A Facebook conversation was the catalyst for the union of Maryland residents Lakeya Gray, American Public University lead associate registrar, and Demarco Simmons, Architecture Engineering Construction Operations and Management Company utility cleaner, who wed on August 12 at the Riu Palace Tropical Bay Negril. Vows formally introduces Mr and Mrs Simmons.

Lakeya relives the encounter

“We met in 2011 at a family and friends event hosted by Demarco and my mother’s company. I was touring the property with my mom when we ran into Demarco in the hallway. She quickly introduced us and we went our separate ways until two years later when he randomly messaged me on Facebook. We began texting almost every night, and after his many failed attempts to obtain my number, one evening, I finally gave in. And it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! We started talking much more often than expected and soon decided to go out together. We went to the movies a few times and started seeing each other a lot more frequently until we finally decided to make it official in 2014.”

The proposal

The weekend after Lakeya’s birthday in July of 2015, the couple went on a cruise with their close friends along the Potomac River. “I was so annoyed because I wanted to do something else to celebrate my birthday, but they were so adamant on getting me on this cruise,” she said. After brunch, they along with their friends went out to the ship’s deck to take photos. “I did notice,” shared Lakeya, “that everyone had stepped back leaving only the two of us on the balcony — I felt my heart drop!” Urged on by his dearest friends, Demarco got down on one knee and asked Lakeya for her hand in marriage. Her response was an emphatic “yes!”

The Ceremony

The terrace of the Riu Palace Tropical Bay Negril required minimal decoration for the couple’s beach-themed wedding. The ceremony commenced to the strains of Eric Benét featuring Tamia’s Spend My Life With You as the bridesmaids made their way up the aisle in custom-made lime green and royal blue, knee-length dresses from Azazie. They were escorted by the groomsmen who looked smart in Express men’s dress shirts with royal blue satin bow ties and custom-tailored Concitor Men’s flat-front royal blue dress pants. Awaiting his bridegroom at the altar was a dapper Demarco, decked in an Express Men’s dress shirt with a royal blue satin bow tie and cream custom-tailored Sean Jean linen pants. Lakeya was cued by Babyface’s Every Time I Close My Eyes and escorted by her mother Sharon Gray in a strapless sweetheart-neckline trumpet gown with a corset back and chapel train from David’s Bridal Collection. The ceremony was officiated by Minister James Peart and included the signing of the register to Stevie Wonder’sSigned, Sealed, Delivered.

The Reception…

…took place a few weeks later on September 5, at the Camelot by Martin’s in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. “We decided to have our reception back home, to afford our friends and families, who weren’t able to make it to the ceremony, the opportunity to celebrate with us. There was a presentation where our wedding photos were displayed to our guests for the first time, a mother- daughter dance and delectable food. Our guests really did dance the night away,” shared Lakeya.