New Generation Fellowship 

Mensie Wedding

Ceremony

Balcony Ballroom

Reception

DRESS CODE: All black attire or black and white combination ONLY.....NO SOLID WHITE

Our Wedding

The year was 2005, and I was a brand new sophomore just figuring things out. I had joined the ASU track team and was living in King Hall with the other athletes. Every morning, Daryl, Nic, and I would wake up super early for our first practice of the day. Afterward, we’d hit up the café for breakfast, usually with John, Clarence (who was Nic’s roommate), and a few others. This became our little routine. One day while we were chatting at lunch, two ladies came over, and little did I know that one of them would turn out to be the love of my life. Shenelle was friends with Nic and Clarence, and at first, I didn’t really talk much when she was around—I was usually off in my own head. But as we kept running into each other, we started having little conversations. They were always a bit competitive but respectful. I ended up really respecting her because she was one of the few women I’d met who could keep up with me, and it turned into a fun challenge to try to get a rise out of her. By September 2006, I had to leave school because I ran out of money and knew I needed to grow up a bit. We stayed connected on Facebook, sending the occasional message to check in. Time flew by, and while we’d chat every now and then, it wasn’t something that weighed on our minds.In 2012, my life finally calmed down enough for me to head back to school and finish my degree. I was on a class trip to the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles when we reconnected. I don’t remember who called who, but we ended up talking for two and a half hours, catching up while I was on my way to the museum. We promised to keep in touch because there was so much to share. At the time, I was still married, and Shenelle always respected my marriage. However, as I transitioned out of that life, she offered me support, counsel, and stability. Her belief in God and the power of forgiveness helped ground me during some of my darkest moments and truly revealed her character as both a person and a friend. Throughout my educational journey, she remained exceptionally supportive. As a new parent, I also shared tips with her about raising kids. Despite the years passing, along with the chaos of divorce and breakups, we chose to remain friends, maintaining the close bond we had developed.

Fall&nbsp;2005,&nbsp;Alabama&nbsp;State&nbsp;University.&nbsp;A&nbsp;group&nbsp;of&nbsp;friends&nbsp;meet&nbsp;for&nbsp;lunch&nbsp;every&nbsp;day&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;café.&nbsp;Among&nbsp;them&nbsp;is&nbsp;JV,&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;annoying&nbsp;and&nbsp;arrogant&nbsp;guy&nbsp;from&nbsp;Miami.&nbsp;Knowing&nbsp;lots&nbsp;of&nbsp;people&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;group,&nbsp;I&nbsp;join&nbsp;in&nbsp;for&nbsp;daily&nbsp;meals&nbsp;and&nbsp;conversations.&nbsp;JV,&nbsp;I&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;know&nbsp;at&nbsp;all.&nbsp;Somehow,&nbsp;uncertain&nbsp;when&nbsp;it&nbsp;happened,&nbsp;daily&nbsp;lunch&nbsp;and&nbsp;laughs&nbsp;turned&nbsp;into&nbsp;arguments&nbsp;and&nbsp;debates&nbsp;between&nbsp;he&nbsp;and&nbsp;I.&nbsp;We&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;became&nbsp;lunchtime&nbsp;entertainment&nbsp;amongst&nbsp;the&nbsp;crew.&nbsp;I&nbsp;don't&nbsp;know&nbsp;why&nbsp;he&nbsp;loved&nbsp;bothering&nbsp;me,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;from&nbsp;New&nbsp;Orleans,&nbsp;not&nbsp;to&nbsp;mention&nbsp;an&nbsp;Aries,&nbsp;so&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;smoke&nbsp;he&nbsp;gave&nbsp;me,&nbsp;I&nbsp;gave&nbsp;it&nbsp;right&nbsp;back!&nbsp; JV&nbsp;left&nbsp;ASU&nbsp;in&nbsp;2006,&nbsp;and&nbsp;for&nbsp;me,&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;sight&nbsp;-&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;mind.&nbsp;A&nbsp;few&nbsp;years&nbsp;later,&nbsp;I&nbsp;received&nbsp;a&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;friend&nbsp;request,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;remember&nbsp;saying&nbsp;to&nbsp;myself,&nbsp;"The&nbsp;aggravating&nbsp;freckle&nbsp;face&nbsp;boy!"&nbsp;Reluctantly,&nbsp;I&nbsp;accepted,&nbsp;and&nbsp;occasionally,&nbsp;we'd&nbsp;send&nbsp;messages&nbsp;to&nbsp;check&nbsp;on&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;and&nbsp;vex&nbsp;the&nbsp;other's&nbsp;nerves.&nbsp;As&nbsp;years&nbsp;passed,&nbsp;we&nbsp;lived&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives,&nbsp;started&nbsp;families,&nbsp;and&nbsp;shaped&nbsp;our&nbsp;careers,&nbsp;yet&nbsp;remained&nbsp;in&nbsp;touch.&nbsp;The&nbsp;"frenemies"&nbsp;were&nbsp;slowly&nbsp;becoming&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;Of&nbsp;course,&nbsp;we&nbsp;both&nbsp;still&nbsp;had&nbsp;to&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;a&nbsp;slightly&nbsp;sarcastic and fiesty&nbsp;demeanor whenever we did talk,&nbsp;though.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;time,&nbsp;we&nbsp;discovered&nbsp;how&nbsp;much&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;in&nbsp;common&nbsp;and&nbsp;that&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;more&nbsp;alike&nbsp;than&nbsp;we&nbsp;thought.&nbsp;We&nbsp;shared&nbsp;a&nbsp;passion&nbsp;for&nbsp;food,&nbsp;equally&nbsp;enjoyed&nbsp;traveling,&nbsp;talked&nbsp;sports,&nbsp;discussed&nbsp;the&nbsp;latest&nbsp;songs&nbsp;and&nbsp;overlooked&nbsp;artists,&nbsp;and&nbsp;realized&nbsp;our&nbsp;love&nbsp;for&nbsp;exploration,&nbsp;adventure,&nbsp;and&nbsp;music&nbsp;is&nbsp;what&nbsp;truly&nbsp;bonded&nbsp;and&nbsp;connected&nbsp;us.

HERS

July&nbsp;2022,&nbsp;What&nbsp;started&nbsp;out&nbsp;as&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;regular&nbsp;calls,&nbsp;led&nbsp;to&nbsp;Jaivean&nbsp;asking&nbsp;a&nbsp;question:&nbsp;"What&nbsp;do&nbsp;you&nbsp;think&nbsp;a&nbsp;relationship&nbsp;between&nbsp;you&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;could&nbsp;look&nbsp;like&nbsp;if&nbsp;we&nbsp;really&nbsp;gave&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;a&nbsp;try"?&nbsp;That&nbsp;call&nbsp;lasted&nbsp;HOURS.&nbsp;I asked more questions&nbsp;than&nbsp;the&nbsp;CIA,&nbsp;FBI,&nbsp;DEA,&nbsp;you&nbsp;name&nbsp;it!&nbsp;The&nbsp;response:&nbsp;"We'll&nbsp;see,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;will&nbsp;not&nbsp;be&nbsp;your&nbsp;2022&nbsp;girlfriend!"&nbsp;(insider).&nbsp;Needless&nbsp;to&nbsp;say,&nbsp;we've&nbsp;been&nbsp;inseparable.&nbsp;By&nbsp;the&nbsp;end&nbsp;of&nbsp;2022,&nbsp;we'd&nbsp;returned&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;beloved&nbsp;ASU,&nbsp;met&nbsp;each&nbsp;other's&nbsp;children,&nbsp;spent&nbsp;the&nbsp;holidays&nbsp;together,&nbsp;and&nbsp;brought&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;New&nbsp;Year.&nbsp;March&nbsp;2023&nbsp;fiancé&nbsp;status&nbsp;was&nbsp;activated.&nbsp;While&nbsp;vacationing&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;together&nbsp;in&nbsp;Jamaica,&nbsp;a&nbsp;dream&nbsp;proposal&nbsp;with&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;beach&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;photographer&nbsp;was&nbsp;so&nbsp;thoughtfully&nbsp;and&nbsp;lovingly&nbsp;planned.&nbsp;The&nbsp;ultimate&nbsp;question&nbsp;by&nbsp;Jaivean:&nbsp;"Will&nbsp;you&nbsp;marry&nbsp;me?"&nbsp;The&nbsp;response:&nbsp;"Absolutely&nbsp;YES"!&nbsp;Due&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;long-distance&nbsp;relationship,&nbsp;the&nbsp;airport&nbsp;continues&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;our&nbsp;best&nbsp;friend&nbsp;with&nbsp;monthly&nbsp;visits&nbsp;and&nbsp;celebratory&nbsp;trips.&nbsp;We're&nbsp;proof&nbsp;that&nbsp;LDR&nbsp;can&nbsp;work!&nbsp;Our&nbsp;faith&nbsp;in&nbsp;God&nbsp;and&nbsp;commitment&nbsp;to&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;have&nbsp;allowed&nbsp;us&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;through&nbsp;all&nbsp;things&nbsp;together.&nbsp; WHEN&nbsp;I&nbsp;KNEW&nbsp;(Shenelle)&nbsp;-&nbsp;September&nbsp;2022:&nbsp;My&nbsp;relationship&nbsp;with&nbsp;Christ&nbsp;has&nbsp;and&nbsp;remains&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;a&nbsp;vital&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;life.&nbsp;Jaivean&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;were&nbsp;having&nbsp;a&nbsp;discussion&nbsp;about&nbsp;faith&nbsp;and&nbsp;prayer&nbsp;one&nbsp;night.&nbsp;I&nbsp;asked&nbsp;his&nbsp;thoughts&nbsp;and&nbsp;feelings&nbsp;about&nbsp;us&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;point&nbsp;praying&nbsp;together.