To my husband: In your expressive eyes — I found total compassion which led me to your rare golden heart, where I found priceless love that connected me to your deep, beautiful soul where I found insurmountable peace.

I will always choose you, my baby, because you are all my favourite things wrapped in one. I am extremely grateful to God for you and I pray our lifetime together will be nothing short of amazing.

You are the person I prayed for; some weeks ago you became the person I pray with. I love you forever and then. Malik, now let’s keep doing this thing called life together.

— Shanae Moulton

For Shanae Moulton, pharmaceutical representative at R A Williams Distributors Ltd, and Malik McLeod, medical doctor at St Ann’s Bay Hospital, Saturday, October 1 will always be remembered as the day they cemented their friendship with a lifelong commitment.

Love blooms… Shanae recalls

Literature is the perfect medium through which one talks about love; its big emotions, grand gestures and tiny flutters of the heart can all be perfectly summed up on the page. So, in light of that, I will share with you some parts of our love.

For someone who doesn’t really entertain a lot of people via social media I am still in awe that it led me to my soulmate. It all started with a simple birthday wish, which like a meteoroid moved swiftly across the bandwidth of Instagram and soon enough, our stars started to align. It has been two full years of non-stop talking, laughter, joy, bliss, getting to know and understand each other, being kind and gentle towards each other, cheering each other on from the sidelines — all topped with a sprinkle of adventure here and there. Never in a million years would I have imagined that a birthday wish would lead us down this path of friendship and love we are on, to the point of marriage. In my eyes Malik is the most humble human I have ever come across. He is kind, caring, loving, and “corny”, which are all great qualities, but his love for God captured my attention. Malik, you have definitely grown on me and have safely secured a special place in my heart and life forever. Thank you for being my safe haven.

The proposal… As told by Malik

She didn’t see it coming at all. It was Friday, July 8, 2022, at Marina Palms, Montego Bay, which is our first and favourite date spot. I had planned a surprise dinner with the help of her sister, my brother and some good friends. As we walked on the boardwalk by the restaurant to the romantically decorated area for dinner with the saxophonist playing Calum Scott’s You Are The Reason and Marlon McLeod Photography on hand to capture the moment, I asked Shanae to marry me. Her tear-filled response was “Yes!” We then celebrated the moment with a few close friends and relatives over dinner.

The exchange of vows took place on the lawns of Laughing Waters, Ocho Rios. At the altar stood Malik, smart in black pants and white jacket with black lapel by Shaka Scott Tailoring, Strand Street, Montego Bay.

Making her way to her bridegroom to the strains of Shane Filan’s Beautiful in White, was Shanae, stunning in a show-stopping two-in-one ivory pearl-detailed long sleeve fit and flare gown accentuated with a detachable matching pearl detailed skirt from Luxury Bride JA. Clutching a bouquet of baby’s breath and white roses, she was escorted by her father Cleve Moulton.

The proceedings were officiated by Bishop O’Garth McKoy from the Bethel Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church Ocho Rios.

The reception was held at the same venue which, the couple said, was a ball of energy from start to finish, all thanks to their wonderful MC Jermaine Johnson. Johnson kept the guests entertained from the entrance of the bridal party to the final strains of Never Too Much by Luther Vandross. Due to the inclement weather, the signing of the marriage certificate was done at the start of the reception and the cord of three strands ceremony after the meal.

Johnson presided over a bridal challenge quiz: members of the bridal party are quizzed, with the bridesmaids representing the bride and the groomsmen the groom. With Johnson in the left seat and the aircraft in cruise control #OnMcLeod9; it was time for blessing of dinner by the bride’s brother Sanjay Moulton. This was followed by heartfelt toasts and the unveiling and cutting of the cake.

The multi-faceted Johnson later took out his bow and violin to deliver a musical selection in honour of the newly-weds.

The groom in his reply thanked everyone for their support before inviting them to join him and his wife on the dance floor.

The newly-weds honeymooned at Moon Palace Jamaica All Inclusive Resort, Ocho Rios.