Featured in MunaLuchi Bride Magazine Issue 28, this stunning destination wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is everything island vibes mixed with tropical glam details.
Simone & Levonte’s love story began on Labor Day weekend at a restaurant almost 10 years ago. Simone recalls, “He approached my table, introduced himself, told me I was beautiful, and walked away.” He didn’t even ask for her number. “He was being ‘cool,’” she says, laughing.
When they were leaving (ironically at the same time), Levonte finally asked for her number. With some encouragement from her friends, Simone obliged and two days later they were on their first date. A year of friendship followed, building a steady foundation of love, laughs, and shared experiences before they decided to give each other a real chance and made things official. They’ve been together ever since!
After purchasing their first home together in August 2020, the couple hosted an intimate housewarming party on Labor Day weekend where Levonte surprised Simone with a new car and a ring! Hidden in the glove compartment of her new dream ride, she found a blue box. When she turned around, Levonte was on one knee!
Not only did I get my beautiful car, my best friend was asking me to marry him. I was on a complete high. I was so happy and blessed to have our family and close friends there to witness this beautiful moment with us.”
– Simone (The Bride)
The couple tied the knot two years later in a stunning destination wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Captured by Linda McQueen Photography and brought to life by Oh Niki Occasions, they couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day!
More sweet details from their tropical glam wedding below.
- Couple: Levonte & Simone Goldring
- Occupations: Levonte is a Business Owner & Simone is Chief of Staff in Corporate America / Business Owner
Quick Facts:
- Wedding date: April 22, 2022
- Wedding location: Royalton Blue Waters – Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Theme: Elegant, Tropical Glam
- Gifts for your bridesmaids & groomsmen: We gave our bridal party bridesmaids and groomsmen boxes with some personalized bridal items and our favorite liquor. I also gifted my bridesmaids with their bridal jewelry.
- Ceremony entrance song: “First Time” by TEEKS
- First dance song: “So High” by John Legend
How they met…
Levonte and I met Labor Day Weekend almost 10 years ago at a local restaurant. We were both there hanging out with our friends. He approached my table, introduced himself, told me I was beautiful and walked away. He did not ask for my number initially; I guess that was his way of trying to be cool.
Ironically, we were both leaving at the same time and that’s when he decided to ask if he could “call me sometime”. With encouragement from my group of girls, I obliged. Two days later we were on our first date. We had so much fun. It felt like I had known him for years. We spent the next year just being friends and getting to know each other. I was young and wasn’t really looking for a serious commitment. But after a year, we decided to give each other a chance and the rest is history.
The proposal…
We just purchased our first home together in August 2020, so we decided to have an intimate housewarming party with close family and friends on Labor Day Weekend. What I (Simone) thought to be a fun evening celebrating a major milestone for us turned out to be one of the best days of my life.
After everyone arrived and we were all hanging out and having fun, Levonte asked all of us to come outside. At this point I’m confused. As we are heading outside, he starts to tell everyone how I wanted this specific car, but felt that I deserved a better model than the initial one I wanted. So now I’m like OMG, no he did not!
As I looked down the driveway, there’s this beautiful white car that he was telling everyone was mine. I get into the driver seat and he’s like, “oh the key is in the glove box.” I open the glove box and there’s this tiny blue box. Then I reached in to grab it and when I turned around, Levonte is on one knee. I was in complete shock!
Not only did I get my beautiful car, but my best friend was also asking me to marry him. I was on a complete high. I was so happy and blessed to have our family and close friends there to witness this beautiful moment with us.
The ceremony…
Mr. & Mrs…
Wedding style & shopping experience…
Bridal Dress: I would describe my dress as a very elegant tropical-style mermaid dress. Being that our wedding would be in Jamaica, I wanted something that would complement the island vibes.
Shopping for my dress was an experience that I always dreamed of. My Mom, Bridal Stylist, and I traveled to New York to begin the search for my dress. Of course, our first stop was Kleinfeld’s. Even though I knew my dress wouldn’t be there, I had to have the experience. Younger Simone would never forgive me if I didn’t.
Our second and final stop was THE Pantora Bridal. My Bridal Stylist was in talks with one of the Pantora Bridal Consultants leading up to our visit to give an idea of my style. They had about 4-5 dresses picked out for me to try on. Literally, the first dress that I tried on I knew it was the one. I didn’t even want to look at anything else.
Grooms Suit: Levonte’s wedding attire was a cream custom three-piece suit. He worked with his tailor to create a custom pattern for his suit jacket and vest. Leading up to finalizing his look was very eventful. We went through a few different colors and styles and thought that we found the perfect suit for him. Literally, three weeks before the wedding Levonte decided that he did not want the suit that we picked out.
A week later we were able to find a tailor to make his entire suit. That was the most stressful process ever. But I wanted to ensure that he was happy and comfortable with what he was walking down the aisle in. After all, this was his wedding as well. Thank God everything came together, and he loved his suit.
Best wedding day memory…
The best memory for us both would be seeing each other for the first time at the altar. Things have changed a little bit with couples doing a “first look”. But we wanted to have that traditional moment of walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time. We both had butterflies.
Tropical glam details…
Wedding advice for other engaged couples…
The best wedding advice that we could give any engaged couple would be, “Carpe Diem.” The entire wedding process and wedding day will fly by. We would encourage all couples to enjoy every bit of it. Slow down even if it’s for just a second during your wedding day and take it all in, with just the two of you. When they say your day is going to be over in a blink of an eye, that is beyond true. So slow down even if only for a second during your big day.
The second piece of advice I would give any engaged couple would be to invest in a wedding planner. No matter how small or grand you want your day to be, having a wedding planner will save you so much in the end; financially, mentally, and emotionally. Having Oniki Hardtman of Oh Niki Occasions as our wedding planner was the best decision that we made early in our planning process.
Looking for more tropical glam destination weddings?
Click here.
Vendors:
- Bride’s dress: Pantora Bridal
- Bridal salon: Pantora Bridal
- Headpiece: Ai & Eva Bridal Jewelry
- Veil: Pantora Bridal
- Bridal robe: Marcy Atelier
- Bridal stylist: Carlette Watkins Dove of CD Bridal
- Bridesmaids dresses: Bridal Babes
- Catering: Royalton Blue Waters
- Ceremony venue: Royalton Blue Waters
- Event design: Oh Niki Occasions
- Event branding design (graphics): By Dami Studios
- Event decor (rentals): Tai Flora Luxe
- Entertainment: (DJ) 876 Sounds
- Destination Wedding Planner & Designer: Oniki Hardtman of Oh Niki Occasions
- Florals: Tai Flora Luxe
- Groom’s attire: Everton McNeil (Tailor)
- Hair: Simply Beautiful Jamaica
- Lighting: 876 Sounds
- Linens: Nuage Designs
- Makeup: Sue The Makeup Girl
- Photography: Linda McQueen Photography
- Reception venue: Royalton
- Rentals: Tai Flora Luxe
- Stationery & Signage: By Dami Studios
- Videography: Bridges Cinema
- Travel: Oh Niki Excursions
- Destination: Jamaica
- Venue: Royalton Resorts
Leave a Reply