Featured in MunaLuchi Bridal Magazine, Issue No. 27, this weekend-long destination wedding in Jamaica has sophisticated decor and dreamy ocean-inspired attire.
Imani & D’Andre first met at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 2012. While out with friends one night, Dre spotted Imani at a party and attempted to pursue her. The timing wasn’t quite right, but they decided to remain friends. Over time, they even became best friends and by March 2017 they were an official couple. Fast forward to the first Saturday of September 2021, in what Imani describes as “the most perfect night,” Dre proposed at their favorite restaurant surrounded by friends and family!
Returning to Dre’s Jamaica homeland to tie the knot, their weekend-long destination wedding was a spectacular celebration. Set at the Sandals South Coast Resort, they started the weekend with a welcome garden party, followed by a private boat party with 40 guests, and ended the night with a late-night pool party.
The wedding itself was sophisticated simplicity. Set before a sprawling ocean backdrop, R&B music melded with the waves to create a dream-like ambiance. Groomsmen wore blue sky tuxedos, bridesmaids slipped into frost-colored gowns that matched the sand beneath their feet, and guests donned neutral attire. Dre sported a blue tux with black accents and Imani glowed in an elegant dress with a voluminous detachable overskirt. Dancing the night away with their closest friends and family, it was truly the wedding of their dreams!
More sweet details below.
- Couple: Imani Johnson (now Imani Johnson-Jordan) and D’Andre Jordan
- Occupations: They are both Senior account managers
- Photographer & Videographer for Wedding: Olya Sam of My PhotoMagic Jamaica
Quick Facts:
- Wedding date: Monday, April 4, 2022
- Wedding location: Sandals South Coast, White House, Jamaica
- Gifts for your Bridesmaids/Groomsmen: bridesmaids received custom name anklets, hair and makeup, purses, sarongs, perfume, eye masks, crystal earrings, slippers, robes, and nightgowns. Groomsmen received custom flasks, cuff links, tie bars, and money clips.
- Gifts for one another: Tom Ford Lost Cherry (hers) and Hugo Boss BOSS (his)
- Ceremony entrance song: “Bring ‘em out” by T.I.
- First dance song: “Spend my life with you” by Eric Benet and Tamia
- Wedding flowers: Calla Lilies, Hydrangeas, white roses, and white dendrobium orchids
- Favorite item on the menu: Lobster tails and red velvet cake
- Advice for brides: Save on items your guests will not care about. Splurge on the items that will leave you and your guests mesmerized.
How they met…
We met at Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 2012. While out one night with my two best friends and maids of honor, Alexis and Ariel, I met Dre at a party hosted by his roommates. Dre attempted to pursue me, but the timing wasn’t quite right. So, we remained friends. In fact, we became best friends, but neither of us ever forgot that day. In March 2017, we officially began dating.
Munabling…
The ladies…
The groom…
The boys…
The proposal…
Fast forward to the most perfect night. Molos is our favorite local restaurant–the food, the view, and the service are amazing! On the first Saturday of September 2021, we went to celebrate the start of my new job. So, nothing was particularly alarming. I was excited, I love date night.
After running to the bathroom a few times because of his nerves, Dre held my hand to pray, this is when I started getting suspicious because we had not even ordered food, so I was a bit confused about the timing of the prayer. A few seconds later, Dre stood up and started smiling. At the same time, my mom and my brother were walking toward me. At that point, I knew what was about to happen and you can see my reaction in the video.
When I turned around further, more of our family and friends were all behind me pointing their cameras at us. I became even more emotional, except, I was blinded by their lights (LOL). I was so happy and surprised. He got down on one knee and opened the box which also blinded me both from the diamond and the lightbox. After I said yes, screaming, we went upstairs where everyone was hiding with balloons and 3 dozen roses and sat to have dinner. Except, I was still trembling (LOL) so I couldn’t eat anything. The whole night was a scene out of my dreams, the view, the weather, the ring, the people– it was perfect.
