Meet the newly-weds

Dr Jamila Scarlett Wynter is the daughter of Jamaicans Courtney Wynter and Marcia Scarlett. She is a fellowship-trained gastroenterologist who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases.

Phillip Jones is the son of Colonel Daryl Jones and Lieutenant Colonel Martha Jones, and is the 27th Mayor of Newport News, Virginia, the city’s youngest directly elected mayor.

How they met

The two met when Phillip was visiting a friend in Boston for his Harvard Business School interview. Jamila was there completing a residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the second-largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

They instantly hit it off. However, Phillip was living in Virginia and did not move to Massachusetts for another six months. Always one to seize the moment, Phillip flew to Boston Memorial Day weekend to spend more time with Jamila. They spent the entire weekend together, exploring the city, exchanging stories, and sharing their mutual goals and vision for the future. The rest is history!

A White House Proposal

The proposal took place on Dec 16, 2022.

Phillip and a dozen newly elected mayors were invited to the White House to meet the Biden-Harris Administration. Coincidentally, this was the same date as Jamila’s birthday. It felt serendipitous. Phillip invited Jamila to accompany him for the day. At the end of a long day of meetings and press interviews, Phillip told Jamila that he had one last interview to do. With the help of the White House staff, they were escorted to the Second Gentleman’s office balcony where Phillip popped the question, overlooking the most beautiful view of Washington, DC.

She said yes!

A Jamaican Wedding

One hundred and sixty friends and family from several cities in the United States, Switzerland, Ghana, and Canada jetted into Jamaica for the couple’s nuptials at Ocean Cliff, Negril, on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Jamila is a first-generation American. Her father is from Kingston, Jamaica, and her mother is from Montego Bay. The couple wanted to tie the knot in the bride’s home country. After visiting several venues, they fell in love with Ocean Cliff because it captured the beauty and essence of Jamaica with its tropical foliage, cottage style, intimate setting, and waterfront views.

Father of the groom, Reverend Dr Colonel Daryl Jones officiated the tropical-themed sunset ceremony.

The bride stunned in an Enzoani ivory fit-and-flare, with a deep sweetheart neckline, adorned with sparkling embellishments and sequins from RK Bridal Boutique in New York City. The bridegroom’s suit — a custom tuxedo by Nita Fashions — was midnight blue with a black peak lapel and classic black bow tie.

The bridesmaids wore a mix-and-match sunset palettes, while the groomsmen wore navy blue suits with peach ties.

Cocktails

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a cocktail hour, where they were served hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, which included signature His (Pip Punch – Jamaican Rum Punch) and Hers (Jamrock – Mango Mojito) drinks. Have a Jelly also had a stand and served ice-cold coconuts, which were much appreciated in the Negril heat. Noted violinist Dayna Palmer, who also provided beautiful music before the ceremony, continued her amazing repertoire.

While guests enjoyed the cocktail hour, the bride and groom took family and friends for sunset photos by the cliffs. The guests also had the opportunity to take advantage of the breathtaking views by taking private photos at the Glam Photo Booth.

THE Reception

… followed at Ocean Cliff where event planners Emerald & Topaz combined tropical ingredients like exotic plants — monsteras, palm leaves, red gingers, and bougainvilleas — in shades of papaya, peach, marigold, and fuchsia to create a spectacular, tropical setting. Simon Ross Lighting and Décor were responsible for the beautifully draped and uplit tent for the reception.

The wedding party made a lively entrance, dancing their way into the reception area. The formalities began with the official blessing and sumptious dinner and continued with the opening of the dance floor by the newly-weds, father-daughter dance, and the mother-son dance.

Speeches by the parents of the bride and groom, maid of honour, best man, and Jamila’s high school teacher followed the dances, along with a very touching gesture by the brothers of Omega Psi Phi (the groom’s fraternity), who surrounded the bride and sang Omega Dear by Rev Dr Walter T Richardson to officially welcome her.

The wedding cake — a two-tiered red velvet and traditional Jamaican fruit cake by Chocolate Girl Cakes — was unveiled and cut by the bride and groom, using the groom’s United States Marine Corps Sword.

Single ladies presented themselves for the much-anticipated tossing of the bouquet, which was caught by the bride’s mentee, Simone Jarrett.

It was then a night of dancing and partying led by Elite Media. This included a fire dancing segment by Sheldon Donaldson of BrainStar Entertainment.

The couple will honeymoon in Dubai and the Maldives in the summer of 2024.