The announcement of ‘She said Yes!’ from one of the country’s most eligible bachelors, notably Senator Matthew Samuda, to marketer extraordinaire and Jamaica Observer Deputy Managing Director Natalie Chin broke the Internet. Away from the glare of public scrutiny, however, they planned their wedding surrounded by 60 of their nearest and dearest. Incredibly, they pulled it off!

Here comes the bride

As the sun forced its way through the early morning blue skies seemingly washed pale blue as a result of the torrential downpour 24 hours prior, a dapper-looking Senator Matthew Samuda, suited in Calvin Klein, turned and flashed a wide smile as his bride-to-be, Natalie Chin, Jamaica Observer deputy managing director, commenced her walk up the aisle.

The intimate affair witnessed by family, close friends, and a sprinkling of Cabinet ministers led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet, took place on Saturday, December 16 in Greenwich, Irish Town.

The bride’s arrival to the strains of the Haley Reinhart’s version of the classic Can’t Help Falling in Love elicited audible expressions of delight as well as tears of joy. Exquisite perfection would be a propos in describing the bride. For her special day Chin, who opted out of traditional white, turned to Keneea Linton George for Keneea Linton Designs who created a pastel arctic blue duchess satin bustier full-circle princess gown that featured a deep V-cut, horse-braided hemline for a structured fall and concealed pockets. A cathedral-length white bridal top veil and bouquet of cascading white phalaenopsises and white amaranthus by Krafted by Design completed the look. Nicole Blake for Luxury Bride executed her flawless make-up while Sammoy Duncan handled hair duties.

Reverend Stephen Henry was the wedding officiant. The couple exchanged vows at a makeshift altar draped with bellows of white and light grey fabric, highlighted by clusters of matching florals atop a white dais, executed by Yes Production.

The non-traditional nuptials — think Garden Whimsical: French country type lounge furniture, traditional white tables and pickled communal tables with complementary stools in a perfectly manicured garden set against silver dollar eucalyptus, white roses and hydrangea, baby’s breath, stock and lisianthus — was conceptualised by the bride and wedding co-ordinator Shikima Hinds and executed by Krafted by Design.

The newly-weds, post-ceremony, were whisked away by photographer Matthew Khoury as guests milled around enjoying the mountain vista, the cool clime and the tantalising fare from multi-award-winning Chef Jacqui Tyson and her team. Wedding co-ordinator Shikima Hinds orchestrated the affair in her signature unflappable manner. Kamal Bankay guided the proceedings.

Eschew all thoughts of pomp and ceremony, “We wanted our guests to feel at home,” shared the bride. They certainly did! From the prime minister and his wife to friends and family who had jetted in for the nuptials.

Photo shoot complete, the newly-weds cut the Selena Wong three- tiered vanilla cream filled cake with floral detail at the base and delicate light silver sparkles on the top two tiers accented by two sugar rose blooms. Their first dance as husband and wife to the Diana Ross Lionel Richie classic Endless Love followed.

Guests repaired to the upper deck to lounge and enjoy and array of sweet treats created by multi-award winning patissère Nadine Burie in between sips of Blue Mountain Coffee.

DJ Narity kept the mood mellow till late afternoon when, reluctantly, patrons wished the newly-weds a life of unbridled love and boarded the Island Car Rental shuttles to Newcastle JDF Camp.

The newly-weds will usher in 2024 at an undisclosed European destination.