A Golden Wedding
This week, Vows takes you inside the magnificent wedding of Cheryl Lawrence and Patrick Kitson. It was a joyous and festive affair with Cheryl, daughter of Daphne Porter-Shaw, and Patrick committing themselves to each other amidst an energetic chorus of song, dance, joy and laughter.
A mix of old and new
The couple was wed before a close group of friends and family. For the wedding ceremony, the elegant Pavilion at the Terra Nova All-Suites Hotel was transformed into a comely chapel setting. The pews, draped in white, and the welcoming arches made of twigs, ferns and orchids, added a fairytale-like touch to the ceremony. But for all the classic touches, there were numerous sparks of the grand and unconventional.
The bride wore a beautiful metallic gold bodice with full chiffon skirt by Terani. A gold fascinator from Cinderella Hats completed her sparkling look. She carried a bouquet of white lilies, which served as a classic touch to the wonderful ensemble. The groom complemented his bride in a standout ivory and gold suit by Tessori, complete with a cane and hat. The bride’s attendants wore gorgeous chocolate-coloured gowns and the groomsmen wore matching suits.
It was a choral affair as the festive ceremony was punctuated with meaningful songs. The groom made his way up the aisle to My Father, My Friend sung by AJ Brown. And the bride turned heads as she made her way up the aisle, parents by her side, to the Bob Marley classic This is Love as performed by Dean Fraser. The Tribute Band performed a medley of hits — Some Say Love, Finally Here, and To God Be The Glory, among others — as Rev Andrew Jackson officiated the ceremony.
The loving couple delighted in putting their own spin on wedding-ceremony hallmarks. When it was time for the exchange of the rings (created and designed by Garth Sanguinetti of Sangar), for example, the melodious voices of a female trio sang an original composition — This Ring, written by the groom. Instead of a ring bearer, a small remote controlled car moved slowly up the aisle to deliver the rings much to the delight of the guests. And, instead of lighting a candle together, the love-struck couple decided to do a ‘paint ceremony’ where each painted a design on a small canvas using the colours blue and yellow. In a perfect symbolic gesture, they then blended the colours to create a unique one to represent the two of them.
Cocktails by the pool
The cocktail reception was filled with even more surprises. For the event, the couple slipped poolside at the Terra Nova and also slipped into more dazzling evening wear. Cheryl wore an Alyce Design gown with spaghetti straps, with the bodice accentuated with crystals and diamanté; while Patrick wore the platinum version of his gold ensemble worn at ceremony. The reception also allowed planner and decorator Allison Dexter of Weddings by Almade to flaunt her creative skills, creating an elegant reception setting with colours of burnt orange, gold, and chocolate. The tables bore names of musical notes and art titles. And the cake display itself, a Denise Cargil creation, was a work of art: three cakes of sepia frosting festooned with flowers and set in a bed of sparkle organza, all backlit with amber lighting.
After the cutting of the cake (and dining on supreme of chicken with plantain and raisins; snapper fillet in spicy coconut cream sauce; seasoned rice and market vegetables), it was time for toasts or “big ups” as it was listed in the programme. These came in the form of the spoken word tributes and, naturally, musical numbers.
As expected, music took centre stage at the ceremony: AJ Brown performed some of his popular hits and Rohan Reid (former member of gospel group Change) thrilled guests with his stirring guitar solo. It was so moving, in fact, that artist Phillip Henry gave his endorsement of the performance by blowing on conch shells. The high point of the night, however, was when Richie Stephens dropped in and delighted the guests and newlyweds with two of his favourites hits.
It was an unforgettable night; filled with the love, joy, spontaneity and creativity that are definitive of this very special couple.
CAPTION
The happy couple (cover)
Cheryl Lawrence and Patrick Kitson take us inside their star-studded wedding
Beautiful Bride
Beautiful Bride. Cheryl Lawrence looks radiant in her gold metallic bodiced gown by Terani. The bouquet of white lilies adds a classic touch.
Bride with mom and aunt
The beaming bride stands flanked by her mother Mrs Daphne Porter Shaw (far right) and her aunt Mrs Carol Dawkins.
The bride and attendants
The glowing bride stands amidst her maidens. From left: Jheanelle Peck, Cheryl Lawrence, Vashti Shaw-Harris (maid of honour), Ebony Campbell and Joanne Kitson
Groom & groomsmen
Patrick Kitson strikes a pose with his nephews who all served as his groomsmen. From left: Norris Kitson Jr (best man), Theodore Kitson (junior groom’s attendant), Paul Kitson, Patrick Kitson, Mark Kitson
Love is in the air
The beautiful couple in their reception ensemble
Richie Stephens singing
An evening with the stars. Megastar Richie Stephens serenades the couple on their special day.
Tarrus Riley serenades
Tarrus Riley: One of several entertainers who came to pay tribute to the couple
Elegance by the poolside
The lovely bride and dapper groom strike a pose by the poolside
ThePaint Ceremony
Cheryl and Patrick celebrate their love for each other by making two creations on the canvas merge into one.
Cakes by Denise Cargill
A masterpiece of confectionery goodness.
