It was love at first sight for noted journalist Kalilah Enriquez and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Richard Reynolds. The couple first locked eyes at a party over the Easter weekend in 2010, and have been inseparable since. Vows unravels the Belizean love story.

As Richard recounts, “I was looking around for my friend when I saw her. Her beautiful brown eyes struck me and I froze for a second or two with a broad smile on my face. When she smiled back, I blushed and slowly turned away. My friend appeared, seemingly out of the blue. I told him I would be right back, intending to go and say hello. By the time I could turn around again, there she was, right beside me. We exchanged pleasantries and the rest, as they say, is history.”

In a matter of weeks Kalilah and Richard realised they had found their respective soulmates. Within a month, the two declared their love for each other by uttering the magical words, “I love you”, while embracing each other under the stars at the Calabash Literary Festival in Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth. Fast forward five years later and, after a particularly difficult year due to a prolonged illness, Richard decided it was finally time to seal the deal.

THE PROPOSAL, ACCORDING TO RICHARD…

The engagement date was no coincidence. Richard chose to pop the question on Kalilah’s birthday months in advance. While in the hospital, he ordered the ring and had his friend retrieve and deliver it to him. The plan was to make Kalilah’s entire day perfect from start to finish. He sent flowers to her workplace and bought her a pair of diamond earrings, which she received later that day when she got home. Shortly thereafter, during conversations in bed with his beloved Kalilah, Richard steered the conversation to how much of a perfect companion Kalilah had been and how compatible they were with each other. The conversation got emotional as the two reminisced on their journey together. Agreeing that the day could not have been better, Richard then asked, “You know what would make it even more perfect? If you said yes!” He revealed the ring and Kalilah said yes before he formally asked for her hand in marriage.

THE BIG DAY

The wedding took place on December 19, 2015, on the lush, secluded Dream Valley Resort in Teakettle Village, Belize, which is located near Kalilah’s hometown of Belmopan. Close to 120 guests attended the ceremony, including about 40 of the groom’s closest family and friends who flew in from Jamaica. In the days preceding the wedding, the Jamaican entourage had the opportunity to explore several of Belize’s most noted attractions. The weather was perfect all week, until the night before the big day when the skies opened and it poured, swelling the banks of the Belize River where the ceremony was scheduled to take place, and rendering the grounds completely unsuitable for the event. Undeterred, the couple relocated the ceremony to the spacious balcony of the Dream Valley Resort, with the stunning panoramic view of the river serving as the backdrop.

The event was organised by the mother of the bride, Margaret Enriquez, and Dream Valley’s guest coordinator, Lucy Nero. The Reverend Dr Sam Green, favoured pastor of the groom’s parents, flew in from Atlanta to officiate the ceremony, and had guests in stitches as the couple exchanged vows and rings.

At the reception, guests dined on shrimp ceviche appetisers and traditional Belizean turkey dinner prepared by the Dream Valley chefs. Outside, the rain was picking up, casting doubt on plans to move the party under the large gazebo where the DJ was spinning the couple’s favourite ’90s dancehall, reggae and soca tunes. However, guests, intent on continuing the party, trudged through the damp to join the couple under the gazebo to sip cocktails, ‘buss a wine’, and make the night truly memorable.

After a relaxing weekend at the romantic Dream Valley Resort, Kalilah and Richard jetted off to Cancun, Mexico, for their honeymoon, before returning to Jamaica to resume their lives as Mr and Mrs Richard Reynolds.