Two New Yorkers Traded the Big Apple for the Beaches of Jamaica for Their Destination Wedding in Montego Bay

Yahoo

15-07-2025

A typical night in December of 2020 turned into anything but that when Marley Moos and Michael Shapiro matched on the dating app Hinge. When they realized they also shared a mutual friend, their connection felt less like happenstance and more like fate. The two quickly started dating and enjoyed nearly three years of adventures before Michael proposed on April 7, 2023. The morning began with a walk to their favorite coffee shop in New York's West Village, and when they got home, Michael suggested they check out their building's newly-renovated rooftop. There, with coffee in hand, Michael proposed. 'He went on to share that he had a weekend of surprises for me—with my two best friends and both our families having flown in!' Marley remembers. 'We celebrated all weekend long.'
The couple knew they wanted to tie the knot in a warm destination, and since Marley grew up going to Jamaica with her family, it felt like a perfect backdrop for their vow exchange. Thy set the date for November 9, 2024, and invited 145 of their loved ones to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for a weekend of events. 'Once we visited Half Moon, it was clear from the moment we got there that it was the spot for us,' the bride says. 'We wanted a 'weekender' style wedding where our guests could come and relax and have fun all weekend long, not just for a single event.' Plus, they loved that their wedding locale is somewhere they can return year after year with their own family.
Once the venue was selected, the rest of the details fell right into place. Marley and Michael knew they wanted an elegant celebration with tropical décor elements, a color palette inspired by the Jamaican landscape, and a memorable dance party. Though the bride took on most of the planning herself, she did entrust her florist at Tai Flora Luxe and Half Moon's in-house planner Andrea Smith to help pull off the details. From a prayer shawl handmade by the bride's grandmother to Red Stripe beer served in a canoe at the cocktail hour, see how the couple personalized their wedding day in photos by DWP Studios.
On their wedding morning, Marley and Michael woke up and headed to the ocean for one last dip as fiancés. 'After our morning swim, we sat out on our terrace with coffee and read each other our vows that we wrote,' she says. 'It was an emotional and special morning that I'll never forget.' Once the two parted ways, Marley's closest friends, mother, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law joined her to get ready for the day and enjoy brunch on the terrace.
Marley pictured herself in a simple slip dress with an overlay top she could remove for the reception. As soon as she tried on a satin crepe Elizabeth Fillmore slip gown with a cowl back detail paired with a tulle bolero, she knew she found her bridal look. She worked closely with the designer to customize the gown with a bolero and gems at her New York City atelier.
Three months before the wedding, Marley received unexpected news about her health. 'I was diagnosed with breast cancer three months before our wedding and had to do a double mastectomy two months before,' she explains. The team at Elizabeth Fillmore, including the designer herself, stepped in to ensure the bride-to-be knew she should focus on getting well and not worry about the gown—they would do everything in their power to ensure it was perfect for her walk down the aisle. 'She halted the dress making when I shared my diagnoses with her and waited to make adjustments, fitting my new measurements until the day before I left for Jamaica to ensure it fit me perfectly," Marley remembers. And, on the big day, Marley stepped into the gown that was stunning crafted just for her.
Marley accessorized with pearl and sapphire earrings that her grandmother gifted her mother on her wedding day and a few other pieces of heirloom jewelry. She also added tropical flowers from the resort's garden to her hair, a lovely complement to her low bun. Marley's bouquet consisted of local flowers and greenery from Jamaica, including anthurium, orchids, and ranunculus.
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Michael customized his wedding suit with Suit Supply. He wore an ivory linen jacket and pants with a white linen shirt and custom Stubbs and Wootton shoes. He chose to skip the tie and added a vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre watch that Marley gave him as a wedding gift.
As his big-day fragrance, he wore Byredo Mojave Ghost, a recommendation from his sister.
The couple's first look meant that they had extra time to take photos around the property before the celebrations began. 'Michael had been guessing what my dress would look like for months leading up, and when he saw it he was so surprised,' Marley says. 'It was just so emotional seeing each other ready to get married.'
The couple's ceremony took place on a beachside lawn of a private villa at the resort. Mr. Angus, a local guitarist who performed for the couple during their first trip to Half Moon years earlier, provided live music for a prelude and the processional. 'He played his own renditions of classic love songs as well as some Jamaican ones,' the bride says.
Marley felt strongly about incorporating a few Jewish wedding traditions, so she had both of her parents walk her down the aisle, and the duo tied the knot beneath a chuppah adorned with tropical flowers. They also incorporated a handmade tallit (a Jewish prayer shawl) created by Marley's grandmother into their ceremony, which was a special way to honor her since she wasn't able to attend.
Since the couple had already exchanged their personal vows in private, they opted to swap traditional vows in front of family members and friends.
At cocktail hour, guests visited a cigar bar and enjoyed appetizers that highlighted the local cuisine, including jerk spring rolls, sushi, and coconut shrimp. A coconut bar was arranged on angular shelving, and guests were encouraged to pick up hydrating coconut drinks branded with Marley and Michael's custom monogram.
The couple also filled a canoe with local Red Stripe beer and served two signature cocktails: a 'Mar-garita' as Marley's choice and a 'Shapani Your Way' as Michael's drink of choice. The couple also personalized cups, napkins, and matchbooks with 'Mr. and Mrs. Shapirate," Michael's nickname.
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Marley and Michael held their reception in a tent overlooking the ocean. There, woven lanterns and greenery hung from the ceiling while farm-style tables were arranged around a wooden dance floor. Each table was decorated with a lace runner, ivory pillar candles, and tropical centerpieces with local palm leaves, pink orchids, and neutral roses. The place settings featured woven chargers to tie in the lanterns seen throughout the tent.
For dinner, the couple served an option of bone marrow crusted filet or coconut crusted local snapper. 'Both were total hits,' Marley says.
They also had a three-tiered semi-naked almond and lemon wedding cake with buttercream icing, which was decorated with fresh flowers to match the centerpieces.
Marley and Michael opened the dance floor with a first dance to 'This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) " by Natalie Cole. The bride shared a dance with her dad to Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely' and Michael danced with his mom to Rascal Flatts' 'My Wish."
The bride and groom set out to host an epic party, so choosing the right entertainment for their reception was critical. 'We had the best local band that brought the most amazing energy,' the bride says. They played classic wedding party songs, pop favorites, and reggae jams. The couple's MC, Monica, kept the night flowing and the energy high, resulting in a hora dance to remember and a few crowd-surfing opportunities.
Marley changed into a second bridal look for the reception: a crochet knit Simon Miller halter dress with pearl details. 'The night flowed right into our after-party that was set up on the beach nearby, with a beach bar, s'mores and other late night snacks set up,' Marley notes. 'It was perfect!'
With their wedding behind them, the couple plans to head to the South of France and Greece this summer as a delayed honeymoon. To couples in the middle of wedding planning, the couple recommends hiring vendors you can rely on. 'Have fun with it, and trust your team!' Marley says. 'Your vendors have done this many more times than you have, so trust that they know how to do it well.'Photographer DWP Studios
Venue, Catering, and Coordination Half Moon
Bride's Hair Fern Tree Spa at Half Moon
Flowers and Rentals Tai Flora Luxe
Invitations Elana Gabrielle
Paper Products Invites by Andi
Reception Music PACE BandRelated: How Much Does a Destination Wedding Really Cost?
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