Registered nurse Fiona Dailey was never expecting a happily-ever-after when she initially met security manager Shehmoy Smith. But their friendship was the foundation of a love that led to all her dreams realised.

The couple were married on November 24, 2024 in front of family and friends at The Wharf House in Montego Bay. Their nuptials were the culmination of a story which began with innocent curiosity and developed into a bond which brought happiness and healing.

Their paths would cross in June 2019 in New York where they met through a mutual friend on their way to a party. While initially not drawn to him, that would soon change as the night progressed.

“I really didn’t think much of him until during the party. I started to gaze at him every now and then and I was like, OK, I kind of like his vibe, I like his image. He seemed like a cool person,” Fiona told Tuesday Style Vows (TSV). “Funnily enough, afterwards, I was the one that made the bold move and asked my friend if I could get his number, because I felt like this is someone that I want to be friends with. Literally, I just want to be friends. I wanted nothing serious,” she added.

Try as she might, she couldn’t ignore the mutual attraction that sparked between them.

“It was probably within a year and a half, we just realised that we always wanted to be around each other and we always travelled together. We were always on the phone talking and just getting to know each other. I think that created that bond,” Fiona said. “We knew we didn’t want this to end.”

Prior to the relationship, Fiona had two children Kairie and Kahlesi. In a difficult period where she lost the father of her children in 2019, Fiona credited Shehmoy as being a constant presence through her grief. It was then she knew that they were destined for each other.

“When my children’s father passed away, he was there as if I knew him a long time ago and he was just always the shoulder to cry on, no matter what time it was. Whatever I needed, he always helped me out and that’s when I was like, I was stupid to say that this could be just my friend,” Fiona said.

With their love cemented, they added to their family with Akelis born in November 2021 and Azai born in July 2023. It was at Akelis’s baby shower in October 2021 that Shehmoy made the occasion unforgettable with a surprise proposal.

“It took me by surprise because I wasn’t really expecting that given that we had conversations about marriage and him not being ready. [But] we spoke about if I wanted to be proposed to, if I wanted people around and I was like, you know, just close family and friends. I guess that’s why he did it that night because most of the family were there,” Fiona said.

The wedding transported the couple and guests to paradise, with the venue decorated by Petals and Promises. In a beautiful creation from Martina Liana, Fiona was escorted up the aisle by her father, Michael Dailey, to Jennifer Hudson’s Give Myself. Guided by officiant Norman Thompson, the couple pledged their hearts and futures to each other.

The reception took place at the same venue with guests treated to a wedding feast catered by Junior Francis. The couple shared their three-tier wedding cake provided by Cakes by Damaine before they enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife to Shania Twain’s When You Kiss Me. There were heartfelt toasts to the couple, including one from Fiona’s maid of honour, Stacey Godson which tugged at the heartstrings.

“She expressed how she saw our love grow for each other and how much she adored our love connection. To know that our love is being admired by others and hearing her convey her genuine happiness for our union makes it feel even more right. She definitely had me emotional with her sentiments,” Fiona said.

The couple plan to honeymoon at a later date.