Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

From Love Exile to legal wedded bliss: get your hankies out for this wedding

At a Glance

After meeting fatefully at a nightclub in D.C., Tamara proposed to Leriche every single day. Tamara had to became a Love Exile in South Africa to allow Leriche to join her as a legal immigrant since the U.S. didn’t allow LGBT sponsorship for partners. They were legally married in South Africa, but their dream of having a ceremony at home finally came true when Virginia passed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage. Come see their joyful story.

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride
Photos by Turner Photography Studio

Tamara and Leriche had a fated meeting in a nightclub in Washington, D.C where they both professed how beautiful the other was on first sight — they each argue that they said it first! They both left with a number on a napkin, the rest was history. (Herstory?)

However, without being able to get married in a country without legal spousal rights, it wasn’t an easy road for these two. For five years, Tamara proposed to Leriche via email every single day. Eventually, Tamara became a Love Exile in South Africa, which allowed Leriche to join her as a legal immigrant. It was in the kitchen of their flat where they got legally married, just between the two of them and their two witnesses.

Their dream of having a ceremony at home finally came true when Virginia passed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage. Their U.S. getting-wedded ceremony was just about four years after they had their legal ceremony.

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Love Exiles wedding as seen on @offbeatbride

Vendors

Photography: Turner Photography Studio

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