The love story of Cierra Sanders and former NFL player Preston Brown began long before stadium lights and milestone moments, back when they were teenagers passing each other in the high- school hallways. Preston was accustomed to greeting classmates, but it was Cierra’s unexpected response – “Hi, Preston!” – that caught his attention. “He was so shocked and excited that I knew who he was,” the bride recalls.

Over time, a friendship grew into something deeper, evolving alongside Preston’s football career, including his time as a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. One moment, in particular, solidified his certainty. “I realized I couldn’t live without her after I had to play in London on my birthday in 2019,” he shares. “She flew all the way out there alone and smuggled a miniature birthday cake into the stadium for me to celebrate after the game.”

When it was time to propose, Preston asked for the blessing of Cierra’s parents and then planned a multi-layered surprise that began with a helicopter ride over Downtown Atlanta, landing on a rooftop where a videographer awaited. “I started to hear my favorite song, ‘Ribbon in the Sky’ by Stevie Wonder, played on the saxophone, my favorite instrument,” Cierra remembers. At the bottom of a winding staircase, she discovered an aisle lined with white roses and a “Marry Me” sign. “I instantly burst into tears,” she confirms. After capturing the emotional moment in real time with an engagement shoot, the curtains opened to reveal a room filled with their closest friends and family, ready to celebrate.

Though the couple selected a June wedding date, the design told a very different story. “Our wedding was planned around a Winter Wonderland theme,” explains Cierra. “I had always dreamed of a winter wedding, but because several of Preston’s football friends were in season, a traditional winter date wasn’t possible.” While Cierra was happy to compromise on timing, she held onto the vision she had imagined since childhood. Working closely with her planner and a talented creative team – including Floral V Designs – the concept was brought to life. “From the color palette to the overall ambience, the result was everything I had dreamed of and more,” she affirms.

“From the color palette to the overall ambience, the result was everything I had dreamed of and more.”

Choosing a destination was equally meaningful. “Our choice of locations was deeply rooted in hometown pride,” Cierra smiles. With a shared love of music, Cincinnati Music Hall felt like a natural fit for their nuptials. When they learned a pre-scheduled orchestra performance prevented the couple from hosting both the ceremony and reception there, their planner secured an alternate ceremony space that proved just as special. “Not only was it stunning, but we were the very first couple to be married there,” says Cierra. “Together, the two venues allowed us to honor our city, our love for music, and the uniqueness of our story.”

Rather than opting for a first look, the couple chose to pray together before the ceremony, grounding themselves in faith and intentionality. When it was at last time to see his bride walk down the aisle, “I started to cry immediately,” Preston reminisces. “Thinking about our past and our future, I couldn’t keep it together.” The space was filled with love and the sounds of their favorite R&B music, as well as all-white décor highlighting vanilla-toned blooms and wintry tree branches.

Guests were next welcomed into a grand reception space transformed into a true winter escape. “I envisioned an atmosphere filled with icy elements, snowflakes, and layered shades of blue, accented by sculptural tree branches throughout,” Cierra describes. Preston adds: “It looked like it jumped right off our vision board. The ‘Winter in June’ mark was hit extremely well.” Guests found their table assignments displayed alongside snowflake-topped favor boxes and a “Ring for Champagne” installation, where a silver bell summoned flutes of bubbly.

“As Christians with a deep love for our faith, we also wanted worship to be central to our celebration and chose to begin our reception with praise, welcoming our guests with a live choir performance,” details the bride. At her florist Cady Vance’s suggestion, the evening opened with Victorious’ live choir performance inspired by Gospel musician Kirk Franklin, setting a powerful and joy-filled tone for the evening.

Their floral designer also brought their vision to life with tablescapes highlighting arrangements of hydrangeas, delphiniums, roses, painted pampas, and dried ruscus in shades of white and blue, with surrounding frosted votives providing a soft glow. Serpentine tables were styled with smaller groupings; king’s tables were accented with glass candelabras and organic winter blooms; and other tables showcased tall glass vases filled with white branches for a dramatic, yet elegant effect.

After dinner, loved ones enjoyed slices of the seven-tier wedding cake, which alternated between smooth white fondant and clear acrylic, creating a modern floating effect with contemporary ruffles, “icicles,” and white branches suspending edible glitter snowflakes. The entertainment carried the revelry into the night. “I wanted the wedding to be a spectacle,” Preston confirms. With their DJ setting the pace and a live performance by Case, the energy never waned.

The evening concluded with a storybook grand exit in a horse-drawn carriage – an unforgettable finale to a celebration that honored faith, family, and the city that shaped their love story.

This real wedding was originally published as a cover story in the Spring 2026 issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

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