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Individual cottages reserved just for them.  No phones. No internet.  Darian and Moneyede’s destination wedding in Negril, Jamaica was serene, romantic, and intimate.  They had the most beautiful backdrop, and even more importantly, the pleasure of close family and friends.  We love these sunny romantic photos captures by Cendino Teme Photography.  Meet the couple.

Darian recounts the proposal…“I met my husband on January 6, 2006, our first day of law school. He introduced himself and explained that he was attending the same seminar and that he was from Miami as well.   After speaking for a while, we realized that we knew a lot of the same people and had been in many of the same places, at the very same time, but had never actually met.   Since we had so much in common, we decided to work together on a class project and then swore that we would never work together again.  He was too cool, and I pretended to be very unimpressed, and so it continued for the next three months.  We continued to bump into each other at random places all over town and as fate, or a brutal exam schedule would have it, we bumped into each other after a very very very long night of studying.  Since we were the only two people in that hallway we had to at least say hello.  I thought “let’s just get this over with” and he thought “here’s my big chance.” After further discussion we discovered that we would both be in Miami for our summer break and would also be headed back to Gainesville on the same day.  He would be headed back in his car and I would be headed back on a chartered bus full of college freshmen.  He offered me a ride, I accepted, we couldn’t stop laughing, we couldn’t stop talking, and we fell hopelessly in love somewhere in between.   After our countless random encounters, we finally got the hint – our lives overlapped in so many ways because we were meant to be together. We’ve been inseparable ever since.“

The proposal…“Moneyede suggested that we take a quick weekend trip to visit our alma mater and take in a football game. We headed out right after work and 4 hours later arrived in town.  It was around 2am.  I was ready to go straight to the hotel room and rest up but he insisted that we go to see the new renovations at our old law school.  So there we were, lurking around the campus in the wee hours of the morning.  While walking through the courtyard where we first met, he stopped and asked “do you remember the exact spot you were standing in when we met?” I thought it was a fun game and started trying to guess where.  After a while he stopped me, took my hand and led me to the spot where we first met almost 4 years prior.  He explained to me that he knew exactly where he was when he first met me and that he wanted to create another memory with me in that exact same spot.  He slowly got down on one knee and pulled out a tiny box wrapped in a delicate bow and asked me to marry him.  We spent an hour in that courtyard promising each other fidelity, honesty, and endless love.  It was the most amazing night of our lives.”

From the bride

“We had an outdoor ceremony at a boutique resort in Negril, Jamaica. The resort consisted of individual cottages spread throughout the resort. The resort could only accommodate 43 persons and was reserved solely for our wedding.  No phones, no internet just family and friends getting to know each other under the warm Jamaican sun and celebrating our union.  Our ceremony was held on a circular structure overlooking the Caribbean Sea and nestled in between the Cliffs of Negril. We exchanged vows under a canopy of sheer fabric and white hydrangeas.  It felt like Moneyede and I were the only people in the world at that moment.  After the ceremony, our guests enjoyed a cocktail hour which included local delicacies and a steel drum band. Our reception was held in the lodge at the resort.  Chiavari chairs were brought in from Kingston for our reception.  Our florist also had lots of hydrangeas and peonies flown in for the festivities since they are my favorite flowers.  The hydrangeas were white and off white while the peonies were all a shade of blush pink. The reception was open air and the guests danced the night away under the stars.

Planning a destination wedding was a unique experience. Since most of the planning was done via phone and email,  finding and using quality vendors was of the utmost importance.  I visited countless wedding websites to read reviews from former brides. This really saved me from picking the wrong vendors.  A few months before the big day, I scheduled a trip to Jamaica and met with my vendors personally. Though the trip was an added expense it was worth it.

On incorporating culture…   “I was born on the island of Dominica in the West Indies and  Moneyede’s parents were both born in Jamaica. Since the islands are such a big part of our heritage we thought it fitting to have our wedding on an island. We were surrounded by familiar food, music, and sights. It was perfect!“

Memories…
“I will never forget all the sweet things my groom whispered into my ear while we were having our first dance. We danced to Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky,” and time seemed to stop for those 5 minutes and 50 seconds.

Also, we all went cliff diving the day after the wedding (the entire bridal party). Jumping off of that 30 foot cliff was an exhilarating experience that we will all never forget. There was even a special jump where Moneyede and I jumped in holding hands.  I guess we took the plunge in more ways than one.“

 {Love Birds}

“He loves my smile…we’re constantly laughing when we’re together.   I love his heart.  He is the kindest soul on earth!”

Thanks Darian and Moneyede for sharing your beautiful love story with us.  Make sure to visit Darian’s blog...plenty of fashion inspiration for you.  She’s got great style!  Thanks also to Cendimo Teme for sharing these charming photos with us.  Click here to view the full gallery.

VENDORS

Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara
Hair: Debra Barrett
Make-up: Chasity Artistry Rashel Edwards,
Shoes: Badgley Mishcka
Ceremony+Reception Location: Tensing Pen in Negril, Jamaica
Photography: Cendino Teme
Wedding Planner+Event Designer: the bride, Darian Martin
Florist: Tai Flora
Cake: Tensing Pen
Stationery: Lillian Designs