Eight years of courtship culminated on December 17, 2016 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral when chief investigator in the Office of the Contractor General Sashein Wright and Marc-Anthony Nikolai Chin, Coppershot Music disc jockey, were joined in holy matrimony.

THE INITIAL ENCOUNTER, AS TOLD BY MARC-ANTHONY

“I first set eyes on Sashein in 2005 while pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of the West Indies, Mona. At this point I knew nothing about her, not even her name. However, if I only went to my lectures I would realise that we were doing the same Bachelor of Science degree! She really piqued my interest and I told myself, ‘I need that girl’,” he explained.

A mutual friend introduced Marc-Anthony to Sashein. “This was the beginning of our friendship, which wasn’t a bed of roses because one minute we were talking, and the next we weren’t,” he said.

“In 2007, we ran into each other at ATI in Negril where we had a great time, to the point where we kissed and I felt like we were back on, but after returning to Kingston I didn’t hear from her. In 2008, before we went on summer break we started to talk again, ‘proper talking yah now’. That weekend Sashein and a group of her friends were going to Rum Punch, a party where I was the DJ. Excitement sparked in my heart. I went in search of her at the party and when I found her, I greeted her with a warm embrace and to seal the deal, I planted a big kiss on her lips to stake my claim and let her know how serious I was about her. That night was the turning point in our relationship”.

THE PROPOSAL, AS TOLD BY SASHEIN

“It was December 31, 2015, New Year’s Eve, and we had planned to celebrate with close friends over dinner at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites. But to my surprise, Marc-Anthony had other plans up his sleeve. As we walked through the lobby, I realised we were not heading in the direction of the restaurant. I started to question Marc-Anthony and he opened the doors to the Mingles Bar Lounge, and then I realised this was no ordinary dinner with friends, but something really special. There were my parents, his parents, close friends and family members.

“The look on everyone’s faces told me to brace for something truly special. As I got over the initial shock and excitement of seeing everyone gathered in this festive mood, I turned around to face Marc-Anthony, only to find him down on one knee with an opened ring box asking me to marry him. Between tears and excitement, I fell into his arms and said ‘yes!’”

HERE COMES THE BRIDE…

Family and friends gathered at the Holy Trinity Cathedral to witness Sashein and Marc-Anthony’s special day. Marc wore a grey and black shawl collar tuxedo with French cuff shirt and horseshoe vest by Mark Anthony Designs. The groomsmen and best man wore Max Brown grey Italian-made, single-breasted, three-button jackets with French cuff shirts and V-cut vests and butterfly bow ties. The bridesmaids wore single-shouldered French lace boat-necklined bodices with fit and flare skirts. Sashein entered to Kenny G’s The Moment, performed live by saxophonist Dean Fraser. She was a vision of elegance in a gorgeous ivory sweetheart Eve of Milady fit and flare design with sheer hand-beaded lace bodice, lace, sheer hand-beaded straps, and three-dimensional lace shirt with scalloped borders and train also from Eve of Milady. She clutched a bouquet of roses, hydrangeas, and orchids.

Archbishop of Kingston Kenneth Richards, and Rev Father Collin Henriques officiated the ceremony and later declared the couple husband and wife. Post-nuptial formalities out of the way, Sashein and Marc-Anthony left the altar to Tarrus Riley’s Love’s Contagious performed by Dean Fraser. The ceremony also featured a poignant sand ceremony to symbolise two lives becoming one.

THE RECEPTION

The team at Petals and Promises brought their magic to the Worthington, Spanish Court Hotel, which they transformed into a beautiful and magical décor of blush, gold and Tiffany blue.

The bridal party made their entrance to Sia’s Cheap Thrills featuring Sean Paul, after which the couple entered to Wayne Marshall’s Good Ole Wife.

Guests enjoyed dinner courtesy of the Spanish Court ahead of formalities which included the unveiling and cutting of the cake, a four-tiered fruit and chocolate rum cake with rum cream filling by Camille Flimn of Cake Couture, and copious toasts to the newly-weds. The bride’s father, Lewis Wright, paid tribute to his daughter in song with Freddy Fender’s Before the Next Teardrop Falls and dedicated Elvis Presley’s She Wears My Ring to the couple.

Further highlights were the couple’s first dance as husband and wife to Westlife’s Beautiful In White and the mother-and-son dance which featured both dancing to a medley of popular songs including Macarena, JW and Blaze’sPalance and Chi Ching Ching’s Way Up and Roast or Fry.

Formalities over, guests danced the night away to selections from DJ Kurt Riley.

The honeymoon

The newly-weds spent their honeymoon at the Breathless Resort and Spa in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic.