Vows: I Choose You
On Saturday, June 9, 2018, Amazon Operations Manager Scott Taylor wed his Port Authority of New York & New Jersey marketing manager fiancée Melisia Douglas, at the Borghinvilla Wedding Venue, Discovery Bay, St Ann. The orange and peach sunset-themed ceremony was officiated by Reverend Courtney Walters. Vows takes a look beyond the altar at the moments leading up to the spectacular ceremony.
How they met
The couple met in Chicago in 2014, where a night at the American Museum of History revealed that there was more than natural chemistry; both had roots in Jamaica, with Scott hailing from St Elizabeth and Melisia from Clarendon. And it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder, for despite the busyness of life, over the course of the next four-and-a-half years the pair kept in constant contact, each updating the other on important news, including promotions, educational pursuits, family, and travel.
Will you marry me?
Battling the difficulties associated with long-distance relationships paired with not-so-relationship-friendly nights and weekend work schedules, the lovebirds would deliberately carve out pockets of time for each other. On this particular occasion, Scott requested that Melisia clear her schedule for two consecutive Fridays. She suspected that something romantic was in store, but had only anticipated an intimate getaway. The first Friday, she was treated to a theme park date where the couple enjoyed nostalgic rides and drinks by the boardwalk, but no proposal. On the second Friday, he booked an Airbnb in the Catskills in upstate New York. After dinner, Scott led her back to their room. There, he presented her with a four-page handwritten letter and recorded as she read each thoughtful sentence. As she neared the end of the billet-doux, Scott went down on one knee and asked her to be his wife.
The Ceremony
The exchange of vows took place at Borghinvilla, where day-of-wedding coordinator Jennifer Borgh of Borgh Events used shades of orange and peach reminiscent of a Jamaican sunset to create the perfect ambiance. Framing the Caribbean Sea as a perfect backdrop, the dark wood cliff-side gazebo draped in white sheer was trimmed with large floral arrangements of off-white and peach roses and lilies. Seated on gold chiavari chairs, guests anticipated the arrival of the bridal party. To the melodic instrumental of Spend My Life With You by Eric Benét and Tamia, bridesmaids dressed in bellini chiffon David’s Bridal dresses made their way up an aisle capped with bougainvillea petals, each escorted by a dapper groomsman in a custom-made navy blue suit. The hushed tones of Ryann Darling’s I Choose You signalled the entrance of the bride. A true vision, in an ivory Martina Liana wedding gown and clutching a bouquet of peach roses, she made her way up the aisle escorted by her mother Pauline Cooper.
Once delivered to her groom, Reverend Courtney Walters officiated the ceremony.
The Reception
After the formalities, and against the backdrop of the Borghinvilla gardens, guests joined the newly-weds for a number of memorable speeches each encouraging them to lie, steal, and kill: lie with each other, steal time away from work for each other, and, of course, kill each other with love. A night of grand celebration, punctuated by tears of joy and lots of laughter, was accompanied by delightful Jamaican cuisine courtesy of Chef Francis. Attendants witnessed the cutting of the two-tiered vanilla wedding cake layered with buttercream and fresh pineapple filling, and the bride and groom’s first dance as husband and wife to Why I Love You by Major and Jah Cure’s Nothing. Thereafter, the guests and newly-weds were shuttled to the resort.
The honeymoon
Although the couple spent four days and three nights at the Rockhouse Hotel immediately after the wedding, they intend to spend the first year honeymooning in numerous locations, including New Orleans, Canada, and Ghana, culminating in a one-year European anniversary celebration.
