When UWI, Mona final-year law student Victor Brown saw his blushing bride Ashalee Dunkley walking towards him on their wedding day, Saturday, December 26, 2015, at Powell Close, Mount Salem in St James, he knew it was meant to be. Vows takes you back to their initial encounter.

Victor recalls that first encounter…

Ashalee and I are students of UWI, Mona, so running into each other on campus is par for the course. She’s originally from St Mary, and lived on hall. We became friends shortly after getting acquainted at church. Over time we began to make mental notes of the qualities we admired in each other. We kept our growing affections a secret until our friendship blossomed. We grew to trust each other, so the desire to begin courting was quite organic. We approached our church leadership for prayer and blessing on the union and began our journey as a couple. Our counselling sessions became more frequent, and my proposal followed in short order.

It happened on May 5, 2015, a romantic evening, no fireworks or fanfare. She said ‘yes’, with tears streaming down her face and a smile I’ll never forget.

The Ceremony…

The ceremony took place at Powell Close, Mount Salem. Simply Perfect Events director Andre E Whittaker handled the decor, from the canopy at the altar, draped in sheer fabric, where Victor and Ashalee said their “I dos”, to the white aisle runner spread for the newly-weds to exit the chapel. The bridal party walked to the altar to the melody of Michael W Smith’s

I Will Carry You. The bridesmaids wore turquoise chiffon dresses with lace bodices designed by Jacentha Simpson, while maid of honour Nadesha Berry opted for a dress of a similar design with a sheer neckline. The groomsmen were dapper in black trousers and button-ups with grey suspenders and plaid bow ties. Victor’s close friend Daniel Lattery wore a black and white suit with black tie, and best man Ricardo Johnson wore a grey suit with matching bow tie and a black shirt. Victor looked quite the gentleman in a sharp grey suit with matching suspenders, a blue shirt, and grey knit tie. The strains of Ethan Kent’sWill You Marry Me? played while Ashalee made her way up the aisle. She was exquisitely radiant in a sweetheart neckline trumpet gown with embroidered sleeves and delicately beaded bodice under a ruched silhouette around the mid-section. Close to 100 family and friends witnessed the couple’s declaration of love officiated by Reverend Paul Edwards. The recessional was a medley of the couple’s favourite hits spun by DJ Drew Morgan.

The Reception…

… took place in a picture-perfect setting created by the Simply Perfect Events team. With the affable emcee Jubilee Service at the helm, the formalities flowed seamlessly. Immediately following the entrance of the bridal party, Reverend Paul Edwards blessed the scrumptious four-course dinner prepared by Coley’s Island Catering. Toasts and best wishes to the newly-weds preceded the unveiling of the cake and the couple’s first dance as husband and wife to John Legend’s

You & I (Nobody in the World). Victor and Ashalee spent their honeymoon at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Montego Bay.