Vows: I Love You, Always Forever

Persistence won out for Carl Gordon, after a chance encounter with Deborah Hickling at Brick Oven in October 2015 left him sufficiently intrigued but unable to reconnect after the cellphone number she provided repeatedly rang unanswered. Gordon, the tenacious managing director of Island Outdoor Media, was not about to just call it a day.

Already aware Hickling was then employed as director of operations at the Office of the Prime Minister, his dogged pursuit would compel him to ring her workplace and initiate further conversation, eventually earning her trust so he could invite her out. Lucky for Gordon, Hickling gave the green light for a first date.

Almost two years later, on August 19, the couple tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at the Webster Memorial United Church, with their nearest and dearest lending support.

The glowing bride — outfitted in an Audrey Mantock-designed, V-neck ivory dress with her natural curls pinned in an updo and accented with a Marcellas Day multi-pearl fascinator — arrived at the church alongside her father Professor Frederick Hickling.

Robed in a Nigerian dashiki, a proud Dr Hickling escorted his beloved daughter to her bridegroom.

The groom, in custom-made grey suiting from McLean’s Tailoring, was all smiles as he led his bride to stand next to him in front of Reverend Astor Carlyle, who performed the traditional blessing and exchange of rings, invoking nuptial blessings thereafter.

Following the recital of their vows, the couple would then complete the sand ceremony as the bride’s longtime friend Onika Miller explained its symbolism, notably that two people were coming together to form one. This segued into the couple’s signing of the register, with bridesmaid Daniella Hickling and best man Mark Joseph penning their signatures too, while veteran songbird Karen Smith serenaded the newly-weds.

Officially declared husband and wife, the couple and their bridal party and wedding guests retreated to the Alhambra Inn for a late-afternoon reception, with Petals and Promises ably handling decor duties, and the buffet menu of five-spice suckling pig, pimento smoked chicken, tomato basil pasta, corn bites and carrot raisin rice prepared by Eskay Catering.

During the cocktail hour and later dinner service, the Maurice Gordon Trio entertained with their instrumental harmonies, while Wayne Johns, friend of the groom, acted as emcee for the formalities. As the evening wore on, the newlyweds would proceed to cut their two-tiered, Kemorine Miller-created traditional fruitcake, before their first dance to Ray Charles’s Song For You, followed by the newly minted Mrs Gordon taking a spin around the dance floor with her father to the Stevie Wonder classic Isn’t She Lovely.

The couple will honeymoon in Portland and St Ann.