Fit to be my wife
A year ago, setting eyes on the man she would one day marry was the furthest thing from JAMFIT’s Karelle Ashley’s mind while conducting a promotion at her gym. Karelle described her initial meeting with gym member-cum-hubby Chris Jones as, an intense attraction at first sight.” Offering him samples of the products on display, the two quickly struck up a conversation until Chris bought one of the juices and before leaving said, “Hopefully I will see you again sometime.”
Blushing, Karelle recalled how she felt at that moment, ” I thought he was the most gorgeous guy I had ever met and I could not let the opportunity pass me by, so I decided to leave my business card for him with the receptionist, with a note on the back saying ‘just in case’.” To Karelle’s delight Chris called shortly after and the two have been inseparable since.
It didn’t take much time for Chris to realise that Karelle would make a great wife, and eight months after they met he decided to propose. “We went to a Christmas party and after that went home, and this is where he surprised me with a beautiful card and told me to read it aloud, when I reached the part which read ‘I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you’, he gave me the engagement ring and asked me to marry him,” explained Karelle.
Four months later, on Saturday, April 19, 2008 – after torrential rain plagued Ocho Rios the day before, and threatened to ruin their special day – the couple exchanged vows. Thankfully, the sun was at its most majestic and Sandals Dunn’s River became once again the perfect venue for the beachside nuptials. Donning an Eva Haynal Forsyth gown, Karelle arrived on horseback to the wedding. “Since I was a little girl I always wanted to enter my wedding on a white horse,” expressed Karelle.
Escorted by father Steve Ashley down the aisle, Karelle beamed at the prospect of becoming Mrs Jones. With vows exchanged, the two were pronounced man and wife. Karelle expressed how honoured she felt to be Chris’ wife, “It’s almost indescribable. It meant the union of two extremely compatible individuals embarking on an eagerly anticipated journey filled with love, companionship, loyalty and happiness.”
Their lavish reception followed in the ballroom of the resort, with cake, décor in the colours of yellow and white and catering provided by Wedding Moons (Sandals Dunn’s River wedding department), which, with the help of wedding planner Andrene Cover, the couple said was everything they envisioned.
With formalities such as toasts and speeches complete, the two danced the night away and started their honeymoon at the resort where they spent four days basking in the sunshine then flew to Orlando, Florida and vacationed for a few more days. Their honeymoon then went into overdrive when they flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico and began their cruise aboard the Carnival Destiny, where they sailed to St Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and St Kitts. “It was truly an unforgettable wedding and honeymoon!” exclaimed Karelle.
