Featured in Issue 30, embrace minimal and relaxed luxury in this intimate destination wedding weekend in Anguilla.
Love is all about timing. For Shiloh and James, when they first met in high school at the end of 1999, it wasn’t their time to fall in love yet.
Shiloh admits: “I was talking to a friend of his, so there was no romantic interest.” The pair kept in touch and over a decade later in 2015, they both happened to be single.
Shiloh began seeing James differently while on a trip to Miami. She caught the flu and every day James called her to check in.
“We’d talk for hours,” she recalls, smiling. “I knew then that he was starting to see me as more than a friend. There hasn’t been a day we haven’t talked since.” With the timing finally right, they went on their first date a few weeks later and the rest is history!
The friends-turned-lovers took their relationship to the next level in 2022 when James proposed to Shiloh on the weekend of his 39th birthday.
Disguised as a b-day celebration for himself (planned and executed by his best friend, Deryk, and his soon-to-be fiancée!), James popped the question while giving a toast– Shiloh had no idea!
They became husband and wife on June 3rd, 2023 in a beautiful destination wedding weekend at the Cap Juluca Belmond Hotel in Anguilla. Their wedding planner, Rolanda Hardy of Vision into Reality Events, brought their dream of minimal, relaxed, classic luxury to life while their talented photographer, Matoli Keely Photography, captured all the details.
“It was wonderful,” Shiloh shares. “We will cherish that weekend for the rest of our lives.”
Read all about their destination wedding weekend below!
*Shiloh and James’s destination wedding was first featured in MunaLuchi Bride’s latest print magazine, Issue 30. Purchase a copy of the magazine here!
- Couple: Shiloh & James
- Date of wedding: June 3rd, 2023
- Location: Cap Juluca, Anguilla
- Photographer: Matoli Keely Photography
Quick Facts From The Bride:
- Wedding flowers: I wasn’t too particular about the details but Rolanda knew I liked Calla Lily’s and it turned out lovely.
- Favorite item on the menu: The chicken
- Bridesmaids/groomsmen gifts: Travel toiletry bags, Delta Airline gift cards, and other small items.
- First dance song: It didn’t quite happen like that. He and I both love music so as soon as Brian (the DJ) put the jams on we were both up dancing in between dinner courses.
- Advice for brides: Trust your planner more, it will turn out better for you by allowing you to relax and have fun. Wear what you want. Get a great photographer.
How did you meet?
I (Shiloh) met James in 1999/2000. We were both in high school at the time. I was talking to a friend of his, so there was no romantic interest. We later stayed in touch sporadically over the years until 2015 when the timing worked out that we were both single at the same time.
I ended up getting the flu while he was on vacation in Miami and he was so sweet to me, calling me every day to check on me. We’d talk for hours. I knew then that he was starting to see me as more than a friend. There hasn’t been a day we haven’t talked since.
We went on our first date a few weeks later and the rest is history.
How did you know they were “the one”?
That took some time for me (Shiloh). I was fresh off of a divorce and just wanted to have fun. But he was so patient and sweet. We both love music so about 6 months into dating he made me a mixed CD of love songs that I had mentioned or he had talked about in one conversation or another. He was introducing me to his heart and it was beautiful.
It was a simple gesture but I knew then that he was really listening to me and was trying to show me he was interested in what I was interested in. James is so attentive like that. He heard me say something once and months later he will do something to remind me that he heard me. He always considers me first. I told myself then that if I ever got married again it was going to be to him.
Tell us about the proposal.
The proposal was a surprise in 2022 during the weekend of James’s 39th birthday.
His best friend Deryk and I were planning this whole surprise birthday weekend for him in Las Vegas with 9 of our closest friends. James does a lot for his friends and family. He has a beautiful heart for giving, so we wanted to give back to him that weekend.
I planned a table at a concert at a nightclub, go-kart racing, catered brunch, and on the second night, we all went out to dinner at Mastros in the Aria Hotel. Then James stands up to make what I think is a speech thanking everyone for coming. He mentions forgetting his crown back in the room (I bought him a replica crown from the iconic Notorious B.I.G. duets album cover to wear for the weekend).
He says, “I’m bummed I forgot my crown because I feel like a king and every king needs his queen.” Then he gets on one knee, Deryk slips him the ring, and he asks me to be his wife.
I was shocked – he got me good! Deryk was also an excellent accomplice. I really had no idea. It was such a fun weekend.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding?
James and I are both black American so we incorporated jumping the broom as part of our ceremony. As well as prayer, since Christianity is a huge part of the way he and I grew up.
Describe your wedding style:
We are minimalists and wanted our wedding to reflect that and Rolanda did a wonderful job at keeping the minimal, relaxed, classy vibe.
Describe your wedding dress and your favorite wedding accessory.
My wedding dress was a custom design by Alonuko. One-shoulder mermaid style with a detachable overskirt. My favorite accessory was my shoes.
What is your best memory from your wedding?
There is so much it is hard to choose… the whole weekend was amazing! There was a moment after the wedding when we went back to the room before the reception and just talked and laughed. It reminded me why I made the best decision of my life that day. We are best friends. Everyone was frantically looking for us for photos at the time and here we were eating hors d’oeuvres and laughing about me almost falling down the aisle.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples?
Measure what matters. And I assure you it isn’t the color of the boutonnières or if your mom wore the dress you wanted. It’s you, and your love for each other. Trust your wedding planner and have fun, always find fun.
Other details…
I loved the dessert table. I don’t eat cake so we had donuts and ice cream and it was great! Also, I loved that we had a small wedding and we got to spend a lot of time with each guest. It was wonderful. We will cherish that weekend for the rest of our lives.
Looking for more inspiration like this destination wedding weekend?
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Vendors:
- Event planner: Rolanda Hardy of Vision into Reality Events
- Photographer: Matoli Keely Photography
- Videography: Andrew Aziz of Aziz Studios
- Event decor/design (florals, linens, rentals): Black Orchid Events
- Stationery: Ceci New York
- Bride’s dress: bespoke by Alonuko
- Bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo
- Bridesmaid dresses: Asos | ALC | BHLDN | David’s Bridal
- Hair: Barber provided by The Belmond
- Makeup: Samantha Boyce of Kentish of Storm Jordan Make-up
- Groom’s attire: Senzio custom suits
- Groomsmen attire: Senzio custom suits
- Cakes/desserts: Cap Juluca, Anguilla
- Catering: Cap Juluca, Anguilla
- Ceremony venue: Cap Juluca, Anguilla
- Reception venue: Cap Juluca, Anguilla
- Entertainment: Bryan Michael Cox
- Entertainment Assistant: Shawn Stovall
- Wedding Magazine: The Ceremony Club
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