic&nbsp;relationship,&nbsp;we&nbsp;remained&nbsp;good&nbsp;friends,&nbsp;talking&nbsp;periodically&nbsp;over&nbsp;the&nbsp;years.&nbsp;We&nbsp;often&nbsp;discussed&nbsp;our&nbsp;dating&nbsp;experiences,&nbsp;offering&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;advice&nbsp;and&nbsp;support.&nbsp;Both&nbsp;of&nbsp;us&nbsp;believed&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;found&nbsp;our&nbsp;future&nbsp;partners,&nbsp;but&nbsp;life&nbsp;had&nbsp;other&nbsp;plans.I&nbsp;found&nbsp;solace&nbsp;in&nbsp;Thomas,&nbsp;as&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;to&nbsp;cultivate&nbsp;this&nbsp;type of&nbsp;friendship&nbsp;with&nbsp;such&nbsp;a&nbsp;driven&nbsp;and&nbsp;respectful&nbsp;man.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;always&nbsp;tell&nbsp;my&nbsp;girl&nbsp;friends&nbsp;that&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;had&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;qualities&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;in a partner when&nbsp;I&nbsp;began&nbsp;to&nbsp;date&nbsp;again,&nbsp;however,&nbsp;we&nbsp;never&nbsp;entertained&nbsp;a&nbsp;romantic&nbsp;relationship,&nbsp;largely&nbsp;in&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;timing&nbsp;and&nbsp;distance.&nbsp;As&nbsp;the&nbsp;years&nbsp;went&nbsp;by,&nbsp;we&nbsp;remained&nbsp;great&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;&nbsp;He&nbsp;became&nbsp;my&nbsp;listening&nbsp;ear,&nbsp;as&nbsp;I&nbsp;always&nbsp;called&nbsp;and&nbsp;consulted&nbsp;him&nbsp;about&nbsp;my&nbsp;dating&nbsp;relationships.&nbsp;&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;my&nbsp;&nbsp;go&nbsp;to&nbsp;for&nbsp;advice! Thomas'&nbsp;ViewAs&nbsp;our&nbsp;bond&nbsp;grew&nbsp;stronger,&nbsp;we&nbsp;discovered&nbsp;many&nbsp;similarities&nbsp;and&nbsp;realized&nbsp;we&nbsp;could&nbsp;talk&nbsp;about&nbsp;anything&nbsp;together.&nbsp;Despite&nbsp;our&nbsp;connection,&nbsp;we&nbsp;never&nbsp;considered&nbsp;a&nbsp;romantic&nbsp;relationship.&nbsp;The&nbsp;timing&nbsp;wasn’t&nbsp;right—I&nbsp;had&nbsp;recently&nbsp;ended&nbsp;a&nbsp;long-term&nbsp;relationship&nbsp;and&nbsp;was&nbsp;wary&nbsp;of&nbsp;long-distance&nbsp;dating,&nbsp;while&nbsp;Melanie&nbsp;had&nbsp;just&nbsp;finalized&nbsp;her&nbsp;divorce&nbsp;and&nbsp;preferred&nbsp;to&nbsp;date&nbsp;locally. Though we didn't pursue a romantic relationship, we remained good friends, talking periodically over the years. We often discussed our dating experiences, offering each other advice and support.

FRIENDSHIP

Melanie's ViewMid 2022, I wanted to focus on God, His Voice, and His direction for my life, so I took a hiatus and deactivated all of my social media networks for about 5 months. Also during this time, I met an unexpected love interest and felt that I had finally crossed paths with whom would be my forever partner. At this point, Thomas and I hadn't spoken in months(being that I was no longer on social media), but in December 2022 on my birthday he sent me a "Happy Birthday" text, which stood out to me because it showed that the nature of our friendship remained even during long periods that we didn't speak, and that he was a man of his word because he kept his promise to me lol. A week later on December 29, while attending the USC vs Texas A&amp;M wbb game, unbeknownst that he was there at the game too, Thomas found his way over to my section to say "hello" to me. It had been over two years since I last saw him in person, so at that moment it was very nice to see him again. In January 2023, once back on social media, Thomas and I chatted about a fitness post that he created on instagram, and it was within that chat that he suggested we meet up after the upcoming USC vs LSU wbb game just to catch up and talk about all that had been happening in our lives. Thomas' ViewIn the latter half of 2022, life kept us busy, and we didn’t talk for months. That changed with a simple "Happy Birthday" text from me to Melanie. A few weeks later, we saw each other at a USC women's basketball game—our first in-person meeting in nearly two years. A month later, we reconnected on social media, and I invited Melanie to dinner after an upcoming LSU vs. USC women's basketball game.

RECONNECTING

Melanie's ViewAfter the USC vs LSU game, Thomas and I met and ate dinner at Motor Supply Bistro! Of course our talk was geared toward one of our favorite topics, relationships. We both recapped everything in our lives that had taken place from the start of summer 2022 until present day. What we noticed was that both of our journeys from past relationships were exactly the same. We encouraged one another! Then we spoke of our needs, wants, and desires that we hoped to find as we looked to journey back out in the dating world...both of our sentiments of our needs and wants were yet again Exactly the same. At this point, I could feel something different, it was hard to make eye contact with him, almost like the atmosphere shifted. Thomas then proceeded to ask me "Why did he and I never considered each other" I smiled/laughed and replied to him "Thomas that is one conversation that I know good and well you are not ready to have" lol.The conversation was eventually had about a month later, our journey begin, and it has been the most Amazing journey with the most Amazing man that God could have ever placed into my life. Truly I have found love in the easiest, most understanding, most respectful, most similar, most authentic, most genuine, most laughing, most vibing, and family oriented love that I prayed for, and God delivered. I love you Sweetheart... Thomas' ViewThat evening, we talked for hours about our lives, our experiences, and, most notably, our relationships. This conversation led to me asking Melanie, with our strong friendship, why had we never considered dating each other. Melanie laughed and replied, "You’re not ready for that conversation!" We both laughed and continued our dinner, but the question lingered. Over the following weeks, our friendship deepened, and we started seeing each other in a new light. The timing, at last, felt right. And so, our story continues, as we look forward to our future together, knowing that the best is yet to come.

Something is Different-  VIBES >>CHEMISTRY>>LOVE

Love Story

Memories Captured

Madelyn Sims

Junior Bride

Parent's of the Bride-  Harvey & Mattie Bonaparte

Parent's of the Groom-  Thomas Sr. & Abigail Ocean

Grandparents of the Bride & Groom

Bridal Party

Natalie Thompson

John Brown

Yolanda Moorer

Travis Durant 

Chenise Manigo

Sammie Taylor

Brittany Johnson

Maurice Bonaparte

Danyell Boneparte

Jason Ocean

Dominique Stewart

CJ Perkins

Flower Girls

A'Miyah Spann

Liberty McGill

Ring Bearer

Aidan Blacks-Bonaparte

Hostess 

Arieanna Ocean

Torri Blacks-Bonaparte

Ivyanna Moorer

Hosts

Na'Quan Spann

Josiah Durant

Wedding Party

Gotta Be

Matrimony

WITH YOU

Music

Registry

This location is a 5 minute drive to the Convention Center. Guest Rooms:&nbsp;16 rooms at a rate of&nbsp;$109 plus %14tax&nbsp;per night (8 King Bed Standard &amp; 8 2 Queen Beds Suite). MUST BOOK BY APRIL 1ST. Parking:&nbsp;$14 per vehicle per nightBefore parking on the property we recommend finding a park at the meters because they are free on the weekends.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbia Downtown – the Vista, an IHG Hotel

This location is located across the street from the Convention Center. Less than 5 minute walk. Parking is $18/day so we recommend parking at a meter nearby because they are free on the weekends. ONLY 5 ROOMS AVAILABLE AT THIS RATE. MUST BOOK BY APRIL 1ST. Booking Instructions: Room assignments can be made by using the provided website link or directly with the hotel by calling Hilton at 803-744-7800/1-800-HILTONS. ** In order to confirm a room assignment for your attendees, we will require them to provide a credit card for guarantee. If room assignment is not cancelled 48 hours before the guest arrives they will be charged one night room and tax.

Hilton Columbia Center

This location is adjacent to Convention Center. Less than 5 a minute walk. Parking is $18/day so we recommend parking at a meter nearby because they are free on the weekends. ONLY 5 ROOMS AVAILABLE AT THIS RATE. MUST BOOK BY APRIL 1ST. Booking Instructions: Room assignments can be made by using the provided website link or directly with the hotel by calling Hampton at 803-231-2000/1-800-HAMPTON. ** In order to confirm a room assignment for your attendees, we will require them to provide a credit card for guarantee. If room assignment is not cancelled 48 hours before the guest arrives they will be charged one night room and tax.

Hampton Inn Columbia-Downtown Historic District

This location is a 5 minute drive to the Convention Center. MUST BOOK BY APRIL 7TH Parking: $18 per vehicle per night.Before parking on the property we recommend finding a park at the meters they aer free on the weekends.

Hyatt Place Columbia/Downtown/The Vista

Hotel Accommodations 

Q + A