- Couple: Julien & Michelle Elie
- Reception Location: Newton White Mansion
- Wedding Date: July 3, 2017
- Tip: Be inspired but stay true to your original vision. Don’t get distracted by all the design ideas on Pinterest and social media.
Our Love Story:
It was a Monday night, late in July 2012. Julien and I both ended up at Marvin on 14th and U Street for their old school hip hop and soul night. After all, it was the place to be! We spotted each other from across the room. Julien asked me to dance and we had numerous dance battles and admired each other’s dance moves. At one point, Julien pulled me into a different room and attempted some Salsa. I thought he was sweet.
We were sweating and filled with joy and then “the moment of truth” happened. The lights came on and we really got to see one another. When it was time to exchange numbers, we discovered that Julien’s phone was dead. Julien was committed to memorizing my number the old school way so he asked me for it so he could memorize it. Twenty minutes later, when he added juice to the battery in his phone, he called.
Julien proposed during his alma mater’s Morgan state’s homecoming in October of 2015 after four years of dating.
When Julien and I began wedding planning, we quickly learned we were on the same page regarding how we actually wanted our day to shake out. We were committed to having the ultimate party: we wanted great food, great music, non-stop dancing and splashes of color that reflected our love and positive energy.
We were so impressed with what we saw from Caribbean Caterers and Gillian’s personality that we booked before even tasting the food!
When we met Gillian she was catering a wedding close to where we lived and invited us to check out the décor. Meeting Gillian matched all of our expectations from our conversation over the phone. She was kind, sweet, honest and really warm. We were so impressed with what we saw at the venue and her personality that we booked before even tasting the food! My husband and I have since talked about how crazy we were for doing that, but when you know, you just know! We sealed the deal with Caribbean Caterers about 10 months before our big day. Each month we received a friendly call and made payments along the way. Caribbean Caterers clearly communicated with us and we felt like we were able to stay ahead of the game.
I was very distracted by all the different design ideas on Pinterest and social media. Gillian saw me losing my way and put me right back on track.
About two months before the wedding, we had a Design Consultation with Gillian and Candace to discuss the look of our reception. I thought I had a clear idea of what I wanted but I quickly realized I was very distracted by all the different options on Pinterest and social media. I had changed ideas several times because I loved what I saw in other people’s venues. Gillian was honest with me and reminded me of my initial interview with her. She saw me losing my way and put me right back on track. Gillian helped me realize how visual I am and encouraged me to keep my original plan.
Gillian also helped me to incorporate my new ideas into the design. I spotted an African fabric that I wanted to use in the ceremony and reception and brought it with me during our Design Consultation. Gillian and her team gave me really good advice about actually incorporating it into the space.
Working with Gillian was like working with an aunt. She was loving, honest, clear and organized – but always made us laugh!
During the tasting, we were so impressed with the food that we changed our initial menu to make sure it matched our experience. Everyone raved about the food! Everyone loved the linens and décor! Working with Gillian was like working with an aunt. She was loving, honest, clear and organized – but always made us laugh! I wish I had enough words to talk about how amazing my experience was working with Gillian and Caribbean Caterers. From the very first time I met them, I was completely sold and choosing Caribbean Caterers was the best thing my husband and I did for our wedding! We truly felt like the stars were aligned and every single part of our vision came alive. We have Caribbean Caterers to thank for turning our fantasy into reality. We are sad that the year with them has ended and hoping they offer cooking classes so we can learn to make those delicious dishes soon!
Choosing Caribbean Caterers means that folks will be talking about the food at your wedding for years – it’s just that great!
