Celebrity chef Huda and Lamar’s dream wedding has come true in Barbados

How the bride knew she had found the right one

“I knew Lamar was special because he made me feel calm, comfortable, respected and loved,” Huda says. “I love the way he was with his family and friends. He inspired me with the way he loved me before he even said it.

How the groom knew he had found this one

“I knew I had found this one after I couldn’t imagine being away from her and not having her in my life,” Lamar says. “I fell in love with her whole being and the greatness of her heart and how she is always there for me and everyone she comes in contact with.”

Proposal

Huda describes the proposal orchestrated by Lamar as “the surprise of a lifetime”. For Huda’s birthday, Lamar took her to the beautiful Hillwood Estate in DC, 13 acres of lush greenery, gardens and natural wonders, for an impromptu photoshoot. “At the end of the photoshoot, Lamar took me back to my favorite garden, which is Majorie Post’s personal garden. As we stood on the marble steps at the top of the fountain, he took me by the hands and said, “I have a question for you. Would you marry me?’ Of course, I said yes and immediately burst into tears of joy, ”she says.

The place

The couple struggled to set a wedding date and location for their big day, so they decided to look abroad and get married at their destination. After narrowing their options to Greece or Barbados, they were completely smitten with the latter. “We ended up selecting The Crane Resort in Barbados because it is a beautiful historic property with stunning views, luxury amenities and is renowned as one of the best beaches in the world. We fell in love with the stunning location on a bluff overlooking the ocean after reviewing the many quaint options available on the property for the wedding ceremony. We were able to plan a lot in three days on the island with the guidance of Eusi Skeete with Barbados Tourism and his team, who went out of their way to accommodate us and make the process and each event and the chef’s experience amazing to everybody.

Decor details

The romantic use of flowers and glamorous touches of sparkle composed the decor by Robert Carter of Petals Paradise Inc. And nothing beats the sea as a backdrop.

Double Decor

Another photo of how the place was decorated because… why not?

Overcome the obstacles

The couple have had to postpone their marriage three times in two years due to COVID and personal family barriers. But when they reached their big day, it was worth the wait. “If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that the most important thing is really to appreciate the time you spend with your loved ones and to celebrate this love. Even though there were challenges and hurdles, and the original plans and site locations changed several times, we were still determined to get married before the end of 2021 and start the new year as husband and wife. Despite all the challenges we endure in life, the important thing is to have faith and to know that love will prevail and that you enjoy this moment in life.

She said yes (also to the dress)

Memorable moments

Major moments for the couple include saying ‘yes’ in front of loved ones from near and far live and receiving greetings from famous friends in video form (including from Chris Tucker, Eddie Levert, Robert Townsend , Doug E. Fresh and more). But nothing was better than just being surrounded by their friends and family, to have their support. “For me, the most heartwarming moments were sitting down and taking a moment to look around and understand everything. Seeing loved ones and close friends in Barbados helping us celebrate our love is a moment that I will never forget, ”Huda said.

That they eat cake

This beautiful layered cake was prepared by Chef Javon Cummins of Aromatics Barbados.

Quadruple the treats

For a chef’s wedding day, the food can’t be anything (nor the usual “boring short rib and chicken plate” as Huda puts it). And being in Barbados, the couple wanted the food to celebrate that culture. With the help of the tourist office, they were able to feed on the best culinary talents. “We were thrilled when they organized four of Barbados’ best chefs to come and do a special presentation of their signature dishes for our guests. These talented chefs introduced us to the culinary history and future of Barbados, ”said Huda. “As a chef, I was in gastronomic heaven.” The chefs were Damian Leach (flying fish tacos and Caribbean lobster bisque), Trevon Stoute (simmered lamb tagine), Creig Greenidge (slow roasted Cajun chicken and macaroni pie) and Javon Cummins (wedding cake and dessert table) .

What the future holds

“Now that we’ve said yes, we feel so blessed and look forward to the next chapter in our lives and building a family and getting older, getting sexier and even wiser,” the couple said. “We can’t wait to see what God has in store for us and make the most of every moment we share. We can’t wait to steal some quiet moments and passionate kisses while we do the dishes. We look forward to small celebrations and birthday wishes. We look forward to always waking up with the smile of our soul mate. We can’t wait to be excited to be newlyweds for a while. We look forward to continuing to lay the foundation forever and celebrating the life we ​​will continue to build together. ”