&nbsp;He&nbsp;said&nbsp;he&nbsp;wouldn't&nbsp;mind&nbsp;and&nbsp;he'd&nbsp;be&nbsp;open&nbsp;to&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Upon&nbsp;ending&nbsp;the&nbsp;call&nbsp;and&nbsp;saying&nbsp;our&nbsp;goodnights,&nbsp;Jaivean&nbsp;says,&nbsp;"We&nbsp;haven't&nbsp;prayed&nbsp;yet.&nbsp;Let's&nbsp;start&nbsp;now."&nbsp;We've&nbsp;been&nbsp;praying&nbsp;together&nbsp;ever&nbsp;since.&nbsp;This&nbsp;was&nbsp;God's&nbsp;confirmation&nbsp;of&nbsp;what&nbsp;I&nbsp;already&nbsp;knew.....It&nbsp;Was&nbsp;Always&nbsp;You&nbsp;❤️........"Alexa,&nbsp;play&nbsp;Alicia&nbsp;Keys',&nbsp;That's&nbsp;When&nbsp;I&nbsp;Knew".&nbsp; WHEN&nbsp;I&nbsp;KNEW&nbsp;(Jaivean)&nbsp;- July 2022 marked a transformative moment for me. As Shenelle and I grew closer over the summer, my commitment to my Master's program kept me focused, but late one night, everything changed. I suddenly woke up, heart racing, realizing with clarity, "she's the one." That realization filled my thoughts, making it hard to drift back to sleep. It was the beginning of envisioning our future together and contemplating when to take the next big step with a ring. I’ve often joked with her about not being a great boyfriend since I feel so well-prepared for the role of a husband. For me, it’s never been about if I would propose, but when. I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead for us, and I can’t wait to explore this beautiful journey together!

OURS

Our Story

It Was Always You 

Photos

Micole R. Washington 

Knarvia Parker

Victoria Haynes Smith

Renita Rowe

Ashley Flowers

Kandrice Johnson

Sienna Landry 

Travis Wright

Roman Reed

Justin Marsh-Mensie

John Myles

Daryl Holloway

Justin Landry

Jaivean Mensie II

Wedding Party

Q + A

Please book your stay no later than September 3, 2025 using the link below.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New Orleans Airport

Please book your stay no later than September 4, 2025 using the link below.

Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center

If you are interested in this property, please contact us DIRECTLY for booking information. Unfortunately, this platform is not supporting the direct link. 

Please book your stay no later than September 3, 2025.

The Riverfront Hotel

Please book your stay no later than September 12, 2025 using the link below.

New Orleans Marriott

Accommodations 

Mardi Gras World

JAMNOLA

Vue Orleans

The National WWII Museum

Caesars Casino

Café Du Monde Riverwalk

The Sazerac House

Things to Do

Friday, October 3, 2025

Welcome event for ALL guests: meet and mingle with family and friends of the bride and groom.
 
 
TBD:
Place
Address
Time

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Rehearsal outing for wedding party ONLY

Weekend Activities Itinerary  

Registry

Shenelle & Jaivean