Love is friendship set on fire.

For Khavel Cornelia Roxanne Smith and Delano Ewart Martin, what began as a tiny glimmer of affection blossomed into passion. The two started out as friends, and remained that way for years before sparks began to fly.

“What we share is deeper than physical attraction. It’s what’s within. We connect physically, emotionally and socially. In other words; we talk, we laugh, we share and we love,” Khavel shared with Vows.

That First Encounter:

They met through a mutual friend, in 2006; Delano, a detective constable with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, was immediately smitten, but at the time Khavel, a health aid nurse, wasn’t looking for love. As fate would have it, however, they became very good friends. The foundation was laid for a lasting relationship built on transparency, trust and respect, and it was only a matter of time before romance crept in.

The Proposal:

The pair dated for four years. In January 2012 Khavel said “Yes” after Delano phoned her mother asking for her hand in marriage and popped the question with a CD featuring her favourite love songs as background music.

The Zales 14K white gold/diamond engagement ring he chose would eventually be joined by two wedding bands.

Here Comes The Bride:

While she admits to not being one of those women who have been planning their wedding since childhood, Khavel says her special day was everything she could have dreamed it to be and so much more.

Held in The Gardens at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston on June 29, 2013. The atmosphere was one of joy, happiness and excitement, complete with constant laughter and well wishes.

Johnny Gill’s You For Me played as the blushing bride walked up the aisle to meet her husband-to-be, with her mother by her side. A moment, she says, felt “like walking through heaven’s gates on air”. Her bridesmaids and maid of honour, all teary-eyed as she entered, shared this sentiment.

“From where I was standing, next to the love of my life, everything was perfect,” she said of the ceremony.

“We spent the day with friends and family. The ceremony started a little late, or maybe a lot late, but turned out to be the most fun and exciting one ever. Perfect is not even enough to describe the way the event unfolded,” she continued.

The Reception:

The Talk of the Town restaurant atop the Jamaica Pegasus hotel was where the reception took place.

The honeymoon followed at Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay.

Khavel is excited to embark on their new journey together, and is as optimistic as ever about the future, with the understanding that a relationship needs nourishment to flourish and that marriage validates the unity required for it to be successful.

“The road ahead is not paved with gold and diamonds nor is it straight and smooth. It is a journey that we will take together and continue to build on the foundation of love that we share. For better or worse, there is no limit to what we can accomplish as a team. We will continue to live in love, peace, happiness and in the joy of our marriage,” she said as she defined her happily ever after.