A classic beloved New England venue, the Endicott Estate, sets the scene for this couple’s chic outdoor wedding.
Dede and Edwin’s wedding planning journey was not an easy one. After getting engaged in 2019, the couple originally planned to wed in 2020; however, Covid had other plans for them. In a surprising twist, the pandemic actually allowed them to have an open mind and be flexible, which lead to their dream wedding. Dede shares, “Our wedding was originally going to be indoors (not by choice). A positive that came from the pandemic, is that we were allowed to have an outdoor wedding.”
In spite of this, navigating Covid and planning a wedding was a challenge. Dede herself, an ICU nurse, faced the virus head-on day in and day out. “In hindsight, this was one of the hardest periods in my career. Nursing is a selfless profession, working during the pandemic really emphasized this. This was another reason why having this wedding meant a lot to us, it reminded us how important it is to do things for yourself.”
Ultimately, the pair were so grateful to finally say “I do” in front of their friends and family! Their untraditional wedding style included having their parents walk them down the aisle instead of having a bridal party, a cousin serving as their officiant, and an intimate reception dinner with speeches from loved ones.
More sweet details from their Endicott Estate wedding below!
- Couple: Dede Michel & Edwin Louis
- Occupations: Dede is an ICU RN & Edwin is an Operations Manager
Quick Facts:
- Wedding date: June 12, 2021
- Wedding location: Endicott Estate, Dedham, Ma.
- Gifts for one another: We did not exchange gifts; we opted to keep it simple and indulge in our honeymoon which we spent in Greece.
- Ceremony entrance song: Groom: Higher instrumental from DJ Khaled, Nipsey Hustle & John Legend
- Bride: “Halo” by Beyoncé (instrumental)
- First dance song: “Only For You” by Phyllisia Ross
- Officiant: Cousin
- Ring bearer & flower girls: Edwin’s 5 year-old cousin & kids of of their close friends
How they met…
My good friend introduced us when we were in high school, and we became close friends over the years. In our mid 20’s we started to date, it felt very natural and easy.
The proposal…
In 2019 we planned a trip to Europe: Paris, Spain, and Portugal, in that order. While in Spain, Edwin asked if we could plan a spontaneous day and ditch our itinerary. He wanted to try a restaurant that he had found outside of Barcelona. So we got dressed and hopped in a cab to this “great restaurant”.
The cab ride was about 45 minutes long and I was sure we were either lost or that Edwin picked a restaurant that didn’t exist. When the cab dropped us off, we were on a beach in Sitges, Spain, which is a beautiful coastal town outside of the city. I took my heels off and we walked through the sand, we walked past a couple of restaurants and Edwin suggested that we continue walking and check out the area since we were early for our reservation.
We ended up on a beautiful cobblestone road with cute little houses and churches. Edwin pointed out a building to me and as I looked up in awe, I felt his presence fade. When I turned around to figure out why he wasn’t next to me, I realized he was down on one knee behind me. Immediately I felt chills, I was very surprised, and it felt so surreal. To add to the suspense, Edwin hired a photographer who captured the moment. It was unbelievably romantic, and I was truly surprised.
Wedding style, attire, & shopping experience…
I got my dress from Alexandra’s Boutique in Fall River, Ma. Alexandra’s was the third shop I went to. I had a good idea of what kind of dress I wanted and at that point, I felt hopeful I would find a dress at Alexandra’s because they have a wide selection. I went with my mom, sister-in-law, and good friend.
The style of the dress is boho, mermaid with a sweetheart neckline, and a lace bodice that transitions to silk at the waistline with a lace skirt. As soon as I put the dress on, I knew it was the one, my family fell in love with it as well. It gave me the bridal feel and look I wanted.
Edwin had a custom tux from 9 Tailors. They helped Edwin find the look he wanted and did an amazing job with the fit. He was able to customize everything to his own style and I had no idea what he had designed until our first look. He wore an off-white two-piece tux with a black lapel.
Their first look…
Portraits…
Cultural elements…
It was important for us to incorporate our Haitian culture into our wedding as much as possible. We wanted as many aspects of our wedding to feel like it described who we are individually and as a couple. Finding a venue that allowed us to choose our own vendors helped with our vision. We made it a priority to choose vendors of BIPOC for our wedding to represent who we are.
The ceremony…
The planner…
Our wedding planner, Monica from Signature Designs By Monica, understood the assignment. Monica and her team helped us create exactly the look we were going for. It was easy to work with Signature Designs, it truly felt like we were planning a wedding with our friends. The team is professional, and the process was effortless, as Monica could relate to our needs.
We lost a close family member the year before our wedding which made planning hard for us and even had us reconsider having a wedding. Signature Designs and the vendors that she worked with recognized our loss and struggles during that year. They continuously supported us and wanted us to have a special day where Edwin and I focused on ourselves to celebrate our union. Words can’t describe how much that meant to us.
Reception space & decor…
The food…
In regard to food, Haitian cuisine was a must! Our food was catered by a Haitian chef that owns a restaurant called Las Vegas in Hyde Park, MA. We chose to dine buffet-style to give our guests the option to try a little bit of everything. Although most of our guests were familiar with Haitian food, some had never tried it. Our friends that were newly introduced to Haitian food raved about the quality – we couldn’t be happier!
Entertainment…
Our DJ, DJ PowaSerge, is also Haitian. He played all the songs we requested as well as our family and friends. Our first dance was Only for you by Phyllisia Ross, who is a Haitian singer. It was heartfelt for Edwin and I to dance to this song because the lyrics describe our love.
Best wedding day memory…
There are a lot of great memories from the wedding, but the ultimate one was walking down the aisle. Seeing my partner in front of me, with our loved ones as witnesses, gave me a host of emotions that words cannot describe.
Advice for other engaged couples…
Stay in touch with each other’s feelings. The process of wedding planning is stressful, open communication and checking in with each other can be very helpful and supportive. Enjoy every moment, time flies by and before you know it, it is your wedding day.
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Vendors:
- Equipment Rentals: Be Seated
- Linens and Coverings: Curated Rentals
- Groomsman Attire: 9tailor
- Ceremony Location: The Endicott Estate
- Floral Designer: Sydney Smith Design
- Event Planner: Signature Designs
- Photographer: Flavio D Photography
- Submitted via Two Bright Lights
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