Mesita Simms and Durante Partridge headed south of the border to the Excellence Playa Mujeres resort in Mexico for their big day on June 18, 2009. View their tropical affair.
“I love Mexico,” Mesita gushes. The couple and their wedding guests arrived in Playa Mujeres early and took some time to relax and get everything together before the big day.
Mesita shows wears her favorite color well as she takes her time getting ready for her big day.
“I was very relaxed,” Mesita says of her wedding day. “I had a massage at the spa, when I was getting my hair done they were bringing me wine. It felt like a fairy tale.”
After ordering two dresses that weren’t really for her, Mesita finally went with her true feelings and got this gorgeous strapless Pronovias gown with a sweetheart bodice and sequin details. She found the dress at A Formal Affair in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mesita used a makeup artist provided by the resort. She brought along her hot pink lipstick to make sure she got the look she wanted for her wedding day. The pop of pink is perfect.
Mesita took the idea of using fuchsia peonies for her bridal bouquet from the cover of a bridal magazine. The arrangement complemented her wedding vision well.
Keeping with her hot pink theme, Mesita wore these peep-toe heels down the aisle.
To stay in line with the seaside elegance of the wedding, Durante chose a linen suit and a pale pink shirt instead of a traditional tux. The hot pink fit perfectly with Mesita’s vision.
Mesita is stunning in her wedding gown and veil, giggling with excitement as she waits to be escorted down the aisle.
Mesita says she kept her cool until she was waiting to walk down the aisle with her father.
“I just started bawling,” she laughs. “I was really crying.”
“It was pretty amazing,” Durante says of his wedding day. “Everything felt brand new at that moment.”
Mesita’s elegant engagement ring is a beautiful one carat princess cut diamond set in white gold. Her wedding band is also white gold with one karat of princess cut diamonds.
Durante’s masculine wedding ring features white and black diamonds.
“It was fairly overwhelming,” Durante reveals of his wedding day. “I just love Mesita so much.”
The world welcomes Mr. and Mrs. Durante and Mesita Partridge.
“She’s always there when I need her,” Durante says of his new wife. “Even when I don’t say anything, she’s there.”
The groom got a little teary-eyed when Mesita met him at the altar.
The newlyweds can’t contain their happiness.
The happy newlyweds swayed to “Steppin’ Into Heaven” for their first dance.
The Simms-Partridge family toast to a long and prosperous life together for Mesita and Durante.
The Excellence Playa Mujeres resort provided the gorgeous wedding cake with three flavors — strawberry, cheesecake and traditional yellow cake.
Mesita, her mother, Durante’s mother and one of her bridesmaids take a time-out at the wedding reception for a lady’s pow-wow.
The happy couple takes a rest between their wedding ceremony and reception.
After the reception, Mesita, Durante and their wedding guests kept the party going. Durante joined the resort’s live band and turned the scene into a karaoke party.
“My bridesmaids and I were his groupies,” Mesita jokes.
“I just felt relieved,” Mesita says of enjoying her wedding reception. “I felt stress-free at that moment.”
“I’m looking forward to starting a family and growing old with Durante,” Mesita says, “I want to travel and enjoy all that life has to offer us.”
The newlyweds plan to return to Playa Mujeres for their one year wedding anniversary coming up next month.
Photos courtesy of Kieth Cephus.
View more photos from Mesita and Durante’s big day here.
