Ladies, it’s time to start shooting your shot!

“The first time I saw him was in January 2016, at the popular dancehall party EAST. Though he didn’t see me, I watched him for practically the entire night. I figured I wouldn’t see him again, so might as well fill my eyes while I could,” Monique Lewards tells Tuesday Style Vows (TSV)
, about first setting eyes on her beloved, Andre Reynolds.

Seems the universe had other plans!

“I saw him again in April, at a close friend’s birthday dinner party at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel. I didn’t even recognise him! After hearing his name being mentioned at the table several times, I whispered to the person sitting beside me ‘Who is this Zidane person that everyone keeps talking about?’ She pointed at him, and just like that, I was love-struck once more!

“As soon as I got home, I decided to shoot my shot by sending him a DM on Twitter.” The chemistry was immediate. They started dating and never looked back.

The proposal

“I had no idea about a proposal. We were getting ready for a triple dinner date with friends. On the way to the restaurant, or so I thought, Andre said he had to make a stop. He told me to wait in the car, as he was just collecting something. He returned a few minutes later and asked me to accompany him inside as he wanted my opinion on a graphics job he had done. I entered the property [City Nirvanna] and was stunned,” Monique explains.

The team at Creating Memories Decor had created the most romantic picnic setting inside the cabin, complete with lit candles, roses, and of course a ‘Will You Marry Me’ sign.

“I was filled with so many different emotions, I cried… Not too much, thankfully, to mess up my make-up. The surprise was that he had pulled it off without me suspecting anything,” she says.

This was April 2022. Monique immediately began planning her dream wedding. “I had attended a wedding weeks before the proposal, and their décor was so well-executed, I knew I had to reach out to Milan Events and Planning.

With this ring, I thee wed…

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, the couple wed at the waterfront cut-stone luxury Poetreef Villa, in Cousins Cove, Hanover.

The ceremony took place on the 150-foot stone pier, wrapped by the Caribbean Sea. “It was perfect! I could not have asked for a better place to wed my best friend surrounded by our family and close friends,” says Monique.

There was nary a dry eye as Monique walked up the aisle to
Golden Hour by JVKE, in a sheer lace gown from Helen G Bridal to her bridegroom, wearing a striking red and black suit, custom-made by Marco Nunez in Miami.

The non-traditionalists switched it up for the bridal party. “I have two male best friends and Andre has two female best friends, as such, the roles were switched. I had bridesmen and Andre had groomswomen”.

About the reception…

“The theme was rustic with hints of wine and gold. We took advantage of the natural beauty of the surroundings incorporating wood finishes wherever we could. Milan Events was able to capture that beautifully,” explains Monique.

Catering duties, in addition to the beautiful two-tier chocolate and fruitcake were handled by Andre’s aunt Judith Case.

In lieu of a first dance, Andre and Monique led everyone to the dance floor with
Flamez Rock by Kaka Highflames. “Andre danced the night away, but it was magical for both of us and we would not change anything,” shares Monique. Pro Wedding DJ Kofie “@djkofie876” Simpson, at the request of the couple, created a ‘Strickly2K’ vibe that proved a hit with guests. The old-school party-like energy and tempo contined well into the night.

The couple honeymooned at Iberostar, Cancun, Mexico.