The Love Story
One intro through a mutual friend turned into daily FaceTimes, regular phone calls, and a blossoming long-distance relationship for Jade and Darryl. Soon enough, Jade traded in chilly Connecticut winters for sunny Florida and moved in with Darryl. Three years later, on a friend's trip to Las Vegas, Darryl got down on one knee at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant and asked Jade to spend forever with him!
The Planning Experience
When they first started planning their special day, they never imagined they'd end up saying "I do" in Jamaica! After touring several venues in Florida and endlessly scrolling through inspo pics, nothing really screamed "them." One night, Jade casually suggested a destination wedding in Jamaica and Darryl immediately agreed. They loved the idea of giving their guests a vacation while celebrating their love, and they couldn't be happier with the decision. Since most of their guests (including Jade and Darryl) had never been to Jamaica, they had no idea where to begin. Luckily, their Certified Destination Wedding Specialist, Susan, stepped in, listened to their vision, and helped them find the perfect match, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall.
The Celebration
To make their wedding day uniquely theirs, Jade went full DIY bride and tackled the stunning décor herself. She rented gorgeous floral arrangements that decorated everything from the circle arch and centerpieces to the bouquets and sweet little accents throughout the reception. Since they were celebrating in Jamaica, they wanted to tie in the local culture and upgraded to a 4-piece steel drum band for cocktail hour. One of the most unforgettable parts of the day was sitting at the sweetheart table and soaking in the moment and seeing all their loved ones, from every stage of their lives, together in one place. "Destination weddings truly show who wants to show up and celebrate with you," Jade and Darryl shared.
The Memories
To sum up their destination wedding in paradise, they describe it as tropical, vibrant, and magical. Beyond the wedding itself, a highlight was the Bob Marley Nine Mile tour excursion, which they enjoyed with some of their guests. They got a deeper glimpse of Jamaica, sampled a few sweet local treats, and made lasting memories with their closest friends and family.
Advice For Future Couples
Jade and Darryl's advice for planning a destination wedding?
"My biggest advice would be to trust the process! I highly recommend working with DestinationWeddings.com so they can assist with narrowing down resorts to find one that fits best for you and your guests and taking care of the room block. I have found that the resorts' bridal Facebook groups, Destination Weddings Facebook group, and Instagram lead me to find the perfect team of vendors for my special day."
Other Vendors:
Photographer: Matthew Khoury - @khourydoo
Videographer: Matthew Khoury team - @khourydoo
Shoes: Betsey Johnson & Steve Madden
Jewelry: @sjbaileyco
Hairpiece: Hair & Makeup - Chasity Artistry Wedding Center @chasityartistryja
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie
Menswear: Mens Warhorse