Avia Collinder, Gleaner Writer

Two sisters Kalphat were married to two brothers Mahfood at the St Andrew Parish Church in 1958. Here are Mr and Mrs Winston Mahfood (left) and Mr and Mrs Derrick Mahfood after the fashionable double wedding. - File

Fifty years ago, spectators, described in The Gleaner of Thursday, February 20, 1958, as a "massive" gathering, came together at the St Andrew Parish church to see Kingston's first recorded double wedding.

Brothers Derrick and Winston Mahfood (now deceased) and sisters Joan and Carole Kalphat, chose that day to exchange vows.

As their son Ricky Mahfood reports, "My father was courting my mother at the same time his brother was courting her sister. They decided to get married and thought the double wedding would be nice."

So, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, sisters Carole and Joan walked down the aisle, accompanied by brother Michael and dad Haseeb Kalphat.

Unusual nature of wedding

Mom, Lucille May of Miami, Florida, was also present for her daughters' nuptials. The grooms were the sons of the late Rizk Mahfood and Asma Mahfood of Stony Hill.

Public interest in the wedding was stirred by its unusual nature, as well as by the fact that Carole Kalphat was a popular debutante who was runner-up in several beauty pageants.

The St Andrew Parish Church, The Gleaner report of 50 years ago states, was beautifully decorated with white asters for the event.

The officiating minister was the Rev Canon J.T. Clarke, rector of St Andrew Parish Church. Three hundred guests were present.

Each bride was her sister's maid of honour. The brides were identically dressed in Chantilly lace over layers of net and taffeta.

Doubles

According to Ricky Mahfood, "The fact that they were dressed alike was pure coincidence. Carole had bought her dress by herself and so did Joan. However, when they both showed their dresses to each other, they were identical."

The headdresses were different. Carole's was an oriental Juliet cap embroidered with pearls and sequins. Joan chose an original French design. The sisters' bouquets, however, were identical - sprays of lavender and baby-white orchids.

Ricky states that his parents, aunt and uncle also had a double honeymoon together in Ocho Rios. The couples also lived with the grooms' parents for the first couple of years, until they could afford to move out on their own.

Joan and Derrick had four children: Ricky, Mark, Debbie and Susan. Today, the couple has 15 grandchildren.

Derrick and Joan were excellent parents, says Ricky. "They exhibited and displayed to us by their marriage what it means to be committed to one another for a lifetime. They are very caring."

The family celebrated the 50th anniversary on Saturday.