Vows – Party Hard for Love
How they met
In 2008, socaphiles Mario Hoo and Sky Jarrett were introduced to each other by their mutual friend Ann-Merita Golding at Frenchmen’s annual Bazodee party in Cherry Gardens, St Andrew.
After having a blast with Sky and others during the Jamaica Carnival weekend, Mario returned to his hometown of Washington, DC where he works as a regional campaign director for AOL, and set out on a mission, with the help of Golding, to court Sky who was living in Florida at the time.
“We had a lot in common, she was fun and I knew I wanted her in my life,” says Mario, “and I was willing to do what it took to make that happen.”
His persistence paid off.
“I realised he was a man of virtue who appreciates the simple things in life, which I too believe are important: family, friends and quality time with those we love. Our appreciation for food was also the perfect common ground, and we have fun together… we know how to party,” says Sky with a smile.
The two were committed to making their long-distance relationship work, visiting each other at least once a month and taking trips whenever they could, and after a few years of dating, Sky accepted a job as a consultant for the Federal Government of the United States in the DC area.
#Teammarsky
Sky’s move northward only strengthened their relationship. The couple’s names were joined to form the hash tag #teammarsky, which they began to use, in pictures on social media and in invitations to lymes and parties at their home.
“I knew she was the one when I saw how thoughtful and caring she was to me, my family and friends, as she was with hers,” explains Mario. “I believe it shows the true character of a person in how they treat my friends and family, and I am a strong believer that your significant other should be able to represent on your behalf whether it’s hosting or entertaining, and she never fails. We just complement each other well and make a great team.”
The Engagement
In Florida for her sister’s baby shower, Mario thought it would be nice to take Sky out for a romantic dinner at Blue Moon Fish Co along Ft Lauderdale’s beautiful Intercoastal Waterway.
With a cool and calming breeze ruffling the water, they wined, dined, laughed and reminisced about their relationship, and after dinner strolled down the boardwalk and continued their conversation holding hands under the moonlight. A great way to end the night… or so Sky thought.
“Earlier in the day we made plans to watch a movie with my best friend Kevin and his wife Patrice (where we were staying while in Ft Lauderdale), so we headed home to do so,” explains Mario about the engagement plan.
“We shared the lovely experience with them and shortly after, hurried to the bedroom to ‘slip into something more comfortable’ to watch ‘the movie’. She opened the door and was surprised by a candlelit walkway and bedroom. The bed was covered with rose petals in the shape of a heart, and to her amazement and confusion, she turned around to see me down on one knee. Who knows what I said to her in that moment? It’s still a blur… all I know is that I heard her say, “Absolutely!”
The Ceremony
On November 22, 2014 the couple’s loved ones travelled to Bellefield Great House in Montego Bay to witness the lavish ceremony brimming with gorgeous flowers imported from Holland via Florida by Ana Nemeth and the bride’s mother, Gina Jarrett Alder of Events Unlimited, while Dawn Woodstock of Evence co-ordinated the day’s events.
Stunning in an Essence of Australia gown and Betsey Johnson heels, Sky was escorted up the aisle by parents Gina Jarrett Alder and Irvin ‘Carrot’ Jarrett towards her dapper groom, sporting a Hugo Boss suit, as his parents Margaret Little Wilson and Frederick Hoo looked on.
Officiants were Reverend Egbert Harvey and Reverend Richard Griffiths, who shared great advice for the couple taken from the Bible. The couple delivered stirring vows to each other before being pronounced husband and wife, and sealing the deal with a passionate kiss.
The Reception
With the ceremony concluded and all in high spirits, guests indulged in a signature ‘Marsky’ cocktail and hors d’oeuvres, then were led to the picturesque reception area decorated by Audia White with tables named after the couple’s favourite carnival songs, such as Palance and Vibes Can’t Done.
As the guests tucked into the delectable fare prepared by Bellefields’ award-winning chef Collin Brown that included roasted chicken stuffed with plantain accompanied by a spicy curry sauce, and green banana-coated snapper with a coconut lime salsa, MC Akil Crawford kept them in stitches as he reminisced about the newlyweds.
The Party
With dinner and some touching and hilarious toasts complete, the newlyweds performed their first dance to After All Is Said And Done by Beyoncé and Marc Nelson under a gazebo with lighting by Main Events that created an incredible ambiance and set the tone for what was yet to come.
Being a couple who knows how to cut a rug and party, they invited guests to join them on the dance floor and the ‘paaty’ began. The venue rocked with the musical styling of DJ Smoke, drinks flowed, and guests danced until the wee hours of the morning, enjoying an onsite photo booth with props, and noshing on a traditional Jamaican wedding cake baked by Pamela Bunting and decorated by Nicole Gardener.
The couple will honeymoon in South Africa.
