From Facebook to the Alter – Andre & Schamona’s Destination Wedding
Andre & Schamona tied the knot on August 21, 2021, in a beautiful ceremony at one of Jamaica’s luxury villas (Villa GilGal). The couple was initially slated to get married on June 27, 2021, but their nuptials were postponed due to the uncertainties surrounding events in Jamaica.
The couple’s Love Story as Told by Bride
Andre sent me a DM on Facebook in 2015. I thought he was handsome, but probably he was a catfish. I responded anyway and during our conversation, I found out that he went to high school with my cousin. I learned more about him from my cousin and decided to maintain contact. During our conversations, I realized we had a lot in common. As fate would have it, I had planned to go to Jamaica that summer, so we decided to meet up at KFC. It was then that I knew why they say, people fall in love. In our wedding vows, I said that the day I met you I fell for you, literally. It was raining that day and I was running to get out of the rain and my shoes slid, and I fell, lol. Even though he laughed he took my hand and used his rag and wiped off my arm I guess that was our ice breaker and we spent the day talking.
We liked each other but at the time I was in Nursing school, and we knew we weren’t going to be able to manage the distance. However, we decided to continue our friendship. We’ve never stopped speaking since that day. Even though we dated other people, I couldn’t take anybody seriously because he wasn’t Andre.
Two years later, he had the opportunity to work in Florida and I had one week off from school, so I took two planes to go see him and it felt like that first day in KFC. It was as if we saw each other every day, with no awkwardness. We realized that our feelings for each other got stronger and it wasn’t going away so we decided to give the relationship a try. During this time, I balanced school and our relationship which involved flying to Jamaica to visit him. Once school was finished, I spent a few months with him. In 2019 when the pandemic started, we spent a few months apart. During that time, Andre revealed to me that he knew he wanted to marry me because he didn’t want anything else to keep us apart. Then on my 25th birthday that same year, he proposed to me. Now we are stuck together.
Challenges Faced by the Planner
As a Planner based in Alberta, Canada, planning a Jamaican destination wedding during the pandemic came with many challenges. The most challenging, however, was changing the wedding date from August 22nd to August 21st.
On August 19th (3 days before the wedding) the Government of Jamaica declared August 22nd as ‘No Movement’ Day. I had to re-arrange the entire wedding on my way to the Edmonton International Airport to catch my flight to Jamaica. Fortunately, most of the vendors were available or were able to provide someone else from their company. The new cinematographer was hired the night before the wedding.
It also rained heavily on the wedding day resulting in the ceremony being moved from the lawns overlooking the Caribbean Sea to the balcony of the Villa. But despite the odds, the wedding was absolutely beautiful.
Your Favourite Behind the Scenes Moment
My favourite behind-the-scenes moment was watching all the vendors merging the moving parts which culminated into a spectacular event. A special mention to Krafted by Design for being very supportive throughout the many changes and for executing the couple’s vision.
Most Rewarding Part of the Wedding
The wedding came together flawlessly regardless of the challenges faced. However, it was seeing the couple having fun and being able to celebrate with their loved ones that gave me a sense of achievement.
Wedding Professionals
Planning & Co-ordination: EVENTually Satisfied | Venue: Villa GilGal | Decor: Krafted by Design | Officiant & MC: On Call Weddings Jamaica| Catering: Eskay Catering | DJ & Music: DJ Kofie 876 |Photographer: AKS Weddings | Cinematographer: Lesanie Images | Bride’s MUA: Kandii Koated | Cake: In The Mix Patisserie
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