Exclusive: This NBA-Style “Groomsmen Draft” Is the Best We’ve Seen Yet
Not all wedding party asks are created equal. When Christopher Jon Borja got engaged to his girlfriend Eunice Flores last October, he knew his proposal to his groomsmen would have to be just as heartfelt. The hardest part, however, was figuring out who would stand by his side on their wedding day. Once he’d decided, he came up with a proposal that he knew they wouldn’t be able to refuse.
“On March 1, 2020, I held my CJB GROOMSMEN DRAFT,” he captioned a photo of himself with his best buds and NBA star Dwyane Wade all holding matching black-and-orange jerseys. “As kids growing up and loving the game of basketball, we all dreamt of being drafted to the @nba. I had this crazy idea/concept about 5 years ago, drafting all my brothers to be my groomsmen. I did just that.”
In order to enact his plan, Borja required a little assistance from his friends’ significant others. “I surprised them, having their significant others make up a story to get them dressed up to go to an event,” he continued. “I had a whole PowerPoint presentation for them. In the PowerPoint I thanked all the people that helped. I touched on David Stern for giving me this concept. I honored my favorite player @kobebryant, Gigi and the 7 other victims. I even had help from my second favorite player @dwyanewade. He sent a video and showed me and my groomsmen some love.”
A groom’s NBA-style groomsmen proposal goes viral. (Courtesy of Chris Jon Borja)
A groom’s NBA-style groomsmen proposal goes viral. (Courtesy of Chris Jon Borja)
Then came time for the draft to go down. In a nine-minute clip of the hour-and-a-half-long ceremony, Borja can be seen thanking his loved ones and expounding on the importance of all of their friendships.
“We all grew up loving the game of basketball. Basketball brought most of us together,” Borja tells The Knot. “Not only do we love the game, but we dreamt of being drafted to the NBA. Unfortunately, we did not. So, that’s when I came up with the idea. I wanted to do something big and special. Something different and memorable. That’s when I decided, I wanted to hold a NBA draft for my groomsmen, which I called it ‘CJB Groomsmen’s Draft.’”
According to Borja, his groomsmen were stunned and touched by his creative approach. “At first, they were confused and baffled about it,” he adds to us. “… [But] once they saw the signs they laughed. Once I started the whole presentation and draft, reactions turned to excitement, joyful, and just amazed.”
Reactions to Borja’s unique NBA draft-style ceremony outside of his wedding party have been just as enthusiastic, with other grooms looking to his unique spin as an example for how to take wedding planning to the next level. “The Dream Team,” one commenter marveled. Added another, “Legendary!”
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A post shared by Christopher Jon Borja (@chrisjonborja) on Mar 3, 2020 at 8:33am PST
“It feels surreal,” Borja says. “My idea was for my brothers and family to love. But of course we wanted the world to see it, but we didn’t think it was going to be like this. For the world to like it, love it, and to complement it, it’s very overwhelming. But this idea wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for God, who I thank always. For David Stern who I watched for years during the NBA draft. The late Kobe Bryant, my favorite player and the reason why I love the game of basketball. Last, Dwyane Wade, my second favorite player, the one that sent me a video and showed me love. Hopefully I get to meet him in person and thank him personally, and jersey swap with him.”
Given all the drama that can surround the selection of a bridal party, Borja’s positive attitude and inclusive approach to involving his closest friends is a refreshing spin on tradition. Now the only question remains: how did Flores go about asking her bridesmaids?
“She made personalized glass gift boxes with a heartfelt message,” Borja says. “We gave it to them at different times and had it recorded.”
A groom’s NBA-style groomsmen proposal goes viral. (Courtesy of Chris Jon Borja)
And the couple’s fun-filled wedding festivities are just beginning. Borja explains that the couple was actually lucky enough to enter and win a contest for a free wedding in the Curtis Atrium in Philadelphia, on top of their already-booked venue at Shadowbrook in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Rather than pick one wedding venue or date over the other, however, the couple is opting to have both, and will host back-to-back weddings making 2020 their biggest year yet.
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