World Bride Magazine Winter 2021

As the first African American woman to grace the cover of American VOGUE in 1974, iconic supermodel Beverly Johnson knows a thing or two about getting ready for the camera. She has posed for countless magazines, appeared on the cover of dozens of glossies, authored two health and beauty books as well as a memoir, The Face That Changed It All, but Beverly’s most important photo shoot is yet to come – her wedding portrait with her soon-to-be husband, financier, Brian Millian. “Finding the love of my life at this point in my life has been amazing,” the youthful-looking, love-blessed 68-year-old beauty icon shared recently with PEOPLE. MAINTENANCE IS KEY Visits to a dermatologist before a big photo shoot are a must, and Dr. Wendy E. Roberts, “The Youth Booster,”…

Where do we even begin? To say that 2020 was an unprecedented year would be an understatement. Never in our wildest dreams did any of us think that something like this could ever happen in our lifetime, let alone last as long as it has. COVID-19 caused us to reflect on what was truly important to us. We all have faced a myriad of challenges, awakening a variety of emotions that we can't even begin to describe. One thing we realized more than ever is how much love, family, friends, and time means to us. We wanted to savor every moment we had with loved ones. The things we thought mattered no longer seemed important, the things we thought we could put off became a priority and the people in…

FULL NAMES: James J. Slade & Tracy Slade OCCUPATIONS: Traffic Device Maintainer for DOT, (James) Caretaker of grounds NYCHA(Tracy) CULTURAL BACKGROUND: Both have Southern roots. HOW DID YOU BOTH MEET? We met at JFK Airport. We worked for the Dept of Homeland Security (TSA). WHERE DID YOU GET MARRIED? We were married in Brooklyn, at Bacchus Bistro & Wine. WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR BOTH OF YOU WHEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?: Location meant a lot to us. We didn’t want a wedding in another state. We wanted to be married in Brooklyn where most of our friends and family are located, which was the best choice for us. WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN TO YOU? Love means everything to us. We love God first, and then each other. We…

FULL NAMES: Michael Gordon, Kerry-Anne Gordon OCCUPATION: Engineer, OBGYN CULTURAL BACKGROUND: Jamaican, West Indian WHEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING WHAT WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO YOU? An event that we would look back on fondly. Even in the midst of a pandemic, we still wanted to have a classy occasion. The pictures/videos will live-on well past the pandemic, and we took the time to ensure that every detail would be memorable as we reflected on our special day. WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN TO YOU? Love speaks to the people around you who graciously share in your life in the most meaningful ways; whether by birth or the generosity of friendship. We all need a helping hand as we navigate the production of a wedding—or in life. Sometimes, a complete stranger…

What started as a connection in the DMs led to the love of a lifetime for JaLisa & Cory Jefferson. A backyard lawn ceremony, just 5 days after the proposal, set the stage for a home-quarantined love story to remember. Two major planners met their match in each other this year as bride, JaLisa E. Vaughn, was surprised with a beautiful proposal by groom, Cory Jefferson, at her parents’ home. “Cory and I dated for almost exactly one year before he proposed,” the bride says. “Due to the current climate of our world (the COVID-19 pandemic), Cory worked with my parents and my brother to set up the proposal at our weekly family Bible study.” Only 5 days after popping the question, the couple pulled together an intimate ceremony at…

FRANKLIN THOMPSON Franklin is a beauty and fashion photographer whose work has appeared in magazines including Highlights, Noi.se, And+Men, Vogue Italia (Photo Vogue) and StyleMode. His clients include TRESemme, Cover Girl, Brides.com and Condé Nast. He has exhibited at galleries and art fairs in New York and Miami. He is pursuing publication of his first book, a collection of images taken during five years of travel through Europe, Morocco, Turkey and the U.S. KARIS RENEE Digital influencer and creative, Karis Renee has fashion industry roots with a heart for sharing love stories of couples and couture. Her diverse experience and world view attracts a wide audience of over 350,000 followers across her platforms, where she shares style & stories as your #WorldBrideInsider. Styling, writing, and photography have fueled Karis’ passion…