Vows – A Fairy-tale Romance
So honey now,
Take me into your loving arms;
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars;
Place your head on my beating heart,
I’m thinking out loud
That maybe we found love right where we are.
— Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
On New Year’s Day 2015, Dr Jon-Anthony Pryce, a resident in general surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies, escorted his long-time belle, Dr Xinyu Addae-Lee, a director of Eyeland Eyewear, to the Tai Flora-decorated altar for over 200 guests to witness their vows of holy matrimony on the lush lawns of the White Witch Golf Course in Rose Hall, Montego Bay. Vows shares their modern-day fairy tale.
How They Met…
Xinyu Addae-Lee and Jon-Anthony Pryce met as sophomores at Campion College High School. With similar career goals, the two went on to study medicine at the University of the West Indies, and after graduating, became colleagues in practice at the Cornwall Regional Hospital. They shared so much of their professional lives in close proximity to each other that they became close friends. “We were in a very small, tight-knit group of friends in Montego Bay. So it was natural that our friendship progressed into a relationship,” Xinyu shared.
The Proposal (As told by Xinyu)…
Jon is so meticulous, he had the entire day planned to a T. “It was Valentine’s Day 2014,” she reminisced. “He woke me up with a beautiful rose and a V-Day card; I thanked him and we departed for work. To my surprise, when I arrived at my office I saw two roses and another card. My V-Day celebrations were far from over and the gifts kept coming – Jon invited me to lunch at Chill Out Hut Beach Bar & Grill, the waitresses were in on the surprise because even they presented me with three roses and another V-Day card. We dined at the Rock House Villas; you can imagine the surprise when the waiter brought me a cake that read “Eternal Love Together Forever”. We went to find a room and when I stepped inside there was a beautiful bouquet and another postcard. I later realised that Jon had previously booked the room and we were going to be spending the night. He sat me down to give me his final card, a video card with the most romantic love note. When I finished watching the message, I went outside to find him igniting wishing lanterns, so I joined him. After releasing my lantern into the night sky, I watched as it drifted further away. I turned around to thank him for an amazing day when I found him on bended knee with the most beautiful yellow diamond ring. He asked me to be his wife and I couldn’t help falling into his arms as my knees buckled. “Yes!” I exclaimed.
Here Comes The Bride…
The over-200 guests awaited the stunning bride in a four-leaf seating arrangement on the lawns of the golf course. The bridesmaids made their entrance to the chords of Bruno Mars’ Count On Me, after which Auburn’s Perfect Two provided the strains for the bride’s procession up the aisle. Reverend Duane Madden joined the couple at the altar to perform the wedding ceremony. Then Pharrell Williams’ Happy ushered the newly-weds into the reception.
She Said Yes To Five Dresses…
Xinyu wore a total of five dresses. First there was the ceremony gown, an enchanting white strapless sweetheart neckline gown with a beaded bodice tiered with lace appliquéd detailing to the hem from Bridals by Lori of Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta fame. Dress number two was a sweetheart neckline 1920s-style empire waist gown with lace overlay detailing from the bodice to the hem and a matching feather headband. Dress number three — a sweetheart neckline, diamond white mermaid gown with laser-cut detailing along the bodice, belted with diamonds — had a ruffled hem. Dress number four was a lace appliquéd spaghetti-strapped, beaded lace overlay with a plunging back, worn with a soft white veil. Dress number five — a white sweetheart neckline, floor-length dress with dramatic diamond-encrusted detailing along the torso and ruching along the waistline.
The Groom…
Jon-Anthony had more than one wardrobe change, too: the first was a silver three-piece suit that was worn throughout the ceremony with a matching silver cravat. His cocktail and reception suit was a tad darker with a brocade silver vest and matching lapel.
The Bridal Party…
The bridesmaids made elegant statements in strapless high-slit dresses with shimmering metallic bodices and similar trim along the hemline, all in varying colours designed by Woodroy Wauchope to complement the groomsmen’s outfits. The groomsmen meanwhile wore crisp silver three-piece suits, piped with a contrasting silver trim, and ties to match the bridesmaids’ dresses.
‘Because I’m Happy’…
Guests entered the reception area after the ceremony to a colourful Tai Flora garden-themed reception. A 10-foot-tall ‘pumpkin’ served as the head table for the newly-weds ahead of a 10-foot-long table decorated with driftwood and an assortment of beautiful brightly coloured tropical flowers matching the spectacular light show and bridal party outfits. Guests and well-wishers stepped into a life-sized frame at cocktail hour for a picturesque photo op.
During cocktail hour Xinyu slipped into wedding dress number three for a surprise performance of an original song she wrote as a wedding gift to her husband, accompanied by the musical stylings of platinum recording producer and musician Christopher Birch on the keyboard.
Formalities handled by emcee Naomi Cowan included a welcome from the bride’s mother Belinda Lee and toasts to the bride and groom by maid of honour Yhordanka Akwanza and best man Adrian Mitchell. The newly-weds also toasted family and friends. The groom closed off the formalities with a ‘Thank You’ speech.
The unveiling of the cake…
A whimsical caricature of Xinyu and Jon-Anthony in a Cinderella carriage sat atop the silver, five-tiered topsy-turvy Selena Wong light fruitcake. The delectable treat came alive with an array of edible flora lining each layer, complete with white picket fences and a waterfall flowing from the apex.
Honeymoon…
Sandals Royal Montego Bay welcomed the newly-weds for a three-night stay after which they journeyed to the beautiful island of Hawaii for a week-long honeymoon.
