A harmony of cultures best describes the bond between Dominican-born hospital coordinator Evelyn Velazquez and Charlton Clarke Junior, Jamaican Dean of Students for Charter School in Brooklyn, New York. The two tied the knot on August 05, 2016 at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay. Vows recounts their journey to the altar.

That first encounter as told to Vows by Charlton Clarke…

I met the love of my life on a rainy September night in 2012 at a comedy show at a place called Red Rooster in Harlem. The comedians there were funny, but when Evelyn walked through the door it became serious.I stopped laughing; for I knew immediately that she would be the one. We spoke for three weeks before our first date, which was dinner at an Italian restaurant. Indeed, to this day it is one of our favourite places to eat. Our relationship has been adventurous, travelling together to different states and countries such as Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cancún, Mexico, St Lucia and Aruba. What better way to get to know each other?

Three years later, on July 4, 2015, I asked Evelyn to be my wife. The day before, over dinner, I had sought permission from her mother and uncle whose blessings came with tears of joy and hugs. Plans were now in place. I invited those closest to her to her cousin’s house in New Jersey. Evelyn thought the visit was to celebrate her cousin’s birthday, so she was anxious to keep the arrangements a surprise. I arranged for her mother, uncles, aunts and sisters to be (all) seated in a single row, holding signs that read: ‘Evelyn, will you marry me?’

The stage was set! The house was packed with at least 50 people waiting for me to pop the question. In walked Evelyn, totally oblivious, her arms full of bags. On seeing the set-up, she dropped the bags and burst into tears. Our favourite song, Flor Palida by Marc Anthony, was playing in the background as I got down on one knee, shared with her just how much she meant to me, and asked if she’d marry me. Thankfully, she said “YES!”

The Ceremony

The Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay was, at the request of the bride, draped in hues of gold, ivory and blush pink — all symbolic of love. The bridal procession commenced to the melody of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri as the beautiful bridesmaids wearing pastel-coloured strapless dresses by design label WTOO, escorted by elegant groomsmen decked in grey twopiece suits from designer Joseph Abboud, made their way up the aisle.

The groom, suited in a razorsharp grey three-piece suit, also from Joseph Abboud, was waiting eagerly for his bride when Shania Twain’s From This Moment On signalled her arrival. A study in elegance escorted by her mother Melida Garcia, the bride proceeded up the aisle in a gorgeous sweetheart neckline all-over lace appliqué gown designed by Allure Bridals, clutching her white and blush pink peony bouquet arranged by TAI Flora Luxe. The ceremony was officiated by Father Carl Clarke and included a heartfelt performance of Ave Maria by the bride’s mother during the signing of the register. The newlyweds exited the Cathedral to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.

The reception

The reception took place at Iberostar Rosehall Suites. The tables, instead of being numbered, were named by words the couple used to describe their relationship; trust, love, faith and familia. They were candlelit and embellished with bouquets of white and blush pink peonies – a perfect complement to the bride’s bouquet. The wedding party made their entrance to Drake’s One Dance, followed by the couple’s first dance to Marc Anthony’s Flor Palida.

A sumptuous supper followed ahead of the cutting of the three-tiered vanilla-rum and chocolate-flavoured cake, which was a collaboration between the bride and Iberostar’s in-house bakery. The newly-weds and their guests partied to a wide range of music from merengue to reggae until the wee hours of Sunday morning.

A later honeymoon is planned.