Vows – British Love
When Jason Raymond and Kerene Holness met in London last year marriage was the farthest thing from their minds.
Raymond, technical director for Caribbean E-learning website Notesmaster, and Holness, train planner for First Capital Connect in London, met through a mutual friend at a birthday dinner in the English capital. Jason was immediately smitten by Kerene’s grace and beauty, and soon found a way to develop a friendship. “We got to know each other through a casual friendship at first, which then blossomed into a wonderful, fun, and exciting relationship,” Kerene recalled.
It took a year for Jason to realise that Kerene was the one with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life.
The Proposal
While visiting Jamaica on a business trip, Jason had an epiphany. It struck him that he no longer wanted to live without Kerene as his wife, so he decided to pop the question. Here’s how Kerene recalls the event: “While he was away in Jamaica, Jason called and told me how much he loved and missed me. I really didn’t expect him to propose, but after declaring his undying affection, he asked me to marry him. With us being so deeply in love with each other, how could I tell him no?” an overwhelmed Kerene shared.
The Wedding
Kerene and Jason opted for an ocean-front wedding, selecting apple green and yellow as the ideal colours to blend with the outdoor ambience. Breezes Negril was chosen as the venue for the June 18, 2011 wedding.
Jason was all smiles as he watched his beautiful bride glide up the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon in D, a bouquet of wired roses,
orchids and carnations clasped in one hand and the hand of her father, Valentine Holness, in the other.
Officiating minister the Reverend James Peart gave his introduction and proceeded to carry out his task. “Do you, Kerene Holness, take Jason Raymond to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…” As Kerene — looking gorgeous in a figure-hugging Forever Yours gown — responded, “I do”, a tear of happiness fell as Jason commenced his declaration of eternal devotion. The two wrote their own vows as they felt only their words could adequately explain how they felt about each other. As Jason slid the ring on his bride’s finger, he vowed to always be her knight in shining armour.
The Reception
The wedding reception featured bouquets created by New York-based florist Je Woodburn and Breezes Negril wedding planner Tannif Turner. The two-layer wedding cake, which was carrot on top and red-velvet below, was elegant creation fashioned by the hotel’s pastry chef Shirley Vanhorne. However, each guest received a fruitcake cupcake, which was made by the bride’s mother Charmaine Holness. Guests enjoyed a performance by fire dancers, which incorporated the bride and groom doing the limbo together. They newly-weds honeymooned at Breezes Grand Resort and Spa, Negril.
