O n Sunday, December 17, 2017 Opal Clarke from Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) wed Carson Ford from Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) at a beautiful ceremony at Struan Castle Garden in Red Hills, St Andrew. Vows charts the course of their love.

How they met, as told by Opal

Carson and I met through a mutual friend, Taurean Allen, about 11 years ago. We would awkwardly run into each other, time and time again. I was oblivious to the fact that he was interested in me. Taurean would occasionally convene group gatherings at his parents’ place before heading out. It was at one of these gatherings that Taurean’s sister, Tara, suggested that we all go to a two-for-one movie — ostensibly to share the cost. She, however, kind of nudged us together. It’s been over two years since that movie date and we have grown in love.

The proposal

On Thursday, June 15, 2017, at a romantic dinner in a restaurant located at Sovereign North, I said ‘yes’, with tears streaming down my face and a smile I’ll never forget. After dinner we went to the Regency Bar & Lounge of the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel with some of Carson’s friends where the celebrations continued.

Dearly beloved…

With Sara Bareilles’ I Choose You playing in the background, the bridesmaids made their way up the aisle of the manicured lawns at Struan Castle Garden. They made a pretty picture in navy blue lace chiffon V-back fit-and-flare dresses and were escorted by the handsome groomsmen who had donned two-piece grey suits with ivory dress shirts and navy blue ties, with the best man wearing a three-piece grey suit.

At the altar stood the dashing bridegroom in a three-piece navy blue suit complemented by an ivory dress shirt and grey tie.

Expectation was rife as the bride, escorted by her father Donald Kerr, made her entrance to the strains of Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years. Opal was gorgeous in an ivory lace beaded ball gown. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Daval OJ Bell and included a sand ceremony to symbolise the joining of the couple’s families. The ceremony over, Opal and Carson exited the church to Bruno Mars’ Treasure.

The reception

Guests and the wedding party headed over to the main hall to really get the celebration started. The wedding party entered to Pharrell Williams’ Happy, after which Opal and Carson danced their way in to I Got A Feeling by Black Eyed Peas. Master of ceremonies Steve Waul invited guests to be seated as the newly-weds took to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife to Ed Sheeran’s Perfect featuring Beyoncé. The newly-weds then surprised guests by performing a choreographed dance to Pana by Tekno. Formalities continued with the cutting of the three-tiered vanilla and fruitcake by Carol D’Souza-Ennis and a scrumptious three-course meal by Struan Castle.

The honeymoon

The lovebirds honeymooned at Luxury Bahia Principe, Runaway Bay.