SIMONE + LEVONTE

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA

APRIL 22, 2022

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LINDA MCQUEEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Text by Linda Wallentine

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.” wedding highlights

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!

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

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 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

Advice for 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.