What’s In a Name – Q City Metro


When Vincinta met Timothy, she not only made sure that he knew her name but also promised him that he would remember it. Eight years later, he had not forgotten, and asked her to take his name. 

Bride: Vincinta Benton, 30, Entrepreneur – Financial Services, native of Wake Forest, North Carolina
Groom: Timothy Benton Jr., 32, Entrepreneur – Logistics and Financial Services, native of Charlotte, North Carolina 
Current Residence: Charlotte, North Carolina 
Wedding Date: May 28, 2022 
Venue/Location: Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort, Cancun, Mexico 

How They Met 

(Vincinta) Tim and I attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. We met during my senior year. One of my best friends, Sierra, and Tim were resident assistants at Chidley Hall. As part of their job, they had to host resident events—the number of residents attending determined whether they received credit. Sierra asked me to attend one of her events, and Tim was there.  

When I saw him, I thought he was cute and asked Sierra who he was. After it ended, we all went down to the lobby. Tim was talking to everyone except me. I finally said, “Hey! You have asked everybody their names except me.” That weirded him out, but he asked, “Okay, what’s your name?” When I told him, he said he probably wouldn’t remember that. I jokingly said, “Oh yes, you will remember.”   

Tim also worked at the campus bookstore. I had gone there with a mutual friend when I saw him and said hello. I still thought he was cute, but we had not made a connection. This friend suggested that I get Tim’s phone number. I told him that if Tim wanted my number, he would get it. He must have told Tim what I said because he contacted me on Instagram and asked for my phone number. I accidentally sent him the wrong number. He ended up getting the correct number from Sierra and called me. We began talking and getting to know each other. Then we went on our first date. 

(Timothy) I was an RA in college. Part of our job was to have educational events for our residents. Vincinta showed up at one event because she was friends with my coworker. I remember asking my coworker, “Who is that chick that keeps staring at me?”  

After the event, we were all talking in the lobby. I was asking people their names when she said, “You didn’t ask me my name.” After she told me her name I said, “I probably won’t remember that, but I’ll give it my best shot.” 

Later, a mutual friend told me that Vincita liked me and wanted to talk to me. I hit her up on Instagram and asked for her phone number. She sent me a number, but when I texted it, I did not get a response. I thought she was not interested. 

 About a week later, Sierra asked me if I had contacted Vincinta. I said I had texted her, but she never texted me back. Sierra asked me what number I had used. When I told her, she gave me the correct number. I hit her up again, and we have been talking ever since.  

We took it slow, starting as friends and getting to know each other. Neither of us wanted to mess things up, so it was about two months before our first date. 

Their First Date 

(Vincinta) Our first date was simple. Tim got some habanero wings with fried pickles from Buffalo Wild Wing, and we went to the park for a picnic. I am a big foodie, and he got my favorites. I was impressed that he had paid that much attention. It was fun. I was feeling butterflies, but I was happy. 

Everything just flowed from there. We started spending time at one another’s houses. I brought him food from Chili’s when he was studying late for midterms. He was surprised that I cared enough to bring him something to eat.  

One day I told him, “I just wanted to let you know, you’re already my boyfriend in my eyes.” The look on his face said, “Something is wrong with this girl. She is crazy.” A few days later, he gave me a letter like those shared in middle school asking, “Will you be my girlfriend?” There were three boxes I could check, and they all said yes. I replied, “Maybe you didn’t hear me the first time, but you are already my boyfriend. So, yes.”  

(Timothy) Her favorite restaurant at the time was Buffalo Wild Wings. She likes their mango habanero wings. I set up the date and got the wings. I picked her up from school and drove to the park. It was a good date, but I did make one mistake. I am a jokester, and she made a funny face while we were talking. I told her it looked like Perry the Platypus on Phineas and Ferb. Luckily, she knew my personality by that time, but it still took some explaining. 

About three weeks after our first date, we sat down and discussed what we wanted from our relationship. Vincinta told me she was my girlfriend, whether I knew it or not. I thanked her for the information and assured her we would discuss it later. After thinking about it, I realized I liked this girl and was not looking for anybody else. So yes, she is my girlfriend.  

I knew she did not like guessing about our relationship status, so I wrote her a letter. It said, “Will you be my girlfriend?” It had old-school boxes that said yes, maybe, and yes. She checked the box that said yes, and we made it official. We were boyfriend and girlfriend.  

This is “The One” 

Photo. Credit: Terrance Antonio Productions

(Vincinta) Tim and I had been dating for about a year. I was fresh out of college, and Tim, who had started later, was still in college. I was also twenty-three weeks pregnant. We had not spent much time relaxing in a while, so Tim suggested taking a trip to the beach. At five months of pregnancy, I barely had a baby bump when I headed to Virginia Beach. The first few days of our vacation went well, but my water broke at the end of our trip. 

I had been having a healthy pregnancy, and neither of us had been a parent. Nobody had prepared me for everything that could go wrong, but I knew this was not normal. I asked Tim to take me to the hospital. That is when we found out our daughter was going to be born early. We were told that she could die or have serious health issues, and we were not at home. 

Two days later, I had an emergency C-section and gave birth to our baby girl. I moved into the Ronald McDonald House, and Tim went home to work. We did not want to lose our apartment or be unable to pay our bills. Then, my job fired me. It was at that point that I learned just how special Tim is. He told me not to worry focus on Timiya. 

He got a second job. For 112 days, he worked two jobs, went to college, and drove back and forth to Virginia Beach every weekend. I could not believe it. It had to be exhausting, but he was dedicated. 

He went to great lengths for us throughout that entire process. I was in awe! Our daughter is now six years old and perfectly healthy. We named her Timiya A’Miracle because she truly is a miracle. 

(Timothy) I loved her drive. She was an independent woman who had her own place and car and was very motivated. I knew from our conversations that we both wanted to achieve more. She had that mindset. I had never seen that in a woman to that extent. She was one of a kind, and I knew she was the one for me. 

The Proposal 

Courtesy. Timothy & Vincinta Benton

(Vincinta) Tim proposed on New Year’s Eve 2020. We had just bought a house and were hosting a masquerade party. It was a small, intimate gathering with our closest family and friends. Tim is not a man of many words, but he began making a speech right before midnight. I did not know what he was doing. He said he did not want to go into another year without his wife and asked me to marry him. I was in shock. I just stood there, leaving him on his knees. Then I went to the corner and cried until my mother came to get me. I have not said yes to this day. It is now an unspoken thing because in my heart, I was screaming, “Hell yes!’ 

(Timothy) We had been together for eight years when I proposed. We had done a lot of work, including counseling, to get married. I had promised her that we would get engaged before the end of the year, but when I decided to propose, I kept it a secret from everybody.  

We had a New Year’s Eve party, and I invited all our friends and family. Everyone was dressed up and having fun. Two minutes before midnight, I got up and started to speak. Then I proposed to Vincinta. 

 I did not even get a yes, just a ball of tears. She saw the ring, ran into a corner, and started sobbing. She left me on one knee for two minutes, kneeling there. By that time, I was about to fall asleep. I thought, “You’ve got to give me an answer.” She was completely caught off guard. Everybody else was screaming and happy.

 

Wedding Planning 

(Vincinta) We hired a planner who specializes in destination weddings. Candice, with QC Wedding Planning, ended up feeling like family. She made the process move. We chose the country and the resort. The resort handled everything else. They provide a wedding coordinator who handled the setup, breakdown, colors, etc. We took our DJ, hairstylist, and makeup artist with us. The resort provided all other vendors. 

I wouldn’t say it was all smooth sailing. Some of our guests had never traveled outside the U.S. and required a little more assistance. Our purpose in having a destination wedding was, in part, to show everyone that there was so much more to life than going to Myrtle Beach. 

(Timothy) For the most part, wedding planning was a breeze. Candice took good care of us and ensured everything was done perfectly. The only mishap was when our photographer missed their flight. We never knew about it until Candice had already fixed everything. 

Their Wedding 

Photo Credit: Terrance Antonio Productions

(Vincinta) We were married at the resort in a gazebo overlooking the ocean. We had about 60 guests who arrived on Thursday and left on Sunday. It was an all-inclusive resort, so we had time to eat, drink and enjoy ourselves. 

Our wedding was very genuine and beautiful. When we said the vows that we had written, everybody lost it. They were crying so badly. We had a sand ceremony, and all our guests wore white. It was very sweet and intimate. It was so hot we had a break between the wedding and reception so everyone could change clothes.  

(Timothy) Our wedding was beautiful. We challenged our guests to dress in white and try to look better than us. We knew that was not going to happen. Vincinta had selected every option the resort offered.  

I thought she was going to cry when we said our vows. She cried a little but managed to hold it together. It was our friends who cried, even three or four of my groomsmen. My most memorable moment was watching her walk down the aisle. Her smile, glow, the dress, she was beautiful. 

The Honeymoon 

(Vincinta) We are in the building phase of our companies. We have opted out of a honeymoon until we get our companies to six figures. Then we plan to have a two to three weeklong honeymoon. I cannot wait.  

Advice to Others 

(Vincinta) Do what you want to do. There were times when I tried to please other people and it just backfired on me. It was not worth it. This is the bride and groom’s time. Everybody else should just come along for the ride. Whatever your vision is, do it. This is not the time to have regrets. 

(Timothy) Enjoy the moment. Everything is not going to be as perfect as you planned. But just enjoy it and have a good time. You have paid a lot of money for it.  

Their Vendors 

Wedding Planner: QC Wedding Planning, LLC
Photographer/Videographer: Terrance Antonio Productions
Venue: Royalton Riviera Cancun
DJ: DJ Prettyboy Mell
Hairstylist: Hairfinesse – Monica Wilcher
MUA: Bella Bride
Gift Boxes: A-Z Customs 





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