Mozette (Mo) and Richard (Rich) Simmons were destined to be together and neither time nor distance would stop them from taking their relationship to the next level. Surrounded by loved ones, the couple joyfully tied the knot on the beautiful island of Montego Bay, Jamaica at the Rose Hall Wedding and Events Palms Peninsula.
“We are big on family, so the most memorable moment for us was looking at all the loved ones who traveled near and far to celebrate us. It was like a big family reunion on a beach,” the newlyweds told BrownStyle Magazine exclusively about their destination wedding.
What started as a playful DM back in 2011 after appearing on each other’s “People You May Know” page on Facebook beautifully blossomed into a strong friendship via Skype and Tango. During their video chats, the pair bonded on both being from Amityville, NY. Although their chemistry was organic, the young go-getters found themselves busy in pursuit of their dreams. Although Mozette moved to Atlanta, the pair stayed connected and even met up when Mo visited New York.
“We have always been good friends, but distance got in the way of us taking each other seriously. In our adult years, we realized we were only a 2-hour flight away,” the lovebirds shared about their decision to take their relationship to the next level. “Once we got to spend some real quality time with each other we knew we didn’t want to be apart any longer.”
The Suprise Proposal
After more than a decade of companionship, the duo got engaged in December 2022 at the Escape Room Mystery in Cherry Hill, NJ. The big milestone came 2 months after the exciting news that they were pregnant with their son Isaac. It was also a day after Mozette received a promotion at work. Using all the good news as a reason to celebrate, Rich planned a romantic date night at an escape room— one of their favorite couple’s activities.
With the clock quickly running out of time to solve the puzzle, a competitive Mozette read the clue out loud: “YOU CAN SEARCH ALL OVER UNTIL YOUR FACE IS BLUE, BUT YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO LEAVE UNTIL YOU FIND THE LAST CLUE. YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SHINY AND ROUND. YOUR PHONE DOES THIS WHEN IT MAKES A SOUND! WHEN YOU ARE READY FOR YOUR LAST CLUE TURN AROUND”.
Confused, Mozette turned around to find Rich behind her down on one knee. Holding a ring and filled with emotion, he asked her to be his wife. Once she realized what was happening, overwhelmed with joy she laughed before saying yes.
The proposal in the escape room was not only unique and creative, but it also embodied their sense of adventure. It was a moment that will forever be etched in their hearts and memories, and one that they will cherish for a lifetime— much like their wedding that was beautifully captured by photographers Yanic Barrett and Kashif Robinson of Vues Wedding.
“A destination wedding was an absolute must for us! We both love traveling and good West Indian food,” the couple shared with us about their decision to marry in Jamaica.
The Vibe At The Simmons’ Destination Wedding
The couple’s entire wedding was inspired by West Indian culture, from their romantic beachside reception to the menu by De Corner Spot that consisted of curry snapper, ackee and saltfish cups, and Wray and Nephew— a famous white rum that’s original to Jamaica. “We took our guests ‘pon de road’ with a dedicated carnival session, which featured several carnival dancers dancing to Soca and Dancehall music,” they shared.
The festivities included lively music by DJ Kofie, live music by saxophonist Verlando Small, and live entertainment by MC Damion Austin. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention a beautiful cake by Janeil Rost.
Navigating Challanges & Creating A Day To Remember
Planning a wedding is no easy feat— especially a destination wedding.
“Planning a wedding is not for the faint of heart. Outside of trying to arrange and coordinate travel and transportation for 100 guests, Jamaica was hit with a pretty devastating hurricane a couple of months before our wedding,” they explained. “It damaged several parts of the island leaving some of our vendors without power, making it hard to communicate.”
Thankfully, everything worked out.
After 16 months of organizing and planning with Patrice Dehaney of Lux Event Design, the day went without a hitch. “The only thing that was important to us was making sure we put God first as we dedicated our union under God,” the newlyweds noted.
Mozette, who is Jamaican/Trinidadian, described the theme of the wedding as “elevated modern chic.” To complement the theme, the soon-to-be wife turned to makeup artists Sue Gregg and Teeah Grant to give her a soft glam look and hairstylist Natalia Golding to create a flirty chignon.
For her wedding gown, Mo opted for a stunning lace floor-length gown that was altered by Morgan Janaye. “I made a lot of alterations to my dress. I purchased my first gown and then saw another dress that I absolutely loved. So…I had my original dress altered to the second dress. My seamstress executed my vision perfectly,” the bride explains. “My dress was sexy yet sophisticated!”
For those who are interested in planning a destination wedding, the newlyweds offer the following advice: “As a couple, write down the top 3 most important things and execute those well. If the important things are done right at the end of the day you will be happy. Take your time when planning and start early.”
Great advice. Congratulations to the Simmons on their union and may their love story continue to flourish!
Editor’s Note: This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.
By BrownStyle Magazine in Special Editions
72 pages, published 1/17/2025
