"What is love," were the first words out of Reverend Canon G.B. Prince's mouth as he officially joined together Kingston native Marsha Katherine and Andre Edwards of Mandeville at St Ann's Bay Parish Church last Saturday afternoon.

"God has brought us together in celebration of a unity that will last a lifetime," the new married couple declared in their wedding programmes to guests.

Walking down the aisle to the soft riffs of a violinist, the bride glowed in an ivory, a-line halter dress with a four-foot train while the groom stood tall in a black tuxedo with underlying white silk accents. The colourful floral arrangements that ornamented the late 19th-century church complemented the bridesmaids' magenta dresses and fuchsia boutonnières of the groomsmen.

Frassa-Frassa

First meeting in Florida in the United States, the couple was introduced at Frassa-Frassa, a popular Jamaican picnic celebration. Mrs Edwards recalled the moment they met.

"He was the ultimate host," she said, referring to Edwards. "Our eyes met ... and that's where it all began."

The groom had equally obliging remarks for his wife. When asked what he loves most about his bride, Edwards answered "everything". Not a coincidence, when the groom proposed, it was in a picnic setting, the same backdrop in which the lovebirds first met.

As guests exited the church after the ceremony, the excitement to celebrate the union of the newly-weds even further was evident. The reception was held at Laughing Waters in Ocho Rios, some visiting the famous waterfall locale for the first time, travelling from Washington, DC, New York, Florida, the Philippines, and various other places around the world.

Before cutting the four-tiered, orchid-adorned wedding cake, the groom dedicated African Queen to his new bride, performed by cousin of the groom, Eglon Christie. The couple will celebrate their honeymoon with a road trip around the island and a hotel stay in Negril.

LEFT: The groomsmen are all smiles and looking quite dapper at the wedding reception of Andre and Marsha Edwards in Ocho Rios. From left are Chris Palomino, cousin of the groom; Courtney Edwards, brother of the groom; Durant Palomino, cousin of the groom and Eglon Christie, cousin of the groom.
RIGHT: O.K. Francis (father of the bride) and Margaret Francis-Hazlewood (aunt of the bride) are happy about the union of Mr and Mrs Andre Edwards.