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Home · Weddings

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
Somewhere Beyond The Sea

Cassandre Jean and Rodney Lavard got hitched in an island destination wedding at the Gansevoort Hotel in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on October 3, 2009, with the sound of calm waves in the background.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
02
Year-to-Date

Rodney proposed to Cassandre in front of friends and family during a trip home to the Turks and Caicos Islands on October 5, 2007, almost 2 years to the date of their wedding.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
03
The Perfect Gentleman

Rodney won his lady’s heart by always being respectful. He made her feel “safe” and wasn’t aggressive.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
04
Caribbean Queen

For her wedding day, Cassandre wanted her look to be natural yet flawless. She credits Shenique from Shenique Perfection for her loose curls and light make-up and the Turks and Caicos sun for her glowing skin tone.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
05
Flower Power

The bridesmaids wore pink and white orchids in their hair to complement their pink dresses and add an extra touch of exotic island magic.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
06
Perfect Choice

Lucky for her, Cassandre found her wedding dress at the second bridal shop she visited, Priscilla Boston in Long Island, NY.

“I felt like that dress was made for me,” she remembers. “It was exactly what I wanted from the cut to the fabric, which wasn’t too heavy for Turks and Caicos.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
07
Fit for Life

“Every fitting I had, I cried,” Cassandre laughs. “even til the last day.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
08
Cool, Calm and Collected

Rodney said he wasn’t nervous at all on his wedding day. “I was more excited that anything. I was just looking forward to it.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
09
With This Ring

Rodney, who picked out all of the rings, used jeweler Alan Cohen, in Midtown, Manhattan. For Cassandre’s engagement ring he chose a three-stone, past-present-future ring and her wedding ring had a row of diamonds to match. For himself, the groom chose a simple and sturdy platinum ring.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
10
Just One Look

Cassandre gives herself and the camera a final look before putting on her veil.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
11
Head Piece

Cassandre purchased her veil from the Priscilla Boston shop where she found her dress. She wanted something very simple and elegant.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
12
Guardian Angels

Cassandre tied photos of her two grandmothers to her bouquet of white orchids so she could have them close to her on her wedding day.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
13
For a Lifetime

When Rodney proposed he said, “I don’t know where my life would be without you and I was wondering if you’d spend the rest of yours with me,” Cassandre remembers.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
14
Lost In Love

“It sounds silly, but I just missed him,” the new wife said about being apart from Rodney on the morning of her wedding day. “I was anxious to be with him.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
15
Pretty in Pink

Cassandre chose pink strapless dresses for her bridesmaids, add a pop of color to the wedding party to accentuate the tropical atmosphere. The girls carried bouquets of pink bougainvillea, that grow wild in the islands.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
16
Goofing Around

“Just because it was the big day, I didn’t want it to be any different than any time that I’m hanging out with my girls,” the light-hearted bride said.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
17
All For One

Rodney chose beige suits for himself and his groomsmen to accentuate the sandy beaches of the TCI. The men wore pink orchids while he and Cassandre’s father wore white to match his bride’s bouquet.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
18
Daddy’s Girl

Before walking down the aisle Cassandre’s dad said, “Daddy never let you down in the past. I won’t let you down now. It’s you and I.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
19
Face to Face

“Once I saw Rodney, my heart jumped. I didn’t see the people on the left and the right.” Cassandre sighed.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
20
With This Ring

Cassandre remembers getting teary eyed when she and Rodney exchanged rings. “I was just so overwhelmed with happiness.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
21
Could I Have This Kiss Forever

“I’m Mrs. Lavard! How exciting is that?!” the newlywed gushed about her new marital status.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
22
Sands of Time

To commemorate their union, the couple combined two vials of blue and white sand into a vase, which they now keep in their bedroom.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
23
On Lock Down

Rodney thought it would be funny to have a friend place a ball and chain on his ankle after he got hitched. Cassandre was a good sport and agreed to the joke.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
24
Love Is In The Air

After the wedding the newlyweds, wedding party and guests tossed petals of bougainvillea flowers, tucked into paper cones, into the air.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
25
My Cherie Amor

Cassandre and Rodney are proud of their Haitian heritage and their nickname for each other is the French word Cherie.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
26
Forever His Lady

Rodney said he fell for Cassandre because of “her smile and her good heart… She has a heart of gold.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
27
She Sells Seashells

The couple’s wedding planner, Diane from Island Harmony, added seashells with the bride and groom’s place settings for a cute accent. They keep the shells in the living room.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
28
Dancin’ in the Moonlight

Cassandre and Rodney’s first dance was to a contemporary Haitian tune by Alan Cave called “Men Mwen” or ‘Here I Am’.

“When Rodney and I heard it, we looked at each other and we just knew that would be our song,” the bride said.

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
29
So Happy Together

The new wife felt relief after the nuptials were over after all the preparation for the wedding, and excitement to plan the rest of her and Rodney’s life together.

“It was such a buildup of tension. It was two years of planning and it was a lot of work. It was well worth it at the end of the day.”

Bridal Bliss: Cassandre and Rodney Lavard
Anita Marcus, Tropical Imaging
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