Chic Island-Inspired Wedding in Monteverde, FL

Laughter brought Melvin and Ronette together. When they met at a friends and family game night, they soon discovered they had a similar sense of humour. They conversed and joked the whole night. Anxious to see if they had more in common, Melvin messaged Ronette the next day. Soon, they were planning their first date, which just happened to fall on Valentine’s Day.

Melvin wanted his proposal to Ronette to be intimate, so he decided to propose during dinner at a cozy Italian restaurant. Miraculously, they were the only ones there. Melvin recalls, “I started with a prayer blessing our food, and it led into the proposal. Ronette was surprised and the restaurant provided us champagne to toast to our engagement.”

Since they are both from the tropical island of Bermuda, they wanted to infuse their culture into their summer nuptials. Ronette shares, “We asked our guests to dress in tropical attire, which was colorful and fun. Our island-inspired menu and tropical decor complimented everything perfectly.” One of the most fun and unexpected elements of their Florida wedding was when they asked their guests to “Dance Their Way to the Buffet”. Ronette explains, “We placed a song on each reception table and when the song played, our guests danced to the buffet. It was great watching each table try to out-dance the other.” All through the night, guests danced to their favorite tunes from radio disc jockey DJ Chubb who the couple flew in from Bermuda! From the double-sided feature wall which had their seating chart on one side and a dessert bar on the other to Melvin’s elaborate Eagles Themed Groom’s Cake, Ronette and Melvin’s wedding was full of stunning details and memorable moments.

Full Name of Couple: Melvin Nusum and Ronette Burchall-Nusum
Location of Wedding: Bella Collina– Monteverde, FL
Wedding Date: June 27, 2019

Quick Facts

Wedding flowers: Our wedding flowers were white calla lilies, white hydrangeas and white roses with a touch of greenery
Favorite item on menu: Lamb chops during happy hour
Bridesmaids’/groomsmen gifts:
The groomsmen were given custom cufflinks with their initials, custom flasks with their initials, bowtie, handkerchief and flower lapel
The bridesmaids were given custom hangers with their name on it, flip flops with their initials, a custom wine glass with their name on it, robes and their wedding jewelry
First dance song: ”Why I Love You” by Major
Advice for brides: The day is going to go by fast so try to enjoy your day as much as possible. If you can, steal a quiet moment to take in all the details such as the smiles on your loved ones faces and the love and support surrounding you

Interesting Highlight

I wanted to do something special for Melvin and surprised him with a groom’s cake. He is a big Philadelphia Eagles fan so I knew having a cake in honor of the birds would be perfect.

We wanted something original for our guest book and selected a globe that people could sign. It is located in our foyer and is a perfect reminder of the day.

After Ronette and I’s vows, I took a moment during the ceremony to give my vows to my stepdaughter Keira. I wanted to ensure that she was included in the ceremony but more important to ensure that she knew how much I loved her and that I pledged to show her how a woman should be treated by how I’ll love and care for her mother.

Best Memories

(RONETTE) I really enjoyed our wedding day, but the most memorable moment for me was walking down the aisle smiling at the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with. As I walked down the aisle, I was thinking of all the special moments we shared over the years that led us to this point in our journey together.

(MELVIN) My best memory was waiting patiently to see my bride for the first time during our first look photos. I had to wait with my back to her and listen to her slowly step closer and closer to me as I stood there like an anxious excited kid. I couldn’t wait to receive that tap on my shoulder so that I could turn around and see my beautiful bride.

Wedding Advice for Engaged Couples

Planning a wedding can be very stressful so I encourage engaged couples to create a day that reflects them. You never want to look back at the day and have regrets because you were trying to please others.