A Haitian Affair to Remember

Colette Occulis and Savens Occulis have rooted their relationship in their church and their culture from the moment they met. Colette was new in the Florida area after relocating from Connecticut, but became familiar with her mother’s church whilst being there. It was at this church that Colette met Savens, and with a little push from both of their mothers, their relationship began.

Sunset Elegance and culture themed their beautiful October wedding, with “You and I As the Sunsets” serving as inspiration for the affair. “Our ceremony was done in Haitian Creole,” says the bride. Colette and Saven served Haitian cuisine and sung traditional Haitian hymns at the event. And with the inclusion of modern decor and fashion, the Occulis’ day was in fact one to remember.

Occupations: Dental Hygienists & Agency for Persons with Disabilities Provider
Wedding Date: October 25, 2014
First Dance Song: “You and I” by Michael Bublé
Favorite Item on the Wedding Menu: Conch. It is Haitian tradition to serve the newlyweds this aphrodisiac.
Bridesmaids/Groomsmen Gifts: The bridesmaid received a Melody Eshani jewelry (Earring/Necklace) set and the groomsmen received Happy Socks and Personalized Flasks.

Tell us about how you met:

I relocated to Orlando, FL from Southern Connecticut in the summer of 2012. Both of our mothers attended the same Baptist church I’ve been visiting since 2007 but he and I never crossed paths. That summer of 2012, we were formally introduced by our mothers while we both volunteered with our church’s annual vacation bible school. After several family/church outings, his mom sealed the deal and gave him my number.

The Proposal:

It was the best night of our lives. The night was filled with laughter and joy as we walked into the 2nd annual Couples Ministry banquet ceremony on Saturday February 15, 2014. The music was mellow and the lights were bright as diamonds. I was enjoying my glass of wine and moving to the soft music…

When suddenly my named was called and I froze! It was my little sister holding a sign that read “Our future is ahead and this is the beginning.” My heart pounded loudly, droplets of sweat ran down my forehead as I slowly got up and joined her on stage. Finally reaching the stage, I turned around and found Mr. Occulis on one knee. I was in shock, bewildered at the thought of what was going to happen next. He took out a small box from his jacket pocket and the rest was pure bliss!

Culture

Our ceremony was done in Haitian Creole; we sang traditional hymns and prayers. The food was also a mix of American and Haitian cuisine.

Memories

Our first look photos. With everything going on, having such an intimate time to ourselves made the rest of the day that much easier. We were synced from that point on and nothing else mattered other than making it all official.

Help a bride-to-be out!

Seek a professional! Whether you’ve been planning your wedding your whole life or just jumped into the occasion, you can never be too prepared! Before hiring a planner, seek a bridal consultant. This is the best way to gather your thoughts before other opinions get involved. Planners can be overwhelming and expensive! So it’s best to have a plan before meeting with one.

My mother was very involved, by choice, however, because I knew what I wanted this prevented her from planning her dream wedding. Surprisingly enough, once you know your direction sisters, mothers, and girlfriends can’t deter you away from your plan so long as there is one in place. Your consultant should put everything in perspective for you and send you off with a PLAN! From there you’ll know what kind of bride you’ll be and what theme your wedding will have. Whether you fall into the DIY, country chic, bling out budget, budget friendly, destination wedding, etc. HAVE A PLAN!