Vows – Love Anchors the Soul
Seven years of courtship culminated at the altar on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at Grand Port Royal Hotel Marina & Spa when marine engineer Chad Taylor and Terisa Thompson, programmes manager at Institute of Law and Economics, were joined in holy matrimony. Vows bring you highlights of the nautical-themed affair.
How they met
Chad and Terisa met eight-and-a-half years ago through a mutual friend. At the time Terisa was pursuing a degree at The UWI, Mona, whilst Chad was studying marine engineering at the Caribbean Maritime University. The two became friends.
Their friends, however, saw them as the perfect couple and hatched a plot to move them from platonic to soul mates! An intimate send-off party for a friend followed by a game of spin the bottle afforded the perfect opportunity. The bottle was tampered with to point to Chad. This triggered the question “Truth or dare?” Naturally, Chad was confronted with a dare; which he nervously accepted. The challenge came in the form of a five-second kiss with Terisa. Being a gentleman he asked her if she preferred that he accept his punishment of push-ups and a rum shot in lieu of pursuing the kiss. With Cupid’s arrow quivering, a kiss sealed the deal!
On December 6, 2011, Chad and Terisa became a couple.
The proposal…
came seven years later on Friday, March 2, 2018 at a surprise dinner at Sora Japanese Sky Cuisine in Kingston. Despite being on duty at sea, Chad with the help of mutual friends who were thankfully on land, planned an intimate, roof-top surprise dinner proposal. The question was popped and wedding plans commenced in earnest.
Here comes the bride
The exchange of vows took place at the Grand Port Royal Hotel Marina & Spa, Port Royal, where the theme was nautical marine. Event designer Patricia Taylor used shades of navy blue, white and diamonds to decorate the area complete with anchor, ropes, lanterns, and ships.
The processional began as the bridesmaids, who wore navy blue dresses, sashayed up the aisle to Pentatonix’s Hallelujah. They were escorted by the groomsmen wearing white concealed button-down dress shirts with navy blue pants complemented by navy suspenders and bow ties.
With the melodies of Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years as her wedding march, Terisa made her way up the aisle on the arm of her father, Michael Thompson. She looked gorgeous in a sweetheart mermaid trumpet gown with lace bodice and ruffle skirt. Trying his best to stave off tears, Chad, in his white marine uniform, held Terisa’s hand tightly as she joined him at the altar, where Reverend Dr Mark Hardy presided over the ceremony.
The reception
The nautical marine theme “Love Anchors the Soul” continued on the harbour at Grand Port Royal Hotel Marina & Spa before guests boarded the Loose Cannon yacht for the after-party. The bridal party made their entrance to Pana’s Tekno and If by Davido, followed by the newly-weds, who danced in to the sounds of For Better or Worse by Nathanael, cheered on by friends and family. This was followed by the couple’s first dance as husband and wife to Charlie Wilson’s You Are.
Post-formalities, guests enjoyed a three-course meal and witnessed the cutting of the three-tiered coconut vanilla and fruitcake by Sweet Mischief Jamaica. Guests were then asked to gather by the harbour to board the yacht where the newly-weds and their guests danced up a storm to the tunes of Eneson ‘DJ Enz’ Lightbourne. It was truly an occasion to remember.
The honeymoon
Chad and Terisa honeymooned at Royalton Luxury Resorts and Beach getaway.
