By Janet Silvera, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
NOTHING ELSE expressed vintage on Saturday afternoon as much as the gorgeous Spanish-designed Chantilly lace gown that Anabella Seaga wore down the aisle to meet her bridegroom, Michael Zia Mian, at the Garrison Church, JDF Headquarters, Up Park Camp, Kingston 5.
The love story started some seven months ago when 'the princess', Anabella, born to the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, and his then wife, Mitsy, and 'the prince', Michael, born to Avil Rauer and Ahmad Zia Mian, met via what Mr. Seaga termed the 'electronic romantic encounter', otherwise called e-mail.
The handsome Dr. Michael Zia Mian, who stood tall in his three-button tuxedo, smiled as he related the covert operation by a renegade band of family members, including Anabella's mom, Mitsy Seaga and his aunt, Dawn Roberts.
According to Mitsy Seaga, the idea of getting the fairy tale couple together was Mrs. Roberts's, she in turn agreed, "so I went ahead without Anabella's knowledge and sent her e-mail address to Dawn to be passed on to Michael."
On Saturday she described it as a match made in heaven: "It's just a beautiful, beautiful union for me, I am overjoyed."
INTERNET LINK-UP
Two days after Michael received the e-mail address, he sent the first 'e-interest' and after two weeks of putting the MSN Messenger to work, the butterfly had lit the flame and the fire was now an inferno between the two lovebirds.
The urge to meet each other in person grew stronger, so they met face to face in August.
"She embodies so much excitement and that is what attracted me to her," said Michael.
Several weeks later, on U.S. Thanksgiving Day, to be exact, after praying earnestly, Michael proposed to Anabella. Seven months later, on Saturday, March 20, 2004, the Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt pronounced them man and wife.
"I am sad and joyful," said Mr. Seaga, Leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, looking dapper as he walked his daughter up the aisle. "For a father, a daughter is very special. I am saddened by the fact I will not be able to see her when I want to."
LOVELY CEREMONY
The unfolding of the love story was celebrated by 160 invitees, who stood at attention in the church, watching with interest as the newlyweds received their first baptism of the 'Ceremony of Taste'.
Their tastebuds were shocked by Angostura bitters, seasoned with salt, purified by water, peppered by scotch bonnet and sweetened with honey.
At the reception held at the sprawling Queensway mansion, St. Andrew, of Hugh and Pamela Hart, Ahmad, Michael's father, cried tears of joy and his stepfather, Yehuda Rauer, gushed with pride during his presentation. This reception was filled with laughter, colour and animation.
Edward Seaga was in his element, Frank Phipps, Q.C., argued his case well, while Anabella's confidante, Tanya Lazarus, spoke of their friendship. Delreo Newman was the other icing on the cake and Simon Roberts earned himself a permanent job as master of ceremonies.
The guests included: Zein and Chris Nakash, Julian Cortize, Metry and Nicole Seaga, Janet Taylor, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Audley and Marie Shaw, Edmund Bartlett, Pearnel and Gloria Charles, Derrick and Karleen Smith and Bruce and Lorna Golding.
