“A true love story never ends.” — Unknown

Once in a while, if we’re lucky, there comes a love that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Business banker at Scotiabank Daniella Jackson and attorney-at-law Andrew Cowan discovered early on that distance does in fact make the heart grow fonder. The two were introduced as teenagers, by mutual friends, in the summer of 2003 and nurtured a friendship that quickly blossomed into a romantic relationship. In just over a year, they had become inseparable. Cowan’s studies, however, would soon threaten to drive a wedge between them.

“He’s my best friend, he’s my everything, and so even with the distance we found a way to see each other every month, letting the relationship continue to grow, until it was time for him to come back home,” Jackson told Vows.

Five years later, with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree to show for his time spent away, Cowan’s feet were back on home soil. The pair continued to keep their romance unpredictable with impromptu shopping trips, weekend visits to beachside resorts, and as often as possible, romantic dinners for two. Nothing seemed amiss, therefore, when they sat down to dine at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel one Friday night in November 2012.

“We had ordered our meals and were conversing as usual while waiting to be served. When the waiters brought our plates out they were both covered. Then, out of nowhere the waiters started singing. They then uncovered my plate to reveal a ring, placed amongst a bouquet of red roses, and a note with the words ‘Will you marry me?’ written on it. Before I knew it Andrew was down on one knee asking me to be his wife,” Jackson gushed.

Their tear-jerking nuptials — officiated by Reverend Lancelot Henry — took place on January 4, 2014 at Strawberry Hill Hotel & Spa in St Andrew. The bride, a vision in a Sophia Tolli gown, was escorted up the aisle by her father Anthony Jackson as an instrumental of Jason Derulo’s Will You Marry Me punctuated each step she took towards her husband-to-be, who was dapperly dressed in Spokes Apparel by Dexter Huxtable.

“Our wedding ceremony was beautiful. I enjoyed seeing the blend of colours and the gorgeous scenery of the mountains around me. I was very nervous when I was walking up the aisle, thinking that this is the day I’ve been planning and waiting an entire year for, and I’m finally going to become Mrs Andrew Cowan. The nerves began when I saw all eyes on me and I realised it was really happening. It all felt so surreal,” recalled Jackson.

A sand ceremony served to symbolise their unbreakable union, and a fun-filled reception — complete with Monopoly-inspired trivia ensured a truly memorable ocasion. For their first dance as husband and wife, the pair waltzed to John Legend’s All of Me, as their closest friends and family watched in awe. The celebration continued into their honeymoon, which saw them jetting to the United States for a brief stint in Los Angeles, before partying hard in Las Vegas.