Beach Chic Destination Wedding in Barbados -Munaluchi Bride

Janelle and Anthony met through a mutual acquaintance at a church event and at first glance neither thought anything of it.

That is until fate stepped in shortly after, allowing them to connect via social media. Finding out Anthony shared similarities to her Caribbean heritage and group of friends, Janelle knew she had to step out on love. Fortunately, fate would make its way into their lives again and Anthony stepped up to the plate and finally asked her out, leading their future exactly where it needed to go.

So take your time, walk along the sands of time, and scroll down for more pictures of this beach wedding, featuring Photography from MunaCoterie Member, Sequoyah Daniel Photography!

Couples Names: Janelle & Anthony
Occupations: Therapist
Wedding date: 7/18/19
Wedding location: La Maison Michelle – St. James Barbados

Tell us how you met. One day after our church hosted a baptism service I was introduced to Anthony briefly. Neither of us thought anything of it, however, a few minutes later we bumped into each other again on the bus going home and exchanged social media accounts and as he got off the bus, my friends were trying to determine whether he was Haitian or Jamaican! By conducting some investigating on his social media it was confirmed he was Jamaican and we had various friends in common. A few weeks later, I was putting together the logistics for their church’s New Year’s Eve party and Anthony had reached out to see if anything else was needed for the event. Following that night, Anthony texted me almost every day and eventually asked me out on a date right before I was headed to Barbados for the week. Almost every day in Barbados we spoke and the rest was history.

Tell us about the proposal. On June 16, 2017, a beautiful summer evening, me and my friends were headed to an event to celebrate a friend’s recent graduation. While we enjoyed dinner and a few drinks, Anthony was setting his plan in motion with the help of a few close friends and family nearby. After dinner, we the ladies, decided to take pictures near the waterfront. As we walked, one of my friends asked someone to take a picture of all of us, and they obliged. Turns out this woman was the photographer Anthony had hired for the night. After taking the picture, she informed us that she was working on a shoot promoting female empowerment and wanted to know if she could take a few pictures of us. We were honored and proceeded to walk with the photographer to a nearby location for the shoot. As we got closer we began to hear the song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran playing in the night air. Suddenly, I was greeted by two friends, who each presented me with a rose and words of blessing, followed by seven other people very close to Janelle’s heart who also presented her roses. I was then led into the middle of a candlelit heart filled with roses, where Anthony professed his love and asked me to marry him. And of course, I said YES!

How did you know they were “the one”? Anthony: “I knew based on her loyalty, respect, and desire to see me grow beyond what I could see. She caused me to level up in ways I wasn’t thinking and all I kept thinking, is imagine the legacy I can build with this woman spiritually and generational. There are things you look for when you’re ready to settle down, Janelle had them and more. Most importantly she wasn’t willing to settle or let me settle.”
Janelle: “His pretty dimples. Plus, he is willing to do the work. There were times we would argue about things and his willingness to say I’m sorry and actually think about what I was saying was effortless. Lastly, I could see our purposes in the present and future. For me, marriage is not just a legal paper we sign but a true commitment in front of the world and Jesus Christ to shake up the world and complement our individual purposes.”

Describe your wedding attire. Both of our pieces were from black designers, which was important for both of us. My dress was a mermaid dress with a sweetheart neckline and a cathedral veil. Anthony’s suit was custom to match the bridal party colors. He didn’t want a traditional suit, so I had it custom-made by Prince James; his eye for detail is everything.

What was wedding shopping like for you? I went to almost four different places to look for a dress. However, from the moment I tried on my dress at Pantora Bridal, nothing compared. I knew from the beginning I was getting a custom suit. Through an organization I’m a part of, I met consultant Prince James and the rest was history.

Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? Most of our culture was incorporated into the food. Growing up in Barbados it was important for me to merge the cuisine with Jamaican cuisine. By having my cousin and Aunt cater, nothing was off-limits. My cousin is a head chef at Sandy Lane Barbados, the best of the best on the island, and my Aunt owns a restaurant on the island with all your local food available every day. These two masterminds came together and made everything happen.

What is your best memory from your wedding? Jumping in the pool At the end of the night, but of course not in my Pantora gown. A $20 dress from Amazon did the thing.

Wedding Party gifts: Gave the bridesmaids robes, sandals, and a beauty accessories bag.
Favorite item on the menu: Tandori Chicken and Jerk Pork
First dance song: “Spend My Life With You” by Eric Benet

What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? Enjoy your engagement period, planning a wedding is work but also reveals a lot about your communication with your partner. Pray for each other and about hard conversations before having them. Carve out space wedding stuff and still enjoy each other. Friends and family might shift in the process but it’s okay you have each other.