The ceremony…
Mr. & Mrs…
How they knew they found “the one”…
People always accused Dre of liking me. So, in 2017, I had to think long and hard about whether their accusations had any truth. And I realized that for so long I also concealed my feelings. He was my best friend and my confidant. So, one day, I asked him, “do you think people are crazy for thinking we like each other?” And he answered defensively “yes!” And I said, “well, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I haven’t thought about it.” And the next part is always a debate but as I recall it, he said “well, if we’re being honest, I’ve been in love with you.” A real-life romance drama scene. And the rest is written on the sands of Jamaica.
Wedding style & shopping experience…
I tried on four dresses and chose my fourth. I went to Pronovias because I wanted something chic, classy, quality, and minimalist and I just knew I did not want anything lace! Ultimately, I wanted it to represent my personality; semi-conservative, edgy, sophisticated, and sexy.
Cultural elements…
D’Andre is a native of Jamaica so it only made sense to host our wedding in his homeland. We wanted to have a small intimate wedding (although it was one of the largest weddings to ever be hosted at the resort) and Sandals was the perfect option. There were also lots of Afro beats, r&b, hip hop, and dance hall music.
Wedding style…
I would say our wedding style was sophisticated simplicity. It was important to me that our guests walked away from our wedding like it was a dream and the ocean was our backdrop. And it was. It was surreal. I wanted it to be emotional, luxe, clean and dream-like so, we invited our guests on that journey throughout the entire weekend from sounds of R&B to the waves from the ocean, the blue skies matching with the men’s tuxedos, the frost bridesmaids dresses matching the sand beneath our feet, the guests neutral color palette, and the fairy lights for when the sun could no longer be a light source.
Wedding dress & favorite accessory…
I had always imagined a wedding dress with sleeves, tight-fitting, and without lace. And I tried on that dream dress, but I realize I couldn’t have the beach wedding in 90-degree weather and the sleeves. So, I tried on a dress that I saw on pronovias.com a few times and it kept coming back to me. “She” made sense, her crepe material was beach-friendly, and she informed so many of my design choices because she reminded me of a Calla Lily––delicate, sexy, intricate.
My favorite wedding accessory was my overskirt. I loved my dress alone, but I wanted volume and a statement as I walked down the aisle. So, I came across the skirt after the fact and went back to try it on, and then I fell in love with my entire look.
Best wedding day memories…
My favorite memory from my wedding was the sunset. We planned the wedding so that our first dance would occur right at sunset. The forecast was 80% chance of rain. There wasn’t a drop of rain. The photos are worth 1000+ words.
Wedding advice for other engaged couples…
To engaged couples, make sure you set clear expectations for what parts of the planning process you want each other to own so that you can hold your partner accountable. Also, say yes to those things you always dreamt of. For me, it was having a saxophonist because I wanted the sounds of love I grew up on to be the soundtrack of our wedding, and I decided against it until the day before the wedding when I realized I would regret it. And my husband affirmed it as a gift to me. Lastly, it’s your wedding and you don’t have to invite everyone. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
Looking for more ocean-inspired wedding attire?
Click here.
Vendors:
- Bride’s dress: Pronovias Ladd and Pronovias Karnur Overskirt
- Bridal salon: Pronovias NYC
- Bride’s headpiece and/or veil: Zola
- Bride’s shoes: Something Bleu
- Bridesmaids’ dresses: Azazie
- Cakes/desserts: Sandals Weddings
- Catering: Sandals Weddings
- Ceremony Venue: Italian Beach at Sandals South Coast
- Event decor/design: Events By Imani
- Entertainment: Sounds of Sax
- Event planner: Imani Johnson-Jordan and Shakera Salmon
- Forals: Tai Flora Luxe
- Groom’s attire: The Black Tux
- Groomsmen attire: The Black Tux
- Hair: In Your Face Beauty, Jamaica
- Lighting: Sandals South Coast
- Linens: Sandals South Coast
- Makeup: In Your Face Beauty, Jamaica
- Photography & Videography: Olya Sam of My PhotoMagic Jamaica
- Second Shooting Photographer: Andre Whitehead / Whitehead Media Entertainment
- Reception venue: Italian Beach at Sandals South Coast
- Stationery: Zola
Leave a Reply