REAL WEDDING:: Kimberly Hirstius + Carlo Carollo III {THE POWER OF LOVE}

::AS SEEN IN THE JANUARY 2021 ISSUE OF NOW WEDDINGS MAGAZINE::

Written By: Jessica Burke | Photos: Calvin Gavion, Jr.

Carlo proposed to Kimberly by staging an elaborately-constructed Facebook contest ruse. Kimberly believed that she and Carlo had won a photo shoot that a photographer was giving away online. “My friend tagged me in the post and I submitted my information.” shares Kimberly. “She picked us along with 4 other couples. We scheduled our free shoot at City Park.”

When the day of the photo shoot arrived, Kimberly noticed the photographer seemed a bit frustrated that one of the other couples had cancelled on her at the last minute. “She was holding a bag and asked if we would like to try an idea she had. Of course we said yes,” says Kimberly. “She told us to write what we love most about each other on a chalkboard.” On the count of three, they would each reveal what they had written.

“When I turned around he was on one knee with “Will you marry me?” on his,” says Kimberly. The entire contest had been part of Carlo’s plan to propose! “We went on to take our engagement photos that afternoon. I was so over the moon (with) the thought he put in to surprise me!”

The wedding invitation with Kimberly's shoes and ring

Kimberly and Carlo planned an October 2020 wedding at the Elms Mansion in New Orleans. The summer and fall had been an extremely active hurricane season, but New Orleans dodged every storm until Hurricane Zeta struck on Halloween week. The storm knocked out power to much of the City for several days, including Kimberly and Carlo’s wedding day.

Kimberly and Carlo’s love couldn’t be stopped though and they moved forward with their plans, sans electricity. “My amazing group of vendors managed to come together and throw me my dream wedding WITHOUT POWER!” says Kimberly.

The couple shared a First Look under the Elms’ gazebo where they later said “I do” with their family and friends looking on.