Beautiful beachfront destination wedding in Jamaica has stunning ocean views, crisp white, blue, and gold décor, and a special sand ceremony surrounded by loved ones.
Shani and Brandon tied-the-knot on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Set against a breathtaking blue backdrop of ocean and endless sky, their love is truly radiant!
Highlights of their wedding include a symbolic sand ceremony and jumping the broom to honor their blended family.
For more on their love story and photos from their beachfront destination wedding, keep reading below.
- Couple: Shani Hines and Brandon Hines
- Occupations: Educator & ABM Utilities Worker
Quick Facts:
- Wedding date: July 10th, 2021
- Wedding location: The Grand Palladium, Lady Hamilton (Jamaica)
- Gifts for their bridal party: Groomsmen received customized shot glasses, cigar boxes, sunglasses, and embroidered Covid masks. Bridesmaids received knot bracelets, customized bags, robes, crystal accessories, bridal headpieces, bridal candles, monogrammed champagne flutes, tumblers, and covid masks.
- Ceremony entrance song: Overdue – Erphaan Alves
- First dance song: You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (mixed with) I’ll Be There for You/ You’re All I Need – Method Man feat. Mary J
How they met…
After reconnecting, Shani and Brandon quickly became each other’s biggest fans. Shani supported Brandon at his basketball games and Brandon always assured her he would be there for her. No matter what, they “made time for moments of joy and laughter.”
Fun times included going to Shani’s favorite food places, like Cheesecake factory and Cantina, or frequenting Brandon’s favorite locales, like 760 Rooftop Saturdays.
The bride…
The dress…
The groom…
Their proposal story…
Soon, their steady “rhythm of joy and laughter” built to an effortless crescendo of love.
So, on Valentine’s Day, February 14th 2020, (the day of their first date and their anniversary), Brandon surprised Shani and her friends in Atlantic City by popping the question!
Shani recalls, “…Brandon surprised me with gifts throughout the day with a theme on each card. I happened to notice on every card… he asked the same question: “Do you want this forever?”. Later that evening, we picked up some special friends before traveling to Atlantic City (which I did not know because he did not disclose where we were going).”
When they finally arrived to the hotel, Shani was asked to wait in the lobby. “When I was given the okay to enter the suite, the room was decorated with love and Brandon was on one knee with a ring!”
Today, “… [they] are beyond excited to embark [on] this covenant before God of true Unconditional Love.”
Wedding Style & shopping experience…
Shani LOVES her dress! Purchased from Lotus Bridal in Brooklyn, NY, the dress of her dreams was an ivory mermaid silhouette with transitional straps “that can be removed or hang off the shoulder or shift to a traditional strap.”
Describing her dress, she says, “There were rhinestones going down my back. The sides were lace and see through, and the bottom of the dress had intricate floral designs, as did my veil, which complimented my dress completely with a long train and intricate floral designs at the end.”
The dress was picked out for her by her phenomenal Matron, Mrs. Khalia Banks, and assigned representative, Olivia.
“This was the most elaborate dress I have ever seen,” she admits. “I immediately fell in love! It had all the qualities I was looking for, classy and sexy, it hugged my body but wasn’t too revealing. Truly beautiful.”
The ceremony…
Cultural elements…
The couple honored their African American ancestors by jumping the broom during their wedding ceremony.
They explain, “Predating enslavement, in West Africa, brooms were waved over the couple’s head to ward off evil. During slavery in the United States, brooms were used in wedding ceremonies by those enslaved to jump over the broom, to marry, since they could not legally wed.”
Portraits…
The cake…
Reception décor…
Favorite memories…
For Shani, her favorite wedding memory was “arriving at the altar to see [her] handsome husband cry.”
“The walk was long and steep, and felt like forever,” she says. “The entire time I was wondering, what will my husband say or do when he sees me, I am thinking about my vows, so many thoughts. And when I arrived at the 3 tier flowers I saw my husband crying at the sight of me.”
“Everything we have been through, all of our life experiences, and most importantly, God, divinely brought us to this exact moment and it was beautiful and emotional and so embracing to see each other for the first time in that exact moment.”
For Brandon, he admits: “It’s hard to choose just one [favorite memory].” But some of his top moments were getting ready and dressed for his big day.
“The groomsmen were hyping me up and Eric Banks, my brother, prayed for me. My wife gifted me with beautiful gifts; diamond earrings, and a customized handkerchief with our names and wedding date. This all made me feel in awe, and it hit me that we were really getting married and this day was really happening.”
Another favorite moment was seeing his wife walk down the aisle.
“I was completely blown away. I got so emotional seeing her. She looked so beautiful, her smile just lit everything up, her smile lit me up. And then she waved at me, that did a lot for me. Thinking about all we’ve endured, the journey, to get here, to finally get here, to this special day… our wedding day.”
Advice for other engaged couples…
Their best wedding advice for engaged couples is to communicate with one another, share expectations, and consider premarital counseling.
“Premarital counseling helps engaged couples to improve their ability to communicate, set realistic expectations for marriage, and develop conflict-resolution skills. By discussing differences, similarities, goals, and expectations before marriage, you and your partner can better understand and support each other during marriage. It establishes a level of communication with your partner to be listened to and to be heard…”.
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Vendors:
- Wedding dress & Tiaras & bridal accessories: Lotus Bridal
- Bridal Slippers & Bridal Robe: The Mrs. Boutique
- Bridesmaids dresses & Sandals: David’s Bridal
- Bridal Hair: Chasity Artistry Wedding Center
- Groom Barber: James Gamble – The Groomsmen Lounge LLC
- Groom & Ring Bearer Hair Stylist: Shantell Kelly – The ShantyEffect
- Make up: Shanice Fletcher & Petrika Wilson – Kandii Koated
- Ceremony location: Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, Beach Pergola
- Reception location: Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton, Poseidon
- Photography: Sequoyah Daniel Photography
- Videography: Sean Pacheco
- Wedding Coordinator: Jovaine Spence Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa
- Florist: Khadine Blake of Tai Flora Luxe – Queeny KhayBee
- Groom’s attire & groomsmen attire: Men’s Wearhouse
- Bouquet: Company: KimeeKouture
- Boutonniere: Royal Wedding Decore
Branden and Shani’s wedding photos are lovely. I would like to purchase three (3) magazines to give to select family members as gifts. Please provide instructions.