Saturday , April 21, 2018 was the day chosen by Diahna James, Comcast senior product manager, and Matthew Wukitsch, senior financial associate, Oppenheimer, to exchange vows on the lawns of Bellefield Great House and Gardens in Montego Bay. Vows brings you the magical moments.

How they met

Diahna and Matthew met in late 2014 in Philadelphia where Diahna was pursuing her MBA at the Wharton School of Business. They were neighbours and would occasionally pass each other coming and going from their apartment building. One day, Matthew asked Diahna out on a coffee date. Although Diahna agreed, the date never materialised!

They would reconnect a few months later when Diahna, while hosting a party for some friends, broke the only corkscrew she had. A knock on her neighbour’s door resulted in a variety to choose from. Upon returning the corkscrew a few days later, Diahna casually mentioned, “We never did get that coffee.”

Two days after Valentine’s Day, on February 16, 2015, Matthew and Diahna enjoyed their first date: a walk to a nearby restaurant where they, in-between sips of coffee and breakfast, allowed Cupid’s quivering arrow to find its target.

The proposal

For their two-year dating anniversary, Matthew planned a romantic evening starting with dinner at the same restaurant, in the same seats where he and Diahna had their first date. Diahna initially thought Matthew had something up his sleeve but as the night went on, she concluded it was just a normal night out. She returned home only to be surprised by an apartment filled with roses, candles, Champagne and a handwritten note. She broke down in tears and before she knew it, Matthew was down on one knee with a ring. Diahna’s response was an emphatic yes!

The ceremony

Surrounded by their families and friends, Diahna and Matthew were about to embark on the most important journey of their lives. The processional began as the junior bridesmaid and maid of honour, who wore A-line satin gold gowns, were escorted up the aisle to the instrumental version of A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. The strains of John Legend’s All of Me signalled the bride’s arrival.

Diahna made her way up the aisle flanked by her parents, Isaac and Sylvia James. In a strapless, sweetheart neckline, fit and flare champagne coloured gown with layers of tulle and lace by David Tutera, she was a breathtaking vision.

Trying his best to stave off tears, Matthew, in a navy blue tuxedo by Calvin Klein, held Diahna’s hand tightly as she joined him at the altar. Reverend Pearl Davis presided over the ceremony in which the couple combined traditional and personally written vows. To symbolise the joining of their families, the couple performed a sand ceremony.

The reception

… was held under a huge white draped tent in the gardens at Bellefield Great House & Gardens. Nichelle Thompson and her team from Designs by Nishy used mahogany tables and chairs with royal blue table runners and napkins, white hydrangeas and candles floating in hurricane vases, and gold charger plates to decorated the reception area. The entry table featured a custom designed map guest book representing the two different countries of origin for the bride and groom — Jamaica and the USA. The bridal party danced their way in to Happy by Pharrell Williams, and were soon followed by the newly-weds who made their entrance to Pitbull’s Feel This Moment featuring Christina Aguilera. This was followed by the couple’s first dance as husband and wife to Bob Marley’s Turn Your Lights Down Low featuring Lauryn Hill and Fireball by Pitbull featuring John Ryan. Post-formalities, guests enjoyed a sumptuous three-course meal catered by Bellefield Great House and witnessed the cutting of the two-tiered chocolate and vanilla coconut cake with butter cream frosting and a brush of rum by Cakes by Noida. The newly-weds and their guests subsequently took to the dance floor. It was truly an occasion to remember.