Vows – No Ordinary Love

“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery

or many, high-school crushes fizzle out shortly after graduation, but for trainee medical technologist Enderia Ghandi Brown and actuarial analyst Rohan Dayne Hall the feeling they shared was no ‘puppy love’.

The couple first met while they were students at Ardenne High School in Kingston, starting out as friends before developing a physical attraction in fifth form. They lost touch after graduating, but as fate would have it, their paths would cross again.

“A friend invited me to church, and it so happened that Rohan was also a member of that church. As time passed I continued going and it allowed for us to get closer. Some time after, we started dating,” Brown told Vows.

Their eight-year courtship would see the pair spending time together enjoying nature, going on road trips and watching local theatre productions.

“I would describe our relationship as a sunrise, always changing, always growing and always getting better. It is very important that you are first friends before being lovers, and I think that’s true for us. We complement each other well with our differences, but at the same time we are much alike. Every relationship has its high points and its low points; we have gone through a lot, and we have grown together,” Brown revealed.

On September 25, 2011, their relationship changed forever. Hall had deemed it ‘Lovergirl’s Day’, telling Brown that they would visit anywhere on the island she chose. They spent the day doing just that, driving out into the countryside, but when they got back into Kingston, Hall announced that there was just one more stop they had to make.

“I was a bit puzzled by this, because everything on my checklist was done. He drove into the hills of St Andrew — the view was amazing — we sat and enjoyed it for a while, but I could sense that something was coming. He was looking at me differently and his words seemed so much softer than usual, then he took out his laptop and showed me a movie he had made. It told our story; where we met, notes we’d shared, our firsts and so on, with songs that are precious to us playing in the background. He did a really good job filling me with anticipation. Just before the movie ended, I saw the big question appear across the screen: WILL YOU MARRY ME?,” she shared.

They wed on June 30, 2013 at Andrews Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Kingston, in an Indian-themed ceremony officiated by Pastor Patrick Rutherford. The wardrobe of the bridal party depicted the couple’s varied cultural backgrounds. Hall and the bridesmaids wore Indian attire — he wore a sherwani and the bridesmaids wore saris — while Brown and the groomsmen wore more traditional garb.

The ceremony was memorable, with the blushing bride — who was escorted up the aisle by her uncle Winston Brown — departing from the traditional Here Comes the Bride entrance in favour of performances by violinist Sanjah Hall and pianist Lamar Wedderburn. In addition to the exchanging of the rings, the unity custom was a handfasting ceremony, during which a red cloth was used to bind the couple’s right hands, signifying the coming together of the different aspects of their lives.

“Before walking up the aisle, all I could think of was whether I would be nervous and fall, but the reality is that all I could do was smile and look at everyone. I was glowing with happiness, nothing mattered at that time. I was anticipating reaching my husband-to-be, I wanted to see his expression, to know that he was okay. I was surprisingly well-composed, relaxed, and just happy. As I look back on the wedding pictures all I see are smiles and laughter. It was indeed a joyous day,” the bride recalled.

After teary-eyed “I do’s”, the pair made their walk down the aisle surrounded by bubbles, a show of support from family, friends and well-wishers.

The reception was held at Mona Visitors’ Lodge, and for their first dance as husband and wife the couple chose the song At Last by Etta James. The newly-weds then jetted to the isle of Grenada for a romantic honeymoon at the Grenada Grand Beach Resort. They now look forward to a very bright future together.

“We continue to learn more about each other every day and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds. Apart from the babies — who will come later rather than sooner — we plan to continue celebrating the many firsts we are having as husband and wife,” said Brown.