Vows – Stairway To Forever
A rustic garden wedding on June 8, mere days before summer, was all that Spanish Court Hotel Night Manager Marve Wilmot Jr needed to profess his love for his childhood crush-turned-fiancée Nicole Wright, field officer at the Caribbean Institute of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Vows takes you to the altar.
Nicole recalls the first exchange…
We’d known each other since we were nine years old and in the fifth grade. We first met when Marve and his family started attending my church. Our love started on a familiar level that meshed well for everyone, especially since our families were so close. Somewhere along the way, the dynamics of our relationship shifted from “…brother from another mother” and “…no man, she is my sister” to “I love you, baby”. We are Christians who love God and believe that His plans are so perfect for our lives and our relationship…our marriage… it’s all a part of His plans.
Just Say “I do”…
The proposal plans went haywire. The lovebirds planned a road trip to Portland with friends, cameras, the whole works, but good news and pure excitement caused Marve to propose way ahead of time. He had a job interview the very day of the trip, December 9, 2015, and of course, plans were postponed. Nevertheless, he got the job and first called Nicole to share the news and arranged to pick her up from work later that evening. On their way home, Marve took a detour to his parents’ house to “pick up something” as he puts it. He was taking quite a while inside, and Nicole grew impatient, so she went to see what was taking him so long. Her take: “As I got through the door, he told me that he found my rings that I had lost about a month before. I was excited, picked up the ring box and saw the rings. I began putting them on when he stopped me. ‘I also found this ring’, he said, as he went down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. I shivered, I cried, I cried some more… then I said yes.
The Ceremony…
Family and friends gathered at the ruins at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge to witness Marve and Nicole’s special day. Marve wore a dark grey suit from Spencer’s Tailoring with a white shirt and coral and dark grey chequered skinny tie with tan shoes. The groomsmen and best man wore light grey tailor-made pants and vests with white shirts. Their ties matched the bridesmaids’ dresses – chiffon dresses in varying designs. Nicole’s entrance song was the iconic Whitney Houston hit I Will Always Love You, she was a vision of elegance in a gorgeous ivory sweetheartneckline mermaid dress from Bliss Bridal Boutique. She carried a bouquet of sage, hydrangeas and coral roses. Reverend Daniel White officiated the ceremony, and later declared the couple husband and wife. Post-nuptial formalities out the way, Marve and Nicole left the altar to a selection from keyboardist Dr Oneil Mundle and saxophonist Daniel Jackson.
The Reception…
…was as beautiful as it was exceptional for Marve and Nicole, thanks to Nichelle Thompson and her team, who transformed the Gold Room at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge into an oasis of bliss, accented with purple and coral hues. Paul Wilson was the master of ceremonies, a task he handled with timely wit and much aplomb. The bridal party entered the reception with a choreographed dance number to My Woman My Everything by Patoranking featuring Wande Coal. Marve and Nicole were introduced in the height of the moment as part of the recital. Following this, guests enjoyed a sumptuous three-course dinner during toasts to the newly-weds.
Mothers of the bride and groom Coleen Wright and Lillian Wilmot unveiled the Black Forest and cheesecake wedding cake made by Siobhan Trotman of Pastry Belle. After much cheering and applause, Marve and Nicole walked onto the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife to Still In Love by Brian McKnight. Formalities aside, the dance floor was declared open, and guests partied into the wee hours of the morning. The reception ended on a high with an atmosphere of love and conviviality. Marve and Nicole honeymooned at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort and Spa and the Iberostar Grande Paraiso resort for a week.
