Let Me Be THE ONE
When Simone Harry walked down the aisle to her husband-to-be, Bahamian Wilfred Coakley III, she couldn’t hold back the tears. The emotional bride said “I do” to fiancé Wilfred at a beautiful afternoon ceremony held at the Sts Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, February 28, 2009, witnessed by 150 guests that included a contingent of over 60 from the Bahamas and the United States.
The enchanting affair was the culmination of a romantic long-distance relationship that began when Simone met Wilfred while on vacation in Nassau, Bahamas in early 2007. The two had an instant connection, developing a relationship that would withstand time and distance and eventually lead to their special day.
The proposal
While Jamaicans were busy battening down and stocking up on supplies ahead of Tropical storm Gustav in August last year, Wilfred Coakley III had one thing on his mind – proposing to his love, Simone. Her mother Karen Silvera told Vows that Wilfred was determined that nothing would stop his proposal, not even the storm. “Wilfred could not get a flight from the Bahamas to Kingston, but was determined to propose to Simone, so he travelled to Miami and got a standby flight to Montego Bay.” He arrived in Jamaica the following morning and took a taxi to Kingston, arriving at the house in the late afternoon, much to Simone’s delight and surprise. He asked for Simone’s hand in marriage and naturally, she agreed.
Pure elegance
The bride appeared on the arm of her father, Owen Harry, accompanied by the melodious strains of Shania Twain’s Still The One.
Her dress
In a word – radiant; her empire-waist, strapless Justin Alexander design, complete with ruffled ball gown train accentuated by button and lace detailing, was quite simply a vision of elegance and glamour. Her hair was styled in an upswept do fastened by a tiara beneath a delicate fingertip veil. Simone clutched a colourful bouquet of circus and yellow roses created by Maxine Benjamin and Sylvia Nembhard. Wilfred – equally elegant in his dark custom-made suit complete with matching tie – beamed from ear to ear, and was barely able to contain his excitement. The bridal party was also elegantly styled by David’s Bridal and maid of honour Ebony Zonicle and bridesmaids Anya
McKenzie, Anya McLaren and Dionne Newman wore A-line olive green dresses cinched at the waist. Best man Reginald Saunders and groomsmen Shaka Serville and Wesley Willie wore custom-made suits by Mike’s Chinese Tailoring, a Nassau-based tailor, complemented by classic bow ties and yellow rose boutonnieres.
The moving nuptials were officiated by Reverend Father Burchell McPherson and included his witty advice on love, a touching unity candle ceremony that included both mothers, and a soulful rendition of John Legend’s Stay With You by Shyrone Hughes.
Intimate and full of laughs
The wedding ceremony over, the couple and their guests headed to The Venetian at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, and enjoyed cocktails before being seated by wedding planner Carole Fullerton. The impressive intimate setting was decorated by Maxine Benjamin and Sylvia Nembhard who incorporated hues of green, yellow and orange for an elegant but comfortable feel. The tables were dressed with classy Ikebana arrangements of circus roses and white and green giveaway boxes that added texture and balance to the décor.
Guests were definitely in a celebratory mood and there were lots of laughs throughout dinner. Master of Ceremonies Brian Serville was in fine fettle and kept the guests well entertained with jokes and anecdotes about the newly-weds right through the night. Though the groom’s father, attorney Wilfred Coakley Jr, was unable to attend the wedding due to illness, his son mentioned him in his reply and jokingly said that he would have to get started on his father’s request for children soon. The cousins of the groom treated the couple to a surprise and played Tarrus Riley’s She’s Royal as a tribute to the bride, to which the couple responded by taking to the dance floor, followed by their official first dance to Fallen by Johnny Mathis.
The three-tier cake baked by Karen Silvera and designed by Denise Cargill cut, the removal of the garter (for mature audiences only) and tossing of the bouquet complete, the guests hit the dance floor to the sounds of disc jockey Peter Phillips and took the celebrations well into the night.
Honeymooners
The couple honeymooned in Port Antonio, Portland, before heading off to Nassau, Bahamas, where Simone, formerly a client relationship officer at First Global Financial Limited, will join her husband financial banker Wilfred Coakley III.
