Vows: Today & Forever
There were prayers for good weather, especially during the last days leading up to the wedding — reason enough to cling to their faith. And cling they did! Vows shares the magical encounter and subsequent May 19 journey to the altar of Trinbagonian flight attendant Sophia Sacha Alyson Howard and Jamaican musician Wesley Orlando Wilkins…
How they met… (Sophia’s version)
We (my friend Abi and I) arrived at the club and the vibes were nice.
After the club, we went to the “after party”. Which was more like a talk-a-thon as we spent the next few hours talking.
Abi and I left after sunrise. Later that day, Abi called to invite me to lunch. That took some convincing as I was flying that night. In retrospect, I realised that invitation was on behalf of someone.
Normally if I decline an invitation, stating work as the reason, then talk done! This time she really did some influencing. I joined them for a late lunch. Again, nice vibes and a belly of laughs. They tried to convince me to join them for a drive to Abu Dhabi; however, this one I declined as I really needed to return home to sleep for my flight. Wesley walked me to my car and asked for my number.
We spent hours per day talking after that, about anything. When I went on layovers, a Skype conversation became the norm. We just clicked!
Wesley spoke tirelessly about his love for music. His intention was to find something in that field in the UAE, and if he didn’t he would go country-hopping until he did. Wesley found me and decided to stay instead. (He got me feeling like a bite-up shilling and a dollar in a ten-cent party! He got a job working at a hotel and has worked toward better circumstances ever since.
The proposal…
Leading up to the engagement, one of my friends sent out a broadcast inviting a few of us out, as she had just successfully graduated in her role. I told Wesley about the invite and we agreed to go. The night of the graduation celebration he was very out of character. He chose to wear a dress shirt and dress shoes; it was the first time that he did not suggest wearing his joggers. What was really strange was that he wanted to take my professional camera with him. Most times I have to tie Wesley down to take a picture as he claims the flash is too bright.
I wondered what was so special about my friend’s graduation dinner that he wanted to capture it. He was also very worried about how hot it was that night; the chosen restaurant was on a pier. It was also out of his character to worry about stuff like that.
We got to the restaurant and he got a bout of “diarrhoea” and had to excuse himself. All the invitees arrived for the dinner and Trisha started a speech. She congratulated Anisaa on her graduation and went on to speak about the Trini/Dubai family we have going and welcomed Wesley into it. Wesley then took the floor. OMG! That man can sing! He stopped singing at just the right moment; another verse and I would have burst into tears. What a beautiful moment it was. Even though I had my suspicions, I was not expecting all that awesomeness. My dream of this day did not compare to the reality.
Our relationship has been effortless throughout, for the most part. Wesley has imprinted on me and I love him a little more every day.
Wesley’s version…
I was still fresh in the UAE, learning an incomparably different culture from the one that I have known all my life. However, Calvin, Adil and Shane helped significantly with my adjustment to this new world.
Abi, whom I had met earlier, invited Adil and me for a night out in Dubai with a few of her friends from Trinidad. It would be my second outing in Dubai and hopefully more like what I was used to in Jamaica. Abi didn’t say much about what her friends were like, only that they were Trini. My experience with Trinidadians was limited to the UWI, Mona campus and was not always pleasant, so I was wary.
Abi was very nice though, so I thought that her friends couldn’t be too far off.
As is customary, Adil started pre-drinks before going out. I previously thought this to be a good idea in order not to spend too much on over-priced drinks, but in retrospect I think he had different reasons. His taxi bonnet slide was evidence of that. I was already a little too tipsy to attempt any gymnastics so I played it safe and opened the closest car door to me. As I got in the taxi, I saw a slender figure scurrying away to the other side either to make room or to avoid me. Turns out, it was a little bit of both.
The unknown was and still is a daunting thing for the thoughtful person, but luckily for us we didn’t allow that to get in the way of what turned out to be a magical friendship. The more I communicated with Sophie and learned about her, the more I found qualities that are rare; qualities that would make a great life partner. So, a couple years later, our friendship has blossomed to love, I proposed and she said yes. Now, the hunt for a Grammy award continues, but more importantly, the search for my wife and hopefully the mother of my children has ended; for that I am thankful.
Here comes the bride…
Thank God we both come from praying families. There were countless prayers for good weather, especially the last days leading up to the wedding, more so since Jamaica was having torrential rain every day since we arrived on the island. It was Sophia’s dream to have the wedding on the stairs of Rose Hall Great House. She always wanted an outdoor wedding. One hour to the start of the ceremony it started raining and everything had to be moved from the stairs, of the Great House to under the tent. When we arrived on location, Sophia was gutted, the rain was still drizzling, and it seemed she would not have the wedding that she dreamed of. The wedding coordinator shared our options with us, but Sophia was determined. She decided to have it on the stairs anyway. All our guests were invited to stand in front of the Great House. As soon as the bridal party processional music started, the rain stopped. How amazing!
Seeing all the decorations made in our living room, which I later dubbed the craft shop, made me feel proud that I now made this creative and talented woman my wife. I looked at my new family members mingling with persons I have known all my life and thought to myself, not only have two become one, but two families are being joined together. The bride’s brother, Nicholas Howard, served as the master of ceremonies, navigated our country theme tables and buffet lines while attendants primed themselves for the toasts of family and friends. The formalities ended with my vote of thanks as high heels were swapped for flats or bare feet. The dance floor then became the centre of attention as we danced the night away to reggae and soca, an apt end to a Trini-Yardie wedding.
Happily Ever After…
Jamaica is a honeymoon destination in itself. We decided to spend a few days at the resort after the ceremony to relax, and then go on our honeymoon later in the year. However, no relaxing was done. The day after the wedding we hosted a catamaran cruise with our family and friends since 95% of my guests had never been to Jamaica before. It was another epic day. Our guests cannot stop talking about their climb up the Dunn’s River Falls. Even my four -and six-year-old nephews made it to the top. Our official honeymoon is carded for September. We plan to go to Santorini, Greece. It hosts everything that we want in a honeymoon destination; it is romantic, historic, has amazing beaches and great food. Our choice to defer it a couple months after the wedding gives us something to look forward to later in the year!
