On Saturday, April 4, Trinidad and Tobago native and High Commission Second Secretary Erlene Kowlessar wed her prince charming, French national Tangui Morvan, on the lush lawns of the Trident Castle in Port Antonio, Portland.

VOWS shares the story of love at first sight.

The couple — who were introduced by mutual friends in 2011 — were immediately caught in a whirlwind romance. Touring Jamaica and learning its culture brought the two closer as they made the island their home away from home. Three years later, Tangui proposed.

Erlene shares, “He proposed after a Thanksgiving meal with friends last November. The proposal was so unexpected; he didn’t even have a ring.”

With over 60 guests in attendance, the ceremony — led by Reverend Ralph Hoyte — was a purple and silver-hued spectacular created by the New Levels Décor team.

Tangui opted for a grey suit, white oxford shirt, purple tie and matching boutonnière. Little Gaspard, the ring bearer, hopped and skipped to the altar ahead of the groomsmen, who escorted the bridesmaids up the aisle. They wore navy jackets, white shirts with custom purple ties and khaki trousers while the ladies styled in purple scoop-neck sheath dresses with sequinned embellishments below the bust.

Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years announced Erlene’s entrance. Escorted by her mother, Erlene stunned in an ivory ruched Bliss Bridal Boutique-bought satin dress — designed by Justin Alexander for Sincerity Bridal — that had a floor-grazing train, and was accessorised by a birdcage fascinator. The two recited their vows, shared I do’s and recessed in a cloud of bubbles to Plain White T’s Rhythm of Love.

The Reception…

Guests nibbled on appetisers ahead of a vin d’honneur, where they were treated to a taste of French Champagne by the Morvan family, and Appleton Reserve rums, among other libations.

Cards were issued during cocktail hour for guests to scribble down song selections in a game of “DJ, Play My Song”. Cocktail hour came to a close as guests took to their seats for sumptuous Trident Hotel cuisine.

After dinner, emcee David Cuthbert welcomed maid of honour Lisa Bholai for a toast to the bride and groom on behalf of the bridal party. Brother of the groom Jean-Baptiste then shared a video of Tangui in his younger days and offered a toast to the newly-weds.

Best wishes and congratulations followed from mother of the bride, parents of the groom and several friends. The newly-weds cut into their three-tiered passion fruit-infused chocolate cake before their first dance as husband and wife to Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. Later, a release of paper lanterns into the night sky topped off festivities.