In a joyous celebration of love, Stacy-Ann Austin and Ricardo Cunningham exchanged vows on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the scenic Boone Hall Oasis, Stony Hill.

Before meeting Ricardo, Stacy-Ann was embarking on a journey of self-love and healing, having endured a series of personal challenges including illness, grief and heartache.

Ricardo, being the gentleman that he is, inquired discreetly through mutual friends about her relationship status after being enchanted with her profile on his social media feed. His friends informed Stacy-Ann about Ricardo’s interest. Though intrigued and single, she told her friend she was uninterested in getting his number and needed to pray about it.

Stacy-Ann told Tuesday Style Vows (TSV), “I found myself deep in thought, conversing with God, wondering who this person was and why he was asking about me. I prayed in my car, ending with the words, ‘If he is the one you have for me, he will reach out to me within two weeks.’”

In exactly two weeks, Ricardo made his move into Stacy-Ann’s Instagram direct messages with a simple, “Hey queen, how are you?”

Stacy-Ann was nevertheless cautious, preferring to build a connection at her own pace. Their long-distance relationship started in 2021 and the couple’s online conversations, video chats and phone calls eventually led to their initial in-person meeting and first date at Plantation Smokehouse and Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios.

According to Ricardo, “There was no awkwardness; it felt like someone I knew for years. The laughter and fun flowed as if it was a match made in heaven, because it was.”

Stacy-Ann and Ricardo’s shared interest in singing, playing instruments, going on adventures and exploring new places brought them even closer together and although Ricardo was the first to express his love verbally, it was his actions that showed
Stacy-Ann what it means to be loved.

For his part, Ricardo said he fell in love with Stacy-Ann because of how “she treated others, carried herself, the respect she displayed with her parents, and her genuine love and affection for me”.

Proposal

After six months of planning with her parents Beverley and Clive Austin and brother Marlon, Ricardo proposed to Stacy-Ann at Devon House on Jamaica’s Independence Day in 2023. She arrived, blindfolded, at Devon House and wearing a “nice dress” per Marlon’s behest.

Upon removing the bindfold, Stacy-Ann was shocked to see Ricardo in front of her, on bended knee, with signs, flares, and floral decorations from Perfect Proposals Ja. Right then and there, Ricardo asked Stacy-Ann to spend the rest of her life with him.

She said yes!

The wedding

At 11:00 am on Saturday, May 4, during a morning drizzle, Stacy-Ann — resplendent in a custom two-in-one Marlene Simone gown — was escorted up the aisle by her father Clive to You for Me (The Wedding Song) by New Edition singer Johnny Gill
.

As the rain continued, the couple exchanged vows led by Bishop Aggrey Scott before almost 130 witnesses.

The unity of cord ceremony — the braiding of three cords — led by friend of the bride Jodi-Kaye Watson followed. The newly-weds walked down the aisle to Happy (Live) by Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

“God sealed His blessings on our union when raindrops fell during our garden wedding, Stacy-Ann told TSV.

Reception

The reception was held on there at Boone Hall Oasis, where a live band consisting of friends and family kept the guests entertained.

The couple performed cake-cutting duties on their white and gold icing fruitcake meticulously designed by Christal Edwards-McHugh from Dreampuff Cakes, before sharing their first dance as husband and wife to I Found Love (Cindy’s Song) by popular sibling duo, BeBe & CeCe Winans. Afterwards, meals catered by the Boone Hall Oasis team were served. Toasts to the bride from her maid of honour Kadia Ellis, and to groom from his best man Kevin Kelly followed. After which the couple gave their gratitude-filled remarks.

With regard to the day’s execution, Stacy-Ann had nothing but good words to share about her wedding planner, Yatie’s Creation & More principal Yatehtina Bailey, who was also credited for the décor and bouquets.