It was Jamal Nyame Shillingford’s first night out in San Diego, when he met Michelle Sivyer Foley—who was playing wingwoman for a newly single friend—at the Andaz penthouse. “The moment Jamal and I started talking, everything else faded,” she smiles. They shared a kiss and parted ways without exchanging any contact info.
He knew he messed up and spent the next week scouring social media and going over every connection that might know how to get in touch with Michelle. Eventually his work paid off and he sent her this text: “Well, it took me a week of searching to get your #. I should’ve gotten it last Saturday night before you disappeared on me haha. How’s your Labor Day weekend going? – Jamal”
After nearly two years together, Jamal proposed to Michelle at Varoulko Seaside Restaurant in Athens, Greece. Because of her lost luggage, she was in her backup linen set that she’d packed in her carry-on. They were walking downstairs, when they reached a Juliet balcony on the second floor. Michelle turned around to find Jamal down on one knee and didn’t let him finish his question, when she squealed, “Yes!”
Once engaged, the couple decided to get married at Four Seasons Anguilla. “With him being from St. Croix, we needed somewhere close enough for his family to take a quick puddle jumper, but special enough to be worth the trip for our guests coming from all over,” Michelle explains.
Over The Moon Editor’s Pick Planner L. Scott Events helmed the planning ship to bring the couple’s luxury Caribbean vision to life. “I also wanted to bring in scent, something people often overlook but never forget,” Michelle shares. “Hope from Pigsty incorporated pikake, a nod to my childhood in Hawaii, and paired it with gardenia.”
Photographer Tracy Burch and videographer Hugo Allard lensed every moment of the weekend, and Plume and Flourish set the tone with a beautiful invitation suite.
The rehearsal dinner at Straw Hat was a full tribute to his Crucian heritage. To this, Michelle wore Rat & Boa’s Lorela silk dress, jewelry from Verstolo, and Retrofête heels.
The next day, the bride got ready with makeup artist Devon Duff and hair stylist Stacie Ford, before putting on the Vivienne Westwood Galaxy Cape Dress, which she initially tried on in Los Angeles with her father. She completed the look with Jimmy Choos.
On December 7, 2024, Michelle walked down the aisle—lined with florals by Pigsty—with her father, as “A Thousand Years” was played. “Overwhelmed with joy, I even paused halfway, soaking in the moment, as our guests cheered me on to meet my groom,” she remembers. The couple wed at the Bamboo Pool in a short and sweet 20-minute ceremony. “We exchanged vows, and while both were deeply personal, Jamal’s completely stole the show—bringing the entire crowd to tears. It was also the first time his father had ever seen him cry.”
The reception was a true celebration with Anguillan band Vere Musiq acting as the heartbeat of the party. “We didn’t plan on having a first dance, but our incredible band and my husband had other plans,” Michelle smiles. “Jamal ushered me onto the dance floor with a soulful rendition of ‘Can We Talk’ by Tevin Campbell—and he sang it to me. It was unexpected, unforgettable, and so us.”
The after-party commenced at the couple’s five-bedroom villa with DJ Stylez. “The vibes were island breezy with a heavy dose of ‘90s hip-hop and, of course, Rüfüs Du Sol,” Michelle reminisces. “It was exactly the kind of night we wanted—music, laughter, and the best people in the world, keeping the celebration going just a little longer.”
