Vows – You Can’t Hurry Love!
An eight-year-long engagement culminated in the nuptials of Vijay Derron Bowla and Trudy Rae-Ann Baugh, at the Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church in St Andrew on October 17. Vows walks you up the aisle.
The lovebirds met while pursuing their degrees at the University of Technology. Trudy relives the encounter: “We were at orientation when I saw Vijay across the room for the first time. I knew then he was the guy I wanted to spend my life with. Surprisingly, we ended up in the same class and were grouped together for various projects and assignments, which inevitably brought us closer. We became friends, started dating, and in 2001 we made it official.” She continued, “On my birthday in June 2007, Vijay asked me out to dinner. We decided on Chinese at Jade Gardens, then over to Häagen-Dazs for dessert. He took me home and began telling me how much he loved me and how important I was to him. He then went down on one knee and asked me to marry him while he placed a ring on my finger. Through the laughter and tears, I said, “Yes!!!”
Clusters of white hydrangeas secured with orange fabric hung from the pews inside the Stella Maris chapel. Vijay and his groomsmen took their positions at the altar, awaiting the arrival of his fiancée and her bridesmaids. Though showing obvious signs of pre-marital jitters, Vijay looked dapper in a Kenneth Cole three-piece suit, with a silver vest, matching tie and a pink rose boutonnière. Best man Shawn Bowla, his brother, wore a Spokes Apparel suit, while groomsman Damian Scott was suited in Calvin Klein. Both men wore purple ties and orange boutonnières.
Pachelbel’s Canon in D played as the parents of the groom made their way to the altar, followed by the bridesmaids, who wore purple dresses from David’s Bridal. Over 100 guests stood on cue to Christina Perry’s A Thousand Years as the chapel doors opened and Trudy made her entrance clutching a bouquet of 10 white calla lilies. She wore a strapless Vera Wang mermaid gown with intricate rhinestone beading along the bust; a blusher veil covered her hair, pulled to the back with a side-wept bang across her forehead.
Father Howard Thompson officiated with readings coming from the groom’s aunt Bishon Maragh and close family friend Valentina Carey. Wayne Rhoden guided the couple through the ceremony of the candles, representing the union of the two families and Trudy and Vijay’s future family. Formalities over, the newly-weds left the altar to the strains of Mendelssohn’s Wedding March.
The Reception…
Took place at the Top of the World, situated on the 18th floor of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel where guests enjoyed cocktails and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, and a 360º breathtaking view of Kingston. This while the bridal party made their way to Hope Gardens for wedding photographs.
The formal reception followed a floor down at the Talk of the Town where Keisha Bowla-Hines handled emcee duties and DJ Marlon Young got the party started with The Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling, shifting to Bruno Mars’ Marry You as the newly-weds entered. Dinner followed after best man Shawn Bowla blessed the three-course dinner.
The cutting of the Marlene Fuller three-tiered fruitcake followed dinner. Maid of honour and the bride’s sister Patrice Baugh raised the first toast. It was an emotional moment as she remembered their dearly departed mother, but would finish with a smile. Best man Shawn Bowla was followed by Keisha Bowla-Hines, who toasted the bride’s aunt and uncle. Kenneth William-Singh raised a toast to the groom’s parents.
The groom in his response expressed gratitude for everyone’s love and support, then led his bride to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife to N’Sync’s This I Promise You.
Vijay and Trudy enjoyed a week-long honeymoon at Secrets St James.
