The Love Story
Lachauna and Shampelle's love story was fate! Prior to meeting each other in 2012, they both lived around the corner from each other in Manhattan. The universe aligned these two love birds and they finally met at an event Shampelle was DJing at in Raleigh, NC. After being in a long distance relationship for about a year and Shameplle relocating, they officially tied the knot at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya!
The Planning Experience
Lachuana knew she always wanted to have a destination wedding because she wanted her loved ones to get the full experience of bonding, mingling and getting to know each other, and we can all agree that it takes more than one day! When deciding on which resort to choose, their Certified Destination Wedding Specialist suggested Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, due to their amount of guests, family-friendly accommodations and more. It was everything that could have dreamed of and more!
The Celebration
To personalize their special day, they decided on an all white attire wedding with gorgeous white string light decor that tied in perfectly with their jaw-dropping oceanfront wedding. While they were in paradise, they experienced rainfall almost everyday, but surprisingly, the day they tied the knot it was clear skies! "My mother and mother-in-law prayed that the rain would go away," stated Lachuana. After their big day, 25 of their guests joined the newly married couple on a lobster and catamaran excursion, where they were guided by fantastic hosts and had the chance to taste delicious cuisine.
The Memories
One of their most memorable moments was when Lachuana's son walked her down the aisle and gave her away to Shampelle. As soon as her son approached Shampelle, tears started flowing down causing the whole wedding bridal party to shed a few years. "It was priceless," recalls Lachauna. To sum up their destination wedding in paradise, they describe it as "amazing, blessings, and love." A perfect way to celebrate such an incredible day! As huge Hard Rock fans, they would love to spend their one year anniversary at Hard Rock Punta Cana to experience the exciting casinos and club.
Advice For Future Couples
Their advice to couples that are looking to have a destination wedding is to make sure you book through a reputable company like DestinationWeddings.com, do your research to save money, and bring some of your table items with you. It can get very pricey! Enjoy the moment and take plenty of pictures. If you have wonderful friends, please assign them tasks, as it can get overwhelming. Keep a chart and a running list of what you need and start planning early!
Other Vendors:
- Photographer: HDC Photo
- Dress Designer: Casablanca
- Dress Boutique: The Lily Rose Bridal
- Shoes: Vince Camuto
- Jewelry: Givenchy
- Hairpiece: Vera Wang
- Stationary: CZ Invitations
- Bridesmaids Dresses: Alfred Sung/Dessy
- Menswear: Vera Wang