Vows – DESIGNED BY GOD
Daughter of caregiver Vannie Williams and businessman Chue Keam Lue, fashion designer Ali Lue and her pro athlete, singer and songwriter beau Yussuf Migoko, son of attorney-at-law Aisha Mulendwe, will tell you that tennis brought them together. Having first met sometime in 2008 at the launch of the Stanley & Empress Boutique on Hope Road, they kept in touch, and following an accepted invitation to play tennis, Ali Lue’s ‘court-ship’ began.
Yussuf proposed to Ali on his birthday — a mere six months after they first began dating. This, after the late delivery of her ring botched plans to propose on Ali’s birthday. It worked out in the end, however, with Yussuf improvising with his mother’s ring in lieu of Ali’s intended engagement ring.
As the notes for Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up resonated from Paulette Bellamy’s violin on November 21, 2010, a year since they began dating, Alecia Vanessa Lue walked arm in arm with her father, businessman Chue Keam Lue, down the steps, and onto the lawns by Chris Blackwell’s private cottage, in an intimate ceremony at Strawberry Hill in Irish Town, St Andrew.
Of course, Lue designed her dress. Trimmed with ivory lace, she wore a halter ball-gown skirt made of ivory linen by Valentino. Around the bodice hung strands of pearls and Swarovski crystals, with a gold and pearl cross at the centre of the waistband. Her exquisite train was of champagne organza with ivory lace trim at the hem, and began in a bow at the nape of her neck; instead of a veil, the designer opted for an Allison Wu fascinator. She clasped a bouquet of white calla lilies. Also in designer attire was the groom Yussuf, who styled in a black three-piece suit by menswear designer Carlton Brown.
Clutching her own bouquet of orchids, maid of honour Kerry Lyn wore a kiwi-green and chocolate-brown design from Ali Lue Couture made of silk shantung, accented with a brooch from Wu for Ali Lue accessories. Best man Dwayne Pagon wore a green shirt with matching striped tie under his black suit.
As pastor Christopher Morgan conducted the ceremony, the couple looked into each other’s eyes and held hands, while he spoke about their commitment to each other, as well as to their faith and the church. Their love began over a game of tennis, but was designed by God.
The wedding ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception by Strawberry Hill’s infinity pool, after which, guests made their way to the dining area, were they enjoyed a panoramic view of the city of Kingston in the distance.
Maintaining the bride’s wish for a theme of Zen, purity and calmness, Gayle Chung decorated the area with wispy white curtains tied with chocolate ribbon; white calla lily centrepieces by Tai Flora decorated the tables. The couple chose Nyla D’Andrea to create their wedding cake — a lemon cake covered in fondant, decorated with tree branches, orchids, a butterfly and a dragonfly — a concept given to her by the bride.
Guests dined on fare courtesy of Strawberry Hill, while culinary maven Celeste Ritch-Gordon provided the dessert. Next year will see the couple jetting off to Europe, where they plan to honeymoon in Italy.
