Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

Family members, who flew in from Florida for the Baboolal's 26th wedding anniversary included Lenny and Michelle Reynolds with their daughters, Mia-Paige (held by mother) and Sanae. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

On their wedding day, Charley waited patiently in the church for his bride, Patricia to arrive. On Saturday, September 12, they arrived together. He wore a black tuxedo and she wore a beautiful off-white gown featuring beaded bodice, complemented with a wrist corsage made of orchids.

The venue was St. Richards of Chichester Roman Catholic Church along along Red Hills Road, in St. Andrew. It took the form of a liturgical celebration in thanksgiving with celebrants, Rev. Fr. Burchell McPherson, Rev. Fr. Devon Nash, Rev. Fr. Peter McIsaac and Rev. Ron Burgess. The altar was beautifully decorated with huge pedestal arrangements of white and yellow lilies, daisies, orchids with baby's breath, ivy and ferns.

But, when friends and family gathered to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary with Mr. and Mrs. Charley Baboolal last Saturday, they were one year late. You see, the selfless couple should have actually toasted their silver wedding anniversary last year, but their daughter and brother had weddings within months of each other. Had they gone ahead with their plans, it would have meant bringing family and friends from overseas together three times in one year, so they opted to wait.

LONGEVITY

The renewal vows to continue on the same path were preceded by a request from the minister for the couple to reveal what had made them stay together all these years. Both said it was because they had allowed God to take them where He would. That along with, faith, compromise, love for each other and learning to forgive themselves and their fellowman.

"We have not had many problems; we have been able to resolve the few because we have been blessed and we will continue on the same path,'' Mr. Baboolal said.

They then exchanged platinum and diamond rings and were entertained by the inimitable Dwight Richards, and Maria Myrie and Friends.

Upon arrival at the Baboolal's residents, guests received glasses of home-made ginger beer followed by 'manish water'. The rest of the menu included Jamaican favourites - curried goat, rice and peas, barbecued chicken, stewed pork, jerked chicken, ham, escoveitched fish, macaroni and cheese, tossed vegetable, and potato salad. Meanwhile, Sparkles Disco entertained.

The over 200 guests included Marcia Lee, Thelma and Rupert Hartley, Clovis Taylor, Beverley Palmer, Tracey-Ann Mitchell, Cecelia Lyn, Adrian Lyn, Charisse-Ann Roberts, Ingrid Johnson, Monique Thomas, Meg and Cedric Evans, Marjorie Matthis, Verona Hutchinson, Hyacinth Charles, Keisha and Byron Baboolal, Francis and Pauline Baboolal, Noel and Del Ho Fat, and Myrtle Brown.