An Elegant Bohemian Destination Vow Renewal in Mexico

DeQuindra “Dee” Rouzan likes to say that she married the guy-next-door. Because, she actually did. She first met Eugene Rouzan in January 1993 at Grambling State University, where they were neighbors. They were married just over a year later, on April 2, 1994. 

“We had always wanted to renew our vows,” Dee says. “We each suffered the loss of our only sibling within two years, in 2019 and 2021. We felt we needed something to celebrate as we’ve learned that life is too short!” Plus, there was a scheduling bonus: Their 2022 anniversary was going to fall on a  Saturday. Dee did the math. “Our anniversary would not fall on another Saturday for eight more years,” she says. “So, we decided to move forward with the plan to renew our vows with the same day, same time, same wife, and same groom!” It would be a celebration of 28 incredible, loving years together. 

The couple knew they wanted a destination affair, but weren’t sure exactly where. “We had a conversation with our photographer, Mon Soliel, and mentioned the need for a tropical destination,” Dee shares. “She sent me a ton of options, and we absolutely fell in love with Zihuatanejo, Mexico.” The town, located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico just north of Acapulco, is known for its stunning beaches. Dee and Eugene also wanted to pay it forward. “It was very important to us to work with a diverse group of vendors,” the bride says. “Because Zihuatanejo is such a small fishing community, we intentionally chose local vendors to pour into a community of hardworking small-business owners.”

Dee is in the wedding industry herself—she’s the owner of New Orleans-based beauty studio Faces of Virtue—and learned along the way to trust the process. “It was hard for me at first,” she admits. “As a small-business owner who provides leadership over a team of talented hairstylists and makeup artists, I control all the elements of the brand to ensure our brides have a beautiful day. When the tables turned, I came to the realization that I was now in the bride’s shoes. The dichotomy between the vendor and the client experience came full circle.”

The experience came to be at Dee and Eugene’s intimate April 2, 2022, vow renewal, planned by Jennifer Jaimes and photographed by Mon Soliel. 

“Our overall theme was boho chic,” Dee says. “I loved mixing textures and materials to create an earthy look, and we used local vendors to infuse their culture into our special day.” The color palette was delicate and neutral. Shades of nude, gray, pale pink, and sage green abounded.

“The easiest part of planning was curating the beauty for myself,”  Dee says. It is her career, after all! “I designed my hair and makeup look to complement the bohemian elements we’d chosen. I prepped my skin with Twinmedix Pro Refine Moisturizer. It contains Vitamin B and jojoba oil, which kept my skin supple throughout the entire day.” To avoid the appearance of heavy makeup, she airbrushed hers on, using Temptu Perfect Canvas foundation, and finished with a cool-toned eye using MAC Cosmetics Dusky Rose eyeshadow palette.

Dee designed her own custom headpiece, and found a seller on Etsy who could create it for her. “My hair is already short and frames my face. I wanted a boho-chic look, which is normally waves. I wore my hair in a wavy pattern and [added] the custom headpiece that mimicked the lace on the bridal gown. It was designed with crystals and rhinestones in a floral design.”

“I knew exactly what I wanted from the moment I walked into the bridal salon. I didn’t want or need to try on anything else,” Dee remembers of dress shopping experience. Her top pick was a deep-V All Who Wander style with intricate lace appliqués, layers of tulle, and a keyhole back. The name of the gown—Kenzo—sealed the deal: “Kenzo is my grandaughter’s nickname!” 

Eugene’s look included a custom tuxedo, Hermès cufflinks and Christian Louboutin shoes. “We worked closely with Lavoisier founder, Cortez Jackson, who helped select fabric and finishes such as lapel style, buttons, monograms, linings, and thread colors,” Dee says. “We wanted to create memories that would last for a couple of forevers!” 

“The first look was overwhelming,” Dee remembers. “Just the fact we were located in this magical place, surrounded by our closest family and friends—it was amazing.”

Floral designer Flor Caballero mixed fresh and dried florals for an open arch, but the real centerpiece of the setup was the view: Their chosen ceremony space at Casa Angelina overlooked the glittering ocean. 

A live mariachi band performed as guests took their seats. As Dee made her grand entrance as “Anything For You” by Ledisi played.

“We wrote our own vows for the ceremony,” Dee says. “We felt since nothing in our lives follows tradition, neither should our vows.” After “I do, again,” guests headed into a lively cocktail hour, where they sipped Ixtapa Old Fashioned and grapefruit Aperol spritzes. 

Rattan lanterns swung above the long table set for 15, which was adorned with dried foliage and O’Hara roses in full bloom. At each place setting, sheer knotted napkins enveloped gold flatware, and woven chargers popped against the dark wood table. 

Dinner was red snapper and shrimp medallions, lemon chicken breast, and Caesar salad. For dessert, the couple and their guests enjoyed flan Napolitano. 

The couple cut into a red velvet cake in style. Dee had customized the golden cake cutting set to match their bohemian decor. A gold knife and sever were wrapped in rope and adorned with greenery and pink carnations. Then, as an extra touch, the couple popped a celebratory bottle of Champagne and poured it down a tower of coupes. 

“Looking back on our day, the most memorable thing was the joy we felt by everyone who attended,” Dee shares. “The sheer fact that our 4-year-old granddaughter was able to witness the undeniable love of her parents and also of her ‘Missy’ and ‘Diddy,’ reinforces the fact that real love and positive relationships exist.”