Sierra Gates And Eric Whitehead Give Us Exclusive Details On Their Star-Studded Upcoming Destination Wedding
The trees are growing, flowers are blooming, and love is in the air as another couple is looking to walk down the aisle and tie the knot.
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta stars Sierra Gates and Eric Whitehead are heading to the altar after Gates shared a video of the proposal on Christmas Day last year.
“I said YES omg @e_whitehead365 I love you I love you I love you Omgggg 💍💎💎💎🥺🥲🎉♥️🙏🏽,” said Gates in the caption.
Time doesn’t matter when true love exists as the couple was only dating for 1 year before Whitehead popped the question.
Fans of the show know this isn’t Gates’ first time being engaged to a fellow co-star, as BET.com reported her previous engagement to BK Brasco back in December 2020.
BET.com was invited by Divine Influence PR to attend and chat with the newly engaged couple at their engagement party last weekend held at Harlem Panda, where they shared how they knew they were meant for each other despite the short amount of time dating.
“I brought my truck from him and looked at his page after — God was like this is your husband,” Gates told BET.com.
“I know that sounds a little crazy (laughs), but once he delivered that truck, we’ve been together ever since.”
Whitehead chimed in, letting us know it was the “instant chemistry” that brought them together.
“We’re both very spiritual and we prayed together,” he began.
“It was just instant chemistry — an instant spark and the way she just made me feel as a man. We also have walls and she made me break down my walls, making me feel so comfortable to just be the man I could be. From then, I knew she would be my wife.”
Some of their celebrity friends were in attendance, including Bambi and Lil Scrappy who shared their excitement for the couple as well as advice.
“I’m so excited like they are super in love,” said Bambi.
“I would just say be as into each other as possible and less of the outsiders. You have to form your own bond together and you have each other. I’ve learned so many things but I’m not a paranoid person so I just do what I do and whatever happens, happens. I’m not afraid of anything when it comes to love.”
Scrappy tells the couple to “stay patient” and “it’s a marathon, not a race.”
While many fans are privy to Gates from reality television and her business ventures, her soon-to-be-husband wasn’t aware of those things. He shares that it was her personality that sparked his interest.
“I didn’t even know who Sierra was,” he shared.
“When I actually got to meet her, she had a beautiful personality inside and out. She was such a force but then is still so soft at the same time. With me being so successful and being a boss, I didn’t think it was women like her out there. She makes me feel so amazing. I learned so much from her. The fact that she’s so successful, so busy, and still has time to cater to a man like me is a beautiful thing.”
Expectations are always high for weddings as guests are anticipating the aesthetic and what the vibe may be on the couple’s special day.
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The Girlboss tells BET.com that their union will be a destination wedding.
“We just want real love and genuine happiness,” she shared.
“I’m a girl from down south who made it out the hood. I’m so happy for the moment and I wake up every day like God really did it for me even with my lifestyle. I just want my wedding to be a fairytale — I don’t care about the issues. My girl Crystal Bailey will be planning my wedding and it will be a destination wedding.”
According to Bossip, a rep has confirmed the wedding will take place in Cabo, Mexico.
She also shares who will be doing her dress, which will be Brides By Nona.
“Nona is making my dress,” she revealed.
“She’s done a lot of dresses for people and she’s an amazing Black woman designer. I’m super excited for her to make my dress and I will share the dress will not be white. If you know Sierra Glamshop, you know what color I’m wearing. The girls that get it, get. And the girls that don’t (laughs).”
Every couple wants certain things to be a part of their special ceremony, and the couple shares a performance that they did want to happen, but due to their location, this R&B group won’t be able to make an appearance.
“There was a must-have performance we both wanted and it was to have Jagged Edge. We tried to work out the dynamics, however, they didn’t want to travel out of the country. We’re trying to work with their team to see if we can work something out.”
Planning a wedding is not easy, especially when you’re trying to wrangle multiple people with multiple personalities. It seems the happy couple has things under control, sharing it’s been a “smooth process” thus far.
“Honestly, it’s a smooth process,” says Whitehead.
“I can answer that all my groomsmen are brothers and I have a big family. They’ve been so supportive. Sierra actually has more bridesmaids so they’ve been on the phone with their group chats. We also have an amazing wedding planner so there’s no pressure.”
The couple is also looking to make room for a bundle of joy, with Sierra sharing how she’s ready to be a mommy again.
“I’m ready to be a mommy again,” she said. “I am committed to doing it God's way-- I want to be a wife first.”
For Whitehead, he’s more concerned with how many bundles of joy they want.
“Yes, there has definitely been more conversations about baby talk...how many is the question (laughs),” he tells us.
“Sierra wants 2, I want 3. With her 2 and my 3, and with Mason and Paris, that makes 7. We both love kids, and we definitely want to expand our family and have kids after we get married.”
Both individuals are hard-working entrepreneurs, so time management is a key factor to make sure they spend as much time as possible together. While the couple said it’s a bit challenging, they make sure to make time for one another.
“At first it was a little challenging because we are both so business-focused, but we love each other, so we make the time,” she shared.
“ It is a necessity for us. We both work from home, but we make sure we get our alone time. We will be working but we will set a time and go out for lunch dates and catch up outside of our home, outside of our work. We are still working on it, but I think it becomes easier because we are really committed to spending quality time with each other.”
Whitehead continued, saying they talk about having a work-life balance.
“We understand that balance in business and family overall, is key,” he said.
“While we may work from home, we try our best not to bring work home after we have finished working for the day. We are transparent with each other, and we talk about work-life balance often so that we can hold ourselves accountable and not let it consume us. I think it's the sweetest thing when Sierra will pull me away from work by making my lunch and taking the time to connect in between our work. When you love someone, you make time for them and make them a priority. Love, like anything in life, is about discipline.”
As we mentioned earlier in the piece, this isn’t Sierra’s first time letting her love life play out onscreen, so when asked about hesitations about sharing her love story with Eric on air, she tells BET.com he’s not here for the tv time.
Honestly, no,” she began.
“I knew Eric was all about me and business. He is not here for the TV; he really is a low-key kind of guy, and he stays out the way.”
Gates and Whitehead have such a tight bond, and they told BET.com it comes from having patience.
“I say patience,” said Whitehead.
“Patience, consistency, and understanding one another because we’re from two different walks of life. I’m from New York which is fast paced while Sierra is a southern peach. You have to listen more than you speak on both ends. We’re both forces so sometimes we can power trip so I pick and choose my battles while she’s learning how to listen to me.”
She also has her family life showcased on a few episodes as well, with last season showing her up and down dynamic with her sisters. She lets us know they are in a “good place” and how both will be bridesmaids in her wedding.
“Both of my sisters and I are in a really good place now,” she shared.
“Like siblings we had our share of ups and downs, but we are family, and we love each other at the end of the day. I thank God for that--we talk all the time and spend so much more time together. They will both be bridesmaids in my wedding, and I am so excited and grateful for that.”
Now, you know BET.com couldn’t let them walk away without getting a little insight on the upcoming season of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.
Gates shares it’s going to be “real good.”
“You’re going to see real-life sh*t,” she said.
“The relationship ups, downs, and all around. Stay tuned because it’s going to be real good. We’re not perfect, but we love each other.”
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
