Vows
Out of all of the girls,
You’re my one and only girl;
Ain’t nobody in the world tonight.
All of the stars, you make them shine like they were ours;
Ain’t nobody in the world but you and I.
— You & I (Nobody In The World) by John Legend
olice Traffic Headquarters Field Officer Tanesha Kadian Bloomfield and her Jamaica Defence Force Corporal beau Oneil André Bunting wed on January 18, 2015, at the Garrison Church of the Ascension to a primary colour-themed ceremony of love and happiness. Vows shares their storybook romance.
How They Met…
The two met at a Jamaica Combined Cadet Force summer camp. “We had on-and-off relations for about two-and-a-half years before getting married. Oneil was a medical assistant at camp and an adult rank sergeant in the cadet corps. We met on a visit to one of my cadets who was under his care at the medical post, and we spent some time getting to know each other.
“Summer camp ended and we exchanged numbers with plans to go on a date,” Tanesha recalls. “I thoroughly enjoyed our unofficial first date, but unfortunately we had to get back to reality — as such, we lost touch with each other.
It wasn’t until I found Oneil’s Hi5 and Tagged profiles that we started communicating like we used to, but we lost contact again for quite some time. Though neither of us admitted it, there was a deep connection that we’d feel whenever we were together. After a few months I accompanied my niece to the Up Park Camp medical centre, where I saw Oneil again for the first time in what felt like forever.”
The Proposal (as told by Tanesha)
“On April 18, 2014, Oneil planned the most beautiful baby shower to welcome our first child, Taraji. It was a day of celebrations in more ways than one as my birthday also marked the Good Friday holiday; little did I know I would remember this day for years to come as the day he proposed.
“All of our friends sat and watched as Oneil’s plans unfolded. He pulled a chair forward and asked me to sit. He brought forth a duffle bag, so I reckoned something big was coming. For a moment I was confused as he pulled out a small box from the bag and went down on his left knee. Screams of excitement filled the room as everyone caught wind of what was about to happen.
“I was ecstatic! He took hold of my left hand and the words: “Tanesha Kadian Bloomfield, will you marry me?” followed. Our friends let out a collective “YES!” to his proposal way before I could even compose myself to answer. I could not have asked for more.”
The Ceremony…
The chords of Chicago’s You’re The Inspiration rang out as the bridesmaids entered the church, which was decorated in primary colours by Orchid Blooms & Gifts. Tanesha left guests awestruck as she glided up the aisle to Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You in a stunning white square-neckline spaghetti strap, floor-length gown with a beaded cathedral train, draped in symmetrical pearl detailing with beaded appliqués from the waist-cinching bodice to the A-line silhouette.
Major the Reverend Denston Smalling performed the moving wedding ceremony, followed by the bridal party’s recession to the strains of Shania Twain’s You’re Still the One.
The Bridegroom
Oneil had two wardrobe changes; the first was a JDF corporal’s uniform, a regal red jacket with yellow trimmings around the collar and sleeves, complete with 13 buttons bearing the coat of arms and a gold ceremonial lanyard on the left of the jacket, and black pants with red piping along the outer seams. His cocktail and reception suit was an all-white ensemble from Italian designer Roberto Lucci, complete with a blue vest, matching blue tie and white shoes.
The Bridal Party
The bridesmaids looked striking in strapless, ruched-bodice, red A-line dresses, paired with gold T-strap sandals, while maid of honour Cassigne Russell-Smithen made an elegant statement in a ruched-bodice blue cocktail dress with a diamond-encrusted band under the bust, paired with silver platform heels.
The Unveiling of the Cake…
The Jan’s Catering fruitcake confection stood on three columns, each draped in white fondant, adorned with red and yellow roses and complementing blue ribbons which bore the names: “Tanesha & Oneil”. On the centrepiece was a whimsical cake topper of a soldier leading his bride in a waltz.
The Reception…
The romantic sounds of Shania Twain’s From This Moment played during the signing of the marriage register welcoming guests and loved ones to Jan’s Catering’s Derrymore Road headquarters where guests enjoyed tasty local fare.
Formalities handled by emcee Oral McLean included toasts to the bride and groom by Tanesha’s high school friend Nadia Wilson and best man Andrae Simpson, followed by toasts to the parents of the bride and groom by maid of honour Cassigne Russell-Smithen and the groom’s long-time family friend Stacy-Ann Campbell. The newly-weds danced to Celine Dion’s Have You Ever Been In Love, marking the culmination of the formalities.
The Honeymoon…
The couple enjoyed a week-long honeymoon in Grand Cayman.
