VOWS: A Moment For Life
Dr Daryl Daley, Resident in Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology — son of consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Errol Daley and Paediatrician; Dr Gwendolyn Daley — wed Dr Kareema Matthews, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist — daughter of Horace Matthews, Entrepreneur and Justice of the Peace and the late Janet Patricia Matthews — on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Vows chronicles their journey to the altar…
Drs Daryl Daley and Kareema Matthews met in August 2008 at the UHWI, and though there were no sparks on Kareema’s part, Daryl confessed to a colleague that she caught his eye, and he was determined to get to know her. This, however, was clearly destined to be, as they started working together shortly after and quickly became friends. About a year later, their friendship progressed into a relationship with Daryl convinced that Kareema would eventually become his bride. When the time came for the couple to attend the ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) conference in San Francisco last May, Daryl decided it was the perfect opportunity to propose, and devised a plan with the American Airlines flight attendants. It all unfolded on May 14, 2010: Kareema had a paper to complete but was distracted throughout the trip from Kingston to Miami as Daryl kept saying he felt nervous. Upon boarding the connecting flight from Miami to San Francisco she noticed Daryl in deep conversation with a flight attendant, but again, her pressing deadlines caused her to brush it off almost instantly. There was somewhat of a delay, and as they waited she heard the following page: “Dr Daley, please report to the first class cabin.” Kareema immediately wondered why he was upgraded to first class and she wasn’t.?” But on his return, he told her that a woman in the first-class section was ill, they understood that he was a doctor and asked for his help. The woman was now fit to fly, and they departed. During the flight Kareem continued working, but Daryl kept asking when she planned to take a break. She did, some two hours into the flight, since Daryl seemed really agitated. There was another page: “Dr Daley, report to the first class cabin immediately.” This was followed by yet another page, “Dr Matthews, please report to the first-class cabin immediately.”
She scurried off quickly to offer her assistance, and was instead met with a bizarre scene — a stewardess popping champagne. Confused, she immediately asked where the patient was. Daryl looked her dead in the eyes and said: “Kareema, do you love me?” To which she replied, “Yes, but where is the patient?” He then said, “Will you marry me?” She surprised herself by screaming and then jumping for joy. She grabbed the ring and put it on her finger. Daryl laughed, took it off, and placed it on her finger himself, after which the flight attendant announced their engagement. The announcement elicited applause from both the passengers and crew, and they were ‘high-fived’ as they returned to their seats. Champagne service flowed for the rest of the flight.
That would be just the beginning; an additional surprise awaited Kareema at the hotel. She opened the door to discover rose petals scattered throughout the room with the ones on the bed spelling out “I love you”, complete with a bottle of the finest champagne chilling beside it. The rest of the evening was spent making plans for the wedding.
The Big Day…
The weather was perfect, and everything went according to plan as the bride did a fantastic job of planning the wedding in collaboration with her groom, and Natalie Spence of Tai Flora. The couple chose pink and pewter for their wedding colours, representing femininity with a masculine touch, and beautifully executed by the Tai Flora team for the wedding and reception.
Saturday, June 11…
The bridesmaids, styled in dresses by Rodney White, led the procession to the strains of Bruno Mars’ Marry You (instrumental). The groom and his supporting groomsmen were sartorially fab in ensembles by Dexter Huxtable of Spokes Apparel.
Here comes the bride:
The bride, escorted by her father Horace Matthews made her entrance to the strains of the Wedding March, played by organist Dwight McBean. She was stunning in a Vera Wang gown that featured a hand-made crystal belt. In her hands she clasped a bouquet of crystal-strewn antique garden roses. Her hair was elegantly coiffed by Cadey Haughton of Maureen’s Hair & Now, complemented by flawless make-up by Paul March. Pastor Robert Stewart officiated the ceremony, which was interspersed with laughter truly reflective of the bride and groom’s personalities. Daryl’s uncle Howard Cooper serenaded the couple as they performed a sand ceremony to seal their union before the newly-weds exited the chapel to Nicki Minaj’s Moment For Life (instrumental).
It’s a celebration…
The reception, which took place at the Caymanas Gold & Country Club, gave Tai Flora yet another opportunity to show their range and this they did using pink roses, crystals and the bride and groom’s collage, photographed by Andrew Edwards and compiled by Sarah Jackson, to create the backdrop.
There was much fun and laughter throughout, as guests joked about their personalised M&Ms and bottled water wedding favours by Sheri-Ann Toppin of Topp in Designz. There was, too, a hilarious segment in which Wayne Marshall dub plate, which started with “Kareema a di good ole wife”, was played. The newly-weds shared champagne toasts with their guests ahead of cutting their Selena Wong wedding cake. Dancing went on into the wee hours of the morning. The couple honeymooned at Secrets Resorts, Montego Bay, and The Jewel Dunn’s River Resort & Spa in Ocho Rios.
The newly-weds seal their union with a kiss at the
chapel door following their nuptials.
