by Christina Andrews
Photos: Mr. Mike
On September 4, 2022, Paris Denise Lowery and Joseph Dixon, stars of Bravo’s hit reality show, Love Match Atlanta, made the ultimate love match: tying the knot themselves! SIGNATURE BRIDE, through our Follow the Bride series, enjoyed an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their wonderful love story and subsequent wedding in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Though love and business are not often great bedfellows, the Dixons’ work partnership proved to be an exception. In 2014, Joseph launched a groundbreaking app, RealBlackLove, with the goal of filling a void Black professionals had been experiencing in seeking their perfect love match. At the time, no other dating apps focused exclusively on African Americans, and a newly single Paris decided to join RealBlackLove in hopes of changing her luck on the dating scene. Joseph, being a hands-on app developer, had been screening new members as they logged on. When he came across Paris’ profile, he knew that she was going to be more than just another name in his database.
Shortly thereafter, the two began dating, and Paris ultimately became Joseph’s business partner in addition to his partner in romance. Joseph’s enthusiasm and admiration for the love of his life knows no bounds. “Paris is so helpful, smart and intelligent, great with people, and a lover of love,” he says. “She would help anyone that she could. It excites her to see others excel and achieve anything they want.”
Through their business collaboration, Paris and Joseph have brought together more than 1,500 couples. Their personable approach to matchmaking gained them national media coverage and numerous television appearances, including starring in the first season of Love Match Atlanta, a reality show focusing on Atlanta’s vibrant Black singles scene. One of this season's highlights was Joseph asking Paris’ father for her hand in marriage. After getting the green light, Joseph described his hesitation in taking the next step. “I held on to the ring for three months, waiting for the right time to pop the question,” he recalls. “I wanted the show to be over. I wanted the cameras gone. I wanted it to be our moment. It was her and I alone at the house, with no kids or anyone else. It was a quiet weekend for us. I proposed, and we made dinner. That was perfect for us. It was just her and me.”
The June proposal meant Paris and Joseph were left with less than two months to pull together all the wedding logistics to achieve Paris’ dream of a fall celebration. Though pressed for time, there were still some nonnegotiable details. “We wanted a venue that could host both the ceremony and reception,” says Paris. “I didn’t want guests traveling from one location to another. And we wanted a place where our guests could engage and mingle effortlessly.” The couple found everything they were looking for in the Crystal Ballroom in Charlotte.
Under the direction of site coordinator Taylor Anne Wade and celebrity event producer Jorge Cazzorla, formerly the founder of Celebrate Flowers NYC, Paris and Joseph’s dreamy midday wedding was beautifully realized. The Crystal Ballroom’s contemporary “bones,” with its gray hickory floors, sleek marble accents, floor-to-ceiling windows, and crisp white and taupe color scheme is offset with classically detailed wall panels, cornices and chair rails. This clean, crisp look provided a perfect backdrop for the final layer of detailing: opulent, dripping-with-crystal chandeliers, romantically embracing cross-swathes of sheer white drapery and dramatic king’s tables in high-gloss white with perfect rows of “crystal” Chiavari chairs adorned with blush satin chair sashes.
In selecting the flowers that commanded the look for both ceremony and reception, Cazzorla chose an early fall palette of creamy whites, soft pinks and coral with a sprinkling of antique burgundy for his trendy and stylish silk florals. These silks were present in everything from bouquets and altar sprays to dinner table arrangements, as well as in the dramatic floral structure framing of the sweetheart table.
For the ceremony, bridesmaids’ blush satin dresses were offset by wrist corsages in silk tea roses and globe bouquets of larger cream silk roses gathered into ornamented silver holders. The bride’s ruffly, tiered tulle dress in a gradated blush (light to darker, top to bottom) with a shirred tulle bodice had cap sleeves in a delicate floral applique of miniature crystals. Paris’ more detailed hand-wrapped silk bouquet included a variety of roses, ranunculus, orchids and eucalyptus in pale pinks and violet, blush, creamy yellow, white and bluish greens. These romantic florals echoed the soft, lush aesthetic of her gown from The Custom Bride, a dress salon owned by Ming Clark, one of Paris’ co-stars on Love Match Atlanta.
Joseph and his groomsmen sported classic charcoal tuxes with satin lapels, crisp white dress shirts, blush bowties and casual footwear for this daytime wedding. They also wore traditional boutonnieres of a single silk rose with a sprig of baby’s breath.
As guests, adorned in all-white, arrived at the property, they were greeted by a beautiful welcome table decorated with a massive spray of white lilies in an eye-catching vertical brass vase. Surrounding this commanding arrangement were white pillar candles in assorted-height hurricanes, elevated by a bottom layer of clear glass marbles. Other candles burned in tall, footed pedestal holders. To the side of this white welcome table were other tables with gold-framed mirrors and a topiary wall backdrop. The feel: crisp, clean and bright, elegant and soothing to the eye.
The Crystal Ballroom’s ceremony setup was equally intriguing and beautiful. Guests were tucked comfortably into a spacious room with white marble floors, soft drapery and crystal (Lucite) Chiavari chairs with formal white cushions. Chairs on the aisle were defined with special tulle sashes; the aisle itself was lined with a sprinkling of rose petals below and delicate gold chandeliers above. The wall on the far end of the room fully opened onto a trellised patio, which overlooked a formal garden and lawn. The ceremony altar was defined by two tall, white Grecian urns on modern white pedestals. These colossal arrangements included the highest-quality silks in standard roses, garden roses and hydrangeas, with delicate detailing in silk orchids, sweet peas and eucalyptus. Spectacular! The trellis sported a somewhat more colorful variation of the same, softened by sheer draping on the sides and pulled back by fat satin bows in blush, with yet more flowers—an opulent and joyous display. One other lovely detail was the floral arc at the front end of the ceremony aisle. It provided the perfect frame for picture taking as the bridal party entered and then processed to the altar.
Post-ceremony, guests enjoyed wine and cocktails at the Ballroom’s stylish bar. VIPs, the bridal party, and the bride and groom were then introduced into the grand ballroom—a multicourse dinner for the eyes. Exquisitely attired guests and the bridal party made their entrances. And then there was the ballroom itself—amazing from top to bottom!
In addition to the room’s incredible chandeliers was a wall of soft white, crisscrossed sheer drapery sprinkled with twinkle lights. The sweetheart table was the focal point at this end of the room, with its high-back, all-white leather settee and over-the-top table setting. The table itself had a full-drape white linen overlaid with a mirrored glass top. This setting was framed by a downpour of silk spring cherry blossom branches in all white.
Other notable detailing included the all-glass candelabra with white tapers. Paris and Joseph’s beautiful buttercream wedding cake, with its whimsical piped wave pattern and silver satin ribbon on the layers, was artfully displayed on a cocktail round with a white drape cinched with a large blush satin bow. An incredibly romantic setting!
Guests were seated alternately at glossy all-white king’s tables or at large rounds with full-length white linens. Tabletop elements at both included generous silk florals (similar florals to the ceremony urns) on tall glass pedestals and short, compact floral globes down the length of the long tables. Intermingled on the long tables were garlands of gently bunched tulle, floating candles in tall, footed holders, stark white pillar candles and sparkly mercury glass votives. Each place at the table was set with silver chargers that had a Victorian botanical motif (plus similarly styled flatware) and tied across each was a blush satin napkin with silver jewelry detailing. The theme: simple, timeless, romantic.
The center of the ballroom was left free for dancing, and Paris and Joseph did just that with the gusto and energy that this bright, daytime wedding invited